Feature Edition #3 - May 2007: Vitaly Alexius - Featured Artist Interview

Richard Box:

Hi Vitaly, Can you tell us all a little about yourself?

Vitaly Alexius:

You can read my bio at svitart.com

Richard Box:

How do you go about the average piece you create?

Vitaly Alexius:

I do some sketching with my tablet and then add detail until it is complete.
View the step to step process of Vitaly's Work:

Richard Box:

When do you graduate from your university course and what are your plans afterwards?

Vitaly Alexius:

I graduate in two more years. Once that's over and done I plan to visit mother russia, travel through europe, catch a full-time illustration/concept art job, buy a house in a tropical country on a beach and get married

Richard Box:

What do you feel is the most important aspect of art?

Vitaly Alexius:

Drawing a lot. The more you draw, the better you are at it and the more understanding you have of art.

Richard Box:

What would you say the average client is looking for when he commissions you personally.

Vitaly Alexius:

A painting done in my style. Which is as you can see, a quite refined, realistic, detailed, swirly and often "romantically apocalyptic"… I call it "Dreaminism"

Richard Box:

What do you think describes this style you call "dreaminism"

Vitaly Alexius:

From the darkest dreams of imagination in my starkly-realistic and highly-detailed style "Dreaminism" I bring to my viewers, visions of the future that will inevitably come to pass if mankind's planet-wide industrial machine isn't adjusted in time.

I have stood witness to a fall of a Nation and great noble ideals. I have seen Russian cities ravaged by human carelessness, industrialization, depression, oppression, crime and war. I have seen science fail and unleash death in the dark cases of Chernobyl and the Aral Sea "accidents". My vision is that of a late 18th century Romantic artist, with one exception - to showcase not just the destructive power of nature, but also the destructive power of man.

Dreaminism is a sense of shifted reality realized in the split second before the waking, when the mind cannot define what's real and what's not.

Richard Box:

Name your favorite artist.

Vitaly Alexius:

Ivan Aivazovsky, The Russian romantic seascape painter

Richard Box:

Codrv feature #5 - April 2007 features a piece made by you titled "alpha", what was your brief and background for this work and how do you think you have satisfied these things.

Vitaly Alexius:

The short description: The Arrow of The Heart
Angel: Alpha
Alignment: Lawful Good
Description: This is the Angel of Love put simply. Your main focus is too choose who will be together in life. But all instances of love, caring, and generosity are examples of your power.

Angel 1/30. Part of the “Legion of Angels” project

Richard Box:

Can you tell us what this legion of angels project is? or is that classified information?

Vitaly Alexius:

I was hired by www.legionofangels.net's creator to make a series of 30 angels.
It's basically the following: the client gives me detailed descriptions of angels and quick sketches and I turn them into paintings in my style.
The idea is to create a series of angelic beings such as love, death, war, etcetera. It's about understanding humanity, religion, god. And of course advertising for my client's website.

Richard Box:

Any eta on the next painting?

Vitaly Alexius:

Next angel will be "Gabriel - Angel of Death"
View the sketch here:

Richard Box:

Back on track, do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

Vitaly Alexius:

It takes the following to become a famous and well-paid artist:

1)Talent
2)Dedication
3)Imagination

If you have some drawing talent, and wish to become a true artist, then dedicate all your free time to drawing, sketching, learning about art, and advertising your work by showing it in online and offline galleries. Never forget about the power of imagination, practice imagining things, write intricate stories with your art, create unique worlds. Often a piece of art with a better idea/concept is the winner.

Richard Box:

Have you got any final messages or shout-outs?

Vitaly Alexius:

That's it? I've had longer interviews!... send me bags of money or I will blow up the moon.