Hello Dear Manuel Kubisch. Thank you for giving us the chance to Interview with you. Our first question is how the “Covid-19” affects your art and what is your expectation for the year ahead of us?
First off, thank you for the opportunity!
At the beginning of lockdown, when the whole pandemic started and the situation urged us to stay home, I couldn't go to work. And with too much time on my hand I started to make art again after a long hiatus.
Currently, I feel there is no difference for my art. I am also very optimistic regarding the pandemic and that it would soon “end” or returns at least a bit normal... regarding other current events with a certain invasion, we will see.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what drove you to choose art as a career?
I was always interested in the dark and disturbing things even back as a kid. Starting with surrealistic painters like René Magritte, Max Ernst and Giorgio De Chirico. The twisting worlds, fantastic and organic forms and turning reality on its head – that is what piqued my interest.
I drew surrealistic landscapes and organic, twisted forms at first. Parabola, one of the artworks exhibited on the site, was inspired by one of my first surrealistic drawings back from 2012!
So, my mind was set on becoming an artist really early on. In one way or another!
Can you tell our readers a little bit about how Andres Rios sparked your inspiration about the work you are creating now?
Sure! Well over the years I started to play a lot of video games. The likes of Dark Souls, Dante's Inferno and the Witcher series to name a few. And if you look up the twisted fantasy creatures and worlds these games created you can see the heavy inspiration I draw from them.
At first I was concentrating on 2D concept art, learning Photoshop inside out and I tried to transfer my drawing skills. But with Andres Rios another rabbit hole opened up – he created everything I envisioned in my wildest dreams but in 3D! From there on out I learned Blender, then Zbrush and different programs for rendering my works. He opened up the possibilities I never even thought about!
Could you describe your normal day as an artist?
Currently, I work another job full time. Before or after work I try to piece together my art, bit by bit. I watch a LOT of tutorials for enhancing my skills in all the programs I use. And often times I find myself scrolling through Artstation or Instagram for more references and inspiration.
Can you tell us a little about your days while you were studying oil painting? Are you still considering going back to oil painting or is this your happy place now?
Oh 3D concept is 100% my happy place for now! Back when I drew a lot with graphite I started to also get a liking for traditional art – the likes of William Adolphe Bougueareau or Jules-Joseph Lefebvre. But also contemporary “masters” like Cesar Santos and Roberto Ferri.
Oil Painting was another medium I tried out, but never got too good at it unfortunately. Maybe I will revisit it in the future!
What do you like most about being an artist?
The freedom of creating my visions as I see them in my head. Especially in 3D I have the feeling I can put so much of my artistic vision in it and change the mood, atmosphere and overall aesthetic in rendering.
I also love to tell stories, dark fantasy and twisted world building. You can pour your heart and soul out in a little text box right next to the Instagram post, that is certainly something! :D
What advice would you give to your younger self?
“Boy, you never know what the future holds for you. And you definitely don't know everything there is RIGHT NOW. Keep exploring, take opportunities and also just start with something new... right now. Just do it. Take the first step, fail, learn, do it again.”
That is what I would throw my stubborn self at the head!
Anything else you would like to mention or add for the readers?
I think my advice to my younger self holds true to anyone – don't limit yourself by standards you created in your head, how something has to go because you THINK it has to go like this.
There are 1000 ways to your destination. Just do something, learn from it if it fails, do another.
Thank you for your time!
Thank you for having me and thank you again for the opportunity!