CGX presents an interview with Imran Ali Dina, an artist who has displayed very inspiring digital artwork at our forums. We take a brief look in to the workflow of this amazing artist and his sources of inspiration.

(CGX) Can you please introduce yourself?

My name is Imran Ali Dina, right now I’m 30 and working at Arena Multimedia as Faculty member since August 2000. Well I’m not a sporty guy, never played Cricket. All I remember is I used to play with colors since my childhood. I love to listen music (mostly Rock). I always wanted to see all Pakistani artists at one forum, for which I made a club named “Irtaqa� on Deviantart which I failed to continue because of lack of time. But now I can see every artist on CGX and I respect this community a lot.

(CGX) Have you been working in this field professionally? If yes, then since when? If not, then why not?

Yes I’ve done some freelance work of Web Design, Print and some TV Commercials using After Effects. I haven’t done any Digital Painting as professional project all my paintings are just my time pass as a hobby.

(CGX) What kind of toolset to you use to produce your artwork?

I just use Photoshop and my Wacom Tablet for Digital Paintings. For freelance I use Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Aftereffects, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Dreamweaver.

(CGX) Are you a traditionally trained artist?

No, unfortunately I couldn’t go to any art school for proper art education, but there is something I feel which is God Gifted in me. I’m not perfect but I try to be as perfect as possible. I observe things around me. And paint them as best I can.

Fantasies

(CGX)What are your sources of inspiration?

There are lots of artists but there is one artist whose work literally inspired me for Digital Paintings. She is a Swedish Artist name Linda Bergkvist (http://www.furiae.com). I saw her artworks on Deviantart at that time I used to submit Photo manipulations on that site but when I saw her work I started doing paintings. Plus there are lots of other international Digital Painters on Deviantart.com. 

(CGX) Do you find drawing/painting on a PC tablet the same as drawing on paper? If not, how is it different?

Yes its almost same but some differences are, in Digital painting you don’t get paint on your hands, you don’t need any extra room for your paintings and paints, above you always have and UNDO option with you. But rest are same, you need the same vision and passion for the same. I hardly use layers in Photoshop but many people use layers too. So Digital paintings gets easier than Traditional paintings.

Noir

(CGX) Can you talk a little bit about your workflow? How would you start on a picture like NOIR, for example.

My workflow of paintings is quite simple, first I make a rough sketch directly in Photoshop then I paint roughly keeping the direction of light in mind, then I smudge the over all colors to get a smooth look. Then I go for fine details with a small brush and finally to add some more life I do some highlights and shadows. For NOIR, I took a reference because as I said I’m not good at Anatomy, I drew a rough sketch of her then following the light I painted in a very rough manner. Then again the same steps, NOIR really gave me a hard time because painting a black skin was a big challenge for me; it took me 25 to 30 hours to finish.

Beauty

(CGX) Everyone is praising Beauty, the digital painting of a horse that is on CGX's Gallery. Can you talk about the process involved in the creation of this image and how long it took from start to finish?

First of all thanks to all of you great artists for appreciating my painting “Beauty�. Well basically I love Horses and this painting is a true reflection of my love to this Beautiful Creature. I always wanted to paint a beautiful horse so first I painted “Fantasies� then after a long time this “Beauty�. For this painting I first took many many references then I drew it directly on Photoshop using my Wacom Tablet. Then as my all paintings I painted random colors following the light, I find this technique very easy because when you have rough shadows and highlights you have 50% work completed. Then I just started to smooth the overall figure and I added a background. Then fine details of eyes, nose and the best part, the Hair. Mostly people ask me about hair well hair is quite simple to make just need some patience. I put some base color for hair and with a fine brush keep on making lines hehehehe. Another technique is to make custom brush for hair but that is more useable for fur type hair. And I add the last final touches and color tones with color balance in Photoshop.

(CGX) You obviously have great command over color, light and shade--something that 3D artists lack quite a bit. If I say that you need to master these skills in 2D (or in traditional arts) rather than in 3D to make you a better artist in general, would you agree?

Well I think that basic observation is very important in both 2D and 3D. So far I’ve seen many 3D artists with traditional arts background who are more faster and perfect in their field. I’ve also seen some 3D artists with no traditional arts background but they are also working way too good. I must say that every artist must have at least the basic knowledge of light and shading and better observation.

(CGX) What is it that you still find difficult in digital painting?

Most difficult thing for me these days is to get some free time. Secondly for me I am bad bad bad at anatomy I need to get some proper education for it but again the same time factor.

(CGX) Is 2D digital art as widely in demand in the professional world in Pakistan as 3D is?

Unfortunately no, and I don’t know why but still I haven’t seen many digital painters in Pakistan. Secondly I think that industry still is in favour of same traditional art for concept art and story boards. I must say that Gaming and Animation Industries should consider going digital rather than the same time taking traditional concept art.

Portrait: George Michael

(CGX) What would you advise to a person who wants to shift from traditional art to digital painting?

If you (traditional artist) can afford the cost of Canvas, Paints and Brushes; he or she can easily afford a computer with Wacom tablet and Photoshop installed on it. Trust me you would be spending some more time with your family because digital painting is quite faster then traditional.

(CGX) Where do you see yourself in 5 years time as an artist?

I would love to work as an art director somewhere. Plus I might try for some 3D software.

(CGX) Any words of advice for aspiring 2D artists?

Art is simply a communication between Eyes, Brain and Fingers. Try to remove barriers in between them.

CGExpanse would like to thank Imran Ali Dina for taking some time out of his busy schedule for the interview. For more information and artwork, please visit http://iadinaplus.deviantart.com/gallery/

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