Creator Interview: seventhgraphics

 

Recently, we interviewed seventhgraphics, a TOM Special Creator with a fondness for computer graphics. Read on for the interview!

Creator Introduction
Name: seventhgraphics
Creator’s MyPage: http://otakumode.com/seventhgraphics

TOM: When did you begin making 3D CG art?
seventhgraphics: I’ve been involved with computers since middle school. At first, I wanted to do programming, but I failed. Then I came into contact with Shade (a CG program) and in my three years of high school, I spent a lot of time in front of the PC. I decided to apply to an arts college, but I failed the university entrance exam. However, I still wanted to go, so I studied very hard, and in the end, I got into Tama Art University and majored in computer graphics. For some reason I didn’t choose movies or visual effects.

TOM: Have you thought about making 2D illustrations?
seventhgraphics: I like drawing illustrations itself, but I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be able to compete with the top artists of the illustration world even if I practiced hard and improved my skills. However, if it was CG, I could do pretty well. It is also true that I didn’t want to divide the work, but do it from the first step to the last with my own hands.

TOM: Is that the reason you work at a design company?
seventhgraphics: Yes. Before working there, I conducted business activities in various different places, that’s how I found my present company. So, in most cases, I take part in the work from the very first step. I perform all kinds of tasks in the creation process, such as texture building and modeling. Computer performance is a lot better nowadays, and I feel the range of things I can do alone has broadened.

TOM: Seeing that you can create such high-quality art, work went well from the beginning, right?
seventhgraphics: No, not at all. I went through a lot of trouble until I got where I am today. I had my doubts, I wasn’t sure if I could do it with my own power, if I could do it as a job... But then again, I was prepared that I’d have to survive with part time jobs if I couldn’t work as a creator.

TOM: What do you think is the reason you were able to become a pro, despite your hardships?
seventhgraphics: I could say confidence and pride. I immersed myself in making art. I think you’ll understand if you take a look at my homepage at http://seventhgraphics.tumblr.com. I continued doing it because I liked it. The number of works I have piled up until now is my confidence, and the assessment from my viewers is the pride I need in order to work as a pro.

TOM: So, viewers’ opinions of your work are connected to your motivation?
seventhgraphics: Of course. A positive evaluation makes me very happy, and making the clients happy is my basic approach toward work. On the other hand, I am also grateful for my friends who point out my mistakes, as it makes me want to make even better art next time. I think both of these are important.

TOM: Looking back at when you started working at the design company, what do you think has changed most in your work, and how have you changed?
seventhgraphics: Well, five or six years have passed since I’ve started working, and I think I’ve become more whole as a person. When I started work, I refused to do the work I didn’t like (laughs). Recently, I’m trying not to do that, because I noticed that even if a work doesn’t resonate in your heart at first, you can still make some discoveries as you progress. It is also a good way to make myself more versatile.

TOM: How much time does it take to complete an art?
seventhgraphics: Well, that depends. If an idea just pops up in my head, a few hours might be enough, but there are also times when it takes two to three weeks just to polish an idea. It can take up to two months from drawing up the idea to actually completing it. It’s especially time consuming if I decide on a firm concept. The people not appearing in the work and the scene settings are important factors in determining the mood, so I like getting to the bottom of it.

TOM: What kind of art do you make in your free time?
seventhgraphics: The piece that has had the biggest echo is a picture of Azusa Nakano from K-On! A few thousand people reblogged it on Tumblr, which I was very happy about. Recently, I’ve made an illustration for a CD label called EQRIPX (http://www.eqripx.info) together with the illustrator Asami Hagiwara. Seeing my CG combined with the fantastic characters she drew was very stimulating, I was very satisfied with the outcome.

I am also active in a circle of fellow CG creators called Magnity (http://magnity.caellum.co.uk), and I make doujinshi in the digital-abstract genre for Comiket. I am planning a new book this summer.

TOM: We are looking forward to seeing your new work in the summer. Our last question: Do you have a message to your overseas fans?
seventhgraphics: Actually, I use overseas artwork as a main reference. CG culture, unlike otaku culture which flows from Japan to other parts of the world, comes flowing into Japan from abroad, that’s why I follow their work closely. However, that doesn’t mean Japanese are copying overseas works. As a Japanese creator, I’d like to communicate more with foreign people through the internet. If there’s anyone who would be interested in a Japanese creator, please feel free to contact me. I’m looking forward to it!

Check out our picture collection of the talented seventhgraphics, and don’t forget to SUKI him! Keep it here for even more interviews with some of the most prominent creators in the otaku world!

This is a TokyoOtakuMode original article.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Character design : Asami Hagiwara
Character design : Asami Hagiwara
Character design : Asami Hagiwara
Character design : Asami Hagiwara
Creator Interview: seventhgraphics 10

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