We’re back with another artist interview! This week we have an extremely awesome treat, local Las Vegas artists that kick ass! Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, “they must be your friends, that’s why you’re featuring them.” Got news for you Nerds, I’ve never met this dynamically nerdy duo. But they’ve made quite a splash here in Vegas! Check them out and tell us you can’t see their Nerdy passion and talent. Without further ado, I present Ninjabot!
Nerdlocker (NL): Tell us about yourselves. And please, tell us how you met.
Arnel (A): I was born in the Philippines, grew up on Guam, then made my way to Seattle first before finally moving to Las Vegas. I’ve been drawing since I was 9 and pretty much never stopped no matter how much I tried. I met my fiancee in Art School (at The Art Institute of Las Vegas). I graduated from there with a degree in Graphic Design, but I’ve always loved the world of illustration.
Estefania (E): I was born in Argentina. I moved to Miami when I was 13, until I finished High School. Then, I moved to Las Vegas for college. I graduated from The Art Institute of Las Vegas with a Bachelors in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics.
NL: When did you get your professional start in the art world?
A: I actually started working in the industry while I was in school. I managed to get Illustration and design jobs before I graduated from school.
E: I guess for me it’s this company really, because I studied video stuff before this, all I had was jobs editing shows, and creating motion graphics. It’s just now that I am designing art prints.
NL: How did you establish your niche in nerd art?
A: Well I think we’re still trying to establish ourselves really. We’re such a young company. I try to focus on the heart of the imagery, the essence of what makes something special. I try to take a minimalist approach to design.
E: I definitely agree with that. The thing that we both have in common is that we like the minimalist look. We like bright colors, funnny stuff, nerdy things, and I think you can kinda see that in our prints.
NL: Where do you find inspiration and what are some of your influences?
A: I find it everywhere! Music, movies, comics, really everywhere. I love the design from the 60’s, the Art Deco style, Art Nouveau. It’s difficult to not exclude anything.
E: It’s the same for me really. I also love small cute things, vintage stuff, and colorful desings! Movies is a big one really. Everytime we watch a movie, by the end of it we come up with 2 or 3 new possible prints. Sometimes about the movies, sometimes not. I think that watching awesome movies gives us a lot of inspiration for our work.
NL: Who are some of your favorite artists?
A: How much time do you have? 😀 I started drawing because of artists such as Jim Lee and Todd McFarlane. Comics are a huge influence. The comic artists then I like these days are guys like Dustin Nguyen, Francis Manapul, J. H. Williams III, Fiona Staples, and Adam Hughes. Then we have the Rennaissance guys like Leonardo Davinci and Michelangelo (not the turtle). Once I started school my influences and tastes in artists broadened. The major cats that I like these days are James Jean, Joao Ruas, Tomer Hanuka, Martin Ansin, Olly Moss, Aaron Horckey, Jock, Alphonse Mucha, the list goes on and on.
E: Boy is my answer going to be dissapointing! Haha! I don’t have a big list like him. I am terrible with remembering people’s name and it’s only now that I am with him that I am starting to remember who does what, and what are their names. But one of my personal favorite artists is Brittney Lee. I absolutely love her designs, and the way she uses color. I wish I had half of her talent! I really love her work!
NL: What posters/art do you have on display in your house?
E: That’s a funny questions actually because we have a ton of art hanging at home.
A: Unfortunately most of that art is our own work framed because its just the best way for us to store the frames at the house.
E: That’s true! Haha! We frame our work to show it off at our shows, so we have a ton of frames with our work, but we don’t have any room to have it laying around, so we hang it. But we do have other artists work hanging at home. We have stuff from Britney Lee, Javier Guzman, Ragnar, Nidhi Chanani, Ruel Pascual, some friends like Aaron Wade, Athena Cagle and more.
NL: Star Wars of Star Trek?
E: Oh boy!
A: Star Wars. I have always loved the characters and the worlds that George Lucas created. Although I’m no Star Trek hater. I’ll watch anything Star Trek. I’m pretty excited about J.J. Abrams Star Trek sequel.
E: I have seen all the Star Wars, but I have not seen all the original Star Trek series, yet I prefer Star Trek better. Not by much, but just enough to say I like Star Trek more. Why? I’m not sure to be honest. Maybe it’s because I grew up watching more Star Trek stuff, than Star Wars.
NL: Do you ever have a healthy (or unhealthy) competition to see who creates the best art? Or are you Arnel a smart man and admit your fiance is way better?
A: I am a smart man and my fiancee is way better.
E: Oh wow! That question was a set up, and I had nothing to do with this! Well, done guys! Haha! I am not way better, I’m not even better than him. He has all the amazing drawing, and designing skills. I mainly try to mimic his designs to try and help create art prints for the company. I’m more of the business side of everything. He is the master mind behind most of our prints.
A: No, there is really no competition. Our design process is largely collaborative. We will have disagreements about certain things but it’s all part of the process.
NL: What do you do in your free time?
A: Well in my free time I like to sketch, watch movies, and play videogames. Although to be honest it’s all research. 😉
E: I like to play video games, and board games. Watch movies, and old tv shows like “Friends”.
NL: What sets Las Vegas apart as both an art community and a nerd community?
A: Las Vegas has a great nerd community, but I think that our art Scene is still in it’s infancy. Things are getting better though. Even compared to a couple of years ago, I believe the art movement in Vegas has grown tremendously. The local artists are fighting for their city’s soul. It’s an exciting time!
E: It’s so true. Plus, we have so much room to grow in Las Vegas because it hasn’t yet been established. Here we can try to find our own voice, while making one for the city. Everyone here, Vegas, that has anything to do with the art/nerd movement knows each other, or knows a friend of someone else because it’s such a small community still. But I can’t wait until Vegas gets to be in it’s teen years in the art scene. It’s going to get wild-er!
NL: Have either of you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
A: Do you ask that of all your prey? Or do you just like the sound of it?
E: Oh my!
NL: Touche. Give us a Nerdy secret that most people don’t know about you.
A: I can do a pretty good Scottish accent.
E: He can do so many more accents actually. He is just being shy. My secret? I became a nerd when I met Arnel over five years ago.
A: That’s true.
NL: What is your favorite movie?
A: BLADE RUNNER. I love all of the design work and atmosphere of the film. I never get tired of watching.
E: Oh man! Anything from the 80’s probably! And one of my guilty pleasures is Lords of Dogtown… Don’t ask.
NL: What is your favorite video game?
A: That’s kind of a big question… I love games from quirkier developers. Games developed by That Game Company like Journey are fantastic. Team ICO games like Shadow of the Colossus is another favorite. I must confess however that one of the games that I never get tired of playing are the Halo games. I think the last game in the series done by developer Bungie Studios, Halo Reach, is my favorite.
E: I love to play Halo Wars, Deathspank, Gear of War, and Left 4 Dead. They have almost nothing in common, but I still love them all.
NL: What is your favorite comic book or comic book character?
A: I’m a big Superman fan. Always have been always will be. I’m so stoked for Man of Steel. I would say that Superman Birthright is my favorite book. What Mark Waid and Leinil Yu were able to achieve with really fleshing out the origin story for Supes was fantastic to me.
E: Mine is The Walkind Dead series. I have read all the hard bound covers, and I can’t wait for the 8th book. Those books are soo good! I love how they are so different from the TV show. I just love that whole thing really! When I was reading the books I started on a Sunday, and then I finished buying, and reading all of them two weeks later. But I should add that it took me 2 weeks because I forced myself to stop myself from reading tw books a day. I wanted to try to enjoy the 7 books as long as possible, so I did half a book a day.
And there you go Nerds, the local Las Vegas kick-ass artists, known as Ninjabot! Please stop by their website (http://theninjabot.com/) to stay up to date with all their latest prints. Stay tuned to Nerdlocker for an amazing give away coming soon sponsored by your friendly neighborhood Ninjabot!
Also, they are currently running a Kickstarter project that offers some incredibly unique opportunities! Check it out here!
And finally, hurry on over to there website now to take advantage of their presale for their latest prints seen below.
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