We’re back with another artist interview! There are some amazing artists out there who capture the essence of a horror flick. Phantom City Creative, Alex Pardee and James Rheem Davis to name a few. We recently covered the Bottleneck Gallery opening of The Gang’s All Here which featured a print for the movie Nightbreed. It definitely caught my eye. That’s when I discovered Timothy Pittides and his impressive ability to recreate horror films into a single image. Check out his answers to our always hard hitting questions!
Nerdlocker (NL): Tell us about yourself.
Timothy Pittides (TP): I have been a freelance illustrator in the underground metal scene since 1996, creating t-shirts, album covers, and CD layouts for bands in the punk, hardcore, death and black metal scenes. It wasn’t until this year that I felt my work needed to be brought out into the print world. I formed Artopsy Productions alongside my wife Jana, and good friend Kelly Hammond with the simple goal of promoting myself as well as other like-minded artists who have tremendous skills and abilities that have not had a place to showcase their work. I am also continuing my education with hopes of completing my Masters Degree in Fine Arts in the next couple of years.
NL: Where do you find inspiration and what are some of your influences?
TP: Inspiration is everywhere you look. It just takes the right mindset to find it. Usually the perfect composition or design element comes to me when I least expect it, like in the shower. Being a 90’s kid, I grew up with all the talented artists from Marvel and Image Comics. Todd McFarlane is my biggest influence when it comes to my pen and inks. But when it comes to drawing women, nobody beats Jim Lee. When I decided to enter the print world, Ken Taylor and Martin Ansin became my digital influences.
NL: You seem to have a great knack for horror. Why is that?
TP: I was raised on horror films. My mother was, and still is, a huge horror fan. I remember the first film she took me to in the theatres was Nightmare on Elm Street 3. From that moment on, horror became my passion. Through grade school, all I drew were chopped up people stuffed in barrels and blood splattered environments, it got to a point that my 6th grade art teacher had to call my mother and have a little meeting.
NL: What is your favorite horror film?
TP: Without a doubt, Dan O’ Bannon’s Return of the Living Dead. From the first time I saw it when it debuted on HBO, it scared the shit out of me. Didn’t help my room was in the basement. I am an uber-nerd when it comes to that movie (I used to own almost all the available released materials) and I actually get upset if people quote it wrong.
NL: How did you get involved in creating such fantastic nerd related art?
TP: It happened when I met my friend Kelly. He runs a local horror film screening night called “Blood Thirsty Thursdays” here in San Antonio, TX. I had the idea of making some posters for an upcoming screening of Friday the 13th Part 3. Kelly thought it would be a great idea and we just went for it. And we never looked back.
NL: What’s your favorite nerd related snack?
TP: A 44oz Valero Fountain Soda and a bag of Dorito’s Munchies (cheddar, of course)
NL: Who are some of your favorite artists?
TP: Oh man, well McFarlane is still crushing it. But in the print world, I am going with Ken Taylor, Randy Ortiz, Martin Ansin, Godmachine and my new favorite Laurent Durieux
NL: What posters/art do you have on display in your house?
TP: Right now I have up an Eric Tan Return of the Living Dead, a Durieux Dracula, Ansin Frankenstein, Taylor Creature, William Stout Tarman, and some fine art pieces I have done.
NL: Star Wars of Star Trek?
TP: Neither. LOTR owns them both.
NL: What do you do in your free time?
TP: With both school and my own work, there really isn’t much free time. But in the downtime, I enjoy movies, some TV (American Horror Story, Walking Dead), and enjoy just spending quiet time with the wife.
NL: Give us a Nerdy secret that most people don’t know about you.
TP: Probably, that I am a huge American History buff. I enjoy anything on WWII and the Civil War.
NL: What is your favorite video game?
TP: Rockstar Games Manhunt for the PS2. The intensity and violence just does not compare to any other game. After that would be the entire God of War trilogy.
NL: What is your favorite comic book or comic book character?
TP: It would have to be Spawn. McFarlane created something unique and fresh and I remember picking up issue number one the day it came out and crapping my pants about how amazing it was.
NL: What are some of your upcoming projects?
TP: After my Nightbreed print, which will be officially released on 12/13/12, my next screen print will be of Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond, due out on January 11th. Around the same time I will be in my second exhibit at the Bottleneck Gallery entitled “Gadgets and Gizmos”. My screen print for that is top-secret but rest assured, it will be something definitely unexpected.
NL: Is there a question you’ve always wanted to be asked, but have never found the opportunity?
TP: “How in the hell did you get so damn good looking?”
And there you have it. I will say despite Timothy’s incredible art prowess, he failed miserably on the Star Wars question. We’ll let it slide this time.
On a more serious note, please visit his website to check out more of his original creations, http://www.pittidesart.com/. And of course, DO NOT MISS the Nightbreed drop over on Artopsy Productions on 12/13/12 (this Thursday)! Check out the images below for more info.
NIGHTBREED
Artist: Timothy Pittides.
Size: 25″x39″
Medium: Screen Print
Paper: 270GSM French Cream Speckletone.
Edition size: 80.
Printed by VG Kids.
(Actual Photo of Print)
Now for the tease! Timothy Pittides and Artopsy Productions have graciously donated an AP copy of Nightbreed for an exclusive Nerdlocker giveaway! Stay tuned for details!
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