Hello. Please introduce yourself.

Hi everyone, my names Dean and Im a Digital Artist, working under the pseudonym 'Conzpiracy'.

How are you doing today?

Im a bit more invigorated this evening, got a few niggling injuries from kickboxing and training; but enjoying life and feeling good!

How would you describe what it is that you do?

Im a PhotoManipulator and retouch artist, I use Adobe Photoshop to create imagery for clients or for personal projects. The work I do uses a combination of manipulation techniques and digital painting, so a lot of the principles that apply to traditional work is applicable in the digital field.

There is predominant bio-mechanical theme to your art, where do you draw that influence from?

First and foremost I think it would boil down to HR Giger! Aside from that prominent early influence, I think it was my attachment to technologies that were evolving at a ridiculous rate as I was growing up. Later, during my studies, I came across Ray Kurzweil and the notion of 'Post-Humanism' and that really set the inspiration bomb right off! I think 2001 A Space Odyssey really nailed the concept, that the course of mankind can be measured by its enabling technologies, and in the future man and machine will probably become symbiotic (that’s if thermonuclear annihilation hasn’t occurred!)

Some say your art is dark...what do you say in response?

Thanks!

What are the tools of your trade?

Sony Vaio laptop, scraps of folded up A4 paper, scanner, biros

What is your most favorite thing about what you do?

The Eureka moment of learning a new skill, or creating a new piece which shows development. Being able to articulate what you are thinking is quite a liberating thing as well.

What is the most taxing?

Finding the reserves to carry on working when it is 2am, you’re tired from life’s activities and have a challenging client who is making you jump through hoops. You’ve got to keep fighting the good fight in order to get paid!

Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee?

Muchos respect to Jackie Chan, Drunken Master is my favourite martial arts film ever - but it has to be Bruce Lee. I love his academic approach and his thirst for knowledge; he was a true pioneer in his field.

Describe your art in three non words.

eh, whoa, hmm

What is something that people wouldn’t know just by looking at you?

I can only see out of one eye

What does art mean to you?

The opportunity to be a fantasist, to ask the bigger questions and to make your mark.

What really grinds your gears?

Television adverts, tabloid newspapers, ignorance and herd culture.

You have the opportunity to sit with anyone in the world, alive or dead, for one hour…who would you pick?

This one is very difficult, but it would have to be my favourite author and creative of all time - Clive Barker!

When did you know that art was your bread and butter?

At the risk of sounding cliché, I think I’ve always known. I was always going to be doing something creative.

You have the opportunity to write a newspaper headline that will get read around the world…what do you say?

Television rots your soul, get some exercise!

Some of you subject matter is a bit risqué, what does your friends/family think?

My immediate family is very counter-culture, so they’ve never been shocked, and if they were concerned - I’ve never heard about it! My friends all know I’m a weirdo, so they all roll with it.

What inspired you to start doing what you’re doing?

I kind of fell into it; I was a keen illustrator all my life, so when the PC turned up I wanted to see how it could be used to modify my drawings. I couldn’t believe that the tools previously restricted to design studios and photography suites were now available to the hordes, and I just had too much fun doing it!

Do you have anything in the mix that we should keep our eyes peeled for?

There are lots of tutorials in the pipeline, and I’m currently the gallery moderator for Photo Manipulation on DeviantArt - so I’m rolling out lots of Digital Art related articles which should be quite interesting to those interested in 'how its done'.

Do you have words of advice to people who want to pursue a career in art?