An Interview With An ArtRage Artist
Bruce Rolff (rolffimages) creates original paintings and photo-manipulations for stock images sites, and specialises in minimalist abstracts and surreal conceptual images using a wide variety of software. In this interview, he focuses on how he uses ArtRage to create his art.
ArtRage Editions: ArtRage 4.5
Platforms: Windows 10
Background: Digital & Traditional Art
Website: rolffimages.squarespace.com
Who are you? What do you want the internet to know about you?
I am mostly a digital artist. I sell my work online via multiple stock companies. I’ve been involved in the arts since I was a child. I started making little three legged figures with removable heads and making dioramas of Egyptian tombs. As a teen I made metal and clay sculptures. As an adult I painted minimalist abstracts with paints and brush, pen and pencil minimalist abstracts, and spray paint and pastel on paper abstracts. I also became involved with photography. I earned a few awards at local art shows. During this time I had learned to use the computer as well and over the years my work became more and more digitally manipulated and created.
I display my work at art fairs in NYC, Hoboken which is just outside of NYC, and a few other locations. Although I tend to be an introverted person I enjoyed doing the shows to see and hear people admiring my work. Of course the best compliment of all was when they would purchase my work to decorate their home or office.
What kind of artist are you? What kind of subjects do you draw? (How would you describe your style and/or theme?)
That’s a great question! I’m not sure if I fit in any category other than a digital artist. I have several different types of images. My most common and sometimes copied by other artists is my surreal, spiritual, fantastic, sci fi style images. The kind you might see on Facebook to accompany some spiritual or new age saying.
Do you use other programs or traditional media?
Yes I use many programs from painting, to 2D software, with Photoshop being what I use most and 3D software. I no longer use tradition media although I may someday go back to it. I do find at times I want to do so.
How long have you been using ArtRage?
Just a couple of years.
How did you come across the program?
I was looking for a program where I could do some, more traditional painting. A simple to use, realistic, painting program. ArtRage fit my needs perfectly. And the price was right too! I think it’s a fantastic program especially for the price. I had to do some searching to find it, but its awesome software.
What ArtRage works or projects are you most proud of?
Well I mostly have used ArtRage to create paintings as elements of another image. With my 2D created work I tend to combine many elements to create an image. In many cases you might not even recognise what elements may have been used there.
And out of those my favorite is the mostly red bridge illustration.
Editor’s Note: See some of Bruce Rolff’s most popular stock images and learn more about what works and what doesn’t in his interview on Fotolia.com.
How do you choose what to draw?
It chooses me. I may start with something in mind but it usually goes someplace else in the end. When I am creating it all tends to happen organically. I move from one image to the next in a flowing sort of way.
Are you trying to tell a particular story/convey a certain meaning, or just basing it on what looks good? What response do you want from people?
That is another great question. It depends but often I am trying to speak of spiritual things. For whatever reason I often try to convey peace. Perhaps because in my mind there is at times such anxiety. Perhaps I am seeking peace by creating images of what I’d like to feel. But I also like to have fun with it or even sometime show discord. The response I want most from people is buying my work! I hope people find uses for my work. Whatever those may be. And since I get paid for it, that is awesome.
Why do you use ArtRage?
It’s a great program and it is simple to use and has great effects. I love the palette knife most of all. I love the depth, texture and blending it has especially.
Where does ArtRage fit into your workflow?
I use many different programs. And I use ArtRage mostly to create paintings that I blend into my images. When I have time to spare it’s fun to experiment with. I am always gathering ideas in my head for potential use later. Ideas I’d like to try. I am always trying new things. Pushing the edges of what software is capable of sometimes even using them in ways the software creators didn’t quite intend. For example at one point while I was fairly skilled with Photoshop but still learning I was creating images with dimensional objects that folks thought were done with 3D software.
How would you normally paint a picture? What is your process?
I have to smile and chuckle a bit at that question. It varies, but it’s not a simple process for me. It is mostly organic. I sit down with an idea. I work on it and finish it a new idea pops up and I follow Alice down the rabbit hole, moving from idea to idea. It may be just using one particular program but if I need an element that would be better created in a different program I switch. At times I could be going back and forth between programs or images. Working sometimes on a couple images at once. It’s funny because I can spend many hours that way and it’s like a snowball effect. The longer I work the more ideas I have coming at me. I don’t do this very often anymore but I would at times stay up working to the point of near exhaustion following ideas until I finally had to quit because my body would just say no more.
What are your favourite ArtRage features?
Again I like the simplicity of the tools, etc., and again my favorite tool is the palette knife. Love Love that tool. Texture, depth, mixing, it’s all good.
Do you have any tips for other artists who might want to do the same thing as you?
Work constantly, love creating, be obsessed with it and never quit. Did I mention work constantly and never quit?
Is ArtRage suited to professional artwork?
Yes. The one improvement I’d like to see though would be ability to create even higher resolution images and bigger brushes and tools. With stock you have to create large images, some would say very large images.
View more of Bruce Rolff’s work at rolffimages.squarespace.com, follow him on Facebook and purchase his microstock at Shutterstock
Also check out his feature at Fotolia.com for some fantastic artwork and more discussion on creating stock images.