An Interview With Pixel-Spotlight

1) If you could bring one deceased legendary artist back to the current time, who would it be and why them?

This is tricky. There's so many people I would love to meet and just talk
to, artists going right back to Exekias and Phidias, it would be so
incredible to speak to them and gain just a little of their knowledge
about their art and their life times.

There's the cliche artists  such as Michelangelo (I turn into a complete raving fan girl over his
drawings and sculptures, but I'm not so mad about his paintings) and Jan
van Eyck.

More modern artists, oddly enough, I wouldn't pick a
photographer. I'd probably say the recently decided Lucian Freud. He was
one of my close friends' grandfather and whenever I saw him is was a
true inspiration to talk to.
TL;DR answer to this is idk but I'm a Classical geek so probably an ancient Greek artist.

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2) Who or what inspired you to take on the art form that you focus in?

My best friend, felicefawn started working as a Fashion Photographer as I entered my last year of A
Levels (last year of British high school). For my Art A Level I had to
study an artist, as you do, and I figured I'd get lots of brownie points
if I could say that I'd observed, assisted and interviewed my artist so
I picked Felice!

Although she no longer does fashion
photography, working with her really inspired me and I started to wonder
if maybe photography, and fashion photography in particular, wasn't
something I was good at and could actually make a career out of!

3)
We all have bad days – when we believe that our work is not good
enough, what would you suggest is the best way to overcome these and
keep creating?

I like to look at the work of artists I  admire. This can be simultaneously a little depressing and incredibly
driving. I like looking at work of traditional and digital artists and
seeing if I can incorporate elements of what they do into my work,
similarly looking at photographer's work and wondering how I can achieve
the effects they have makes me really want to experiment.

At the end of the day, however, it's incredibly hard to be an artist and one
needs a thick skin and self confidence - something I don't really have. I
rely upon the community of artists that we have on dA to a huge amount.
I have a collection of comments saved in a folder in my message center
that I look at whenever I'm feeling low or lacking in self conviction.
These remind me that my work has some kind of impact on somebody, which
matters more than I can express.

4) Do you feel that art is an isolating hobby in itself or not?

I think that, yes - although it's hard to make a general ruling over this - it is. Or can be at least.

I'll focus on what I do, as an example.

I spend a ridiculous number of hours a week networking and planning
shoots with people - either online, on the phone or in person.
I'll  then spend between three and twelve hours shooting a concept with a team
of 3+ people, which is stressful but a social experience up to a point.
I'll then spend 10+ hours retouching ever
photo that I want to release from the shoot. This is incredibly
isolating and lonely. Occasionally I'll retouch live, broadcasting over
the internet, but this is rare and even when I do I don't exactly have
the chance to discuss what I'm doing with people.

The redeeming  part of this, is the feedback and support which I receive once I'm done -
when I upload a picture to dA or flickr or Tumblr or Facebook or
wherever. That makes it less isolating, because (on dA in particular)
people are constantly encouraging and expecting new work and discussing
it with you, you're never truly alone when the internet links us all.

5)
You have been selected to go on all expense paid holiday for three days
with historical figures, an artist, a writer and one free choice. Who
would you take?

Slight tandem here, I recently interviewed for a University Degree in Fashion Photography and
one of the questions they asked was "You're having a themed party, what
theme is it?" I'm a bit of a nerd, so I instantly replied "A classical
theme" (Yes, okay, my brain was screaming TOGA PARTY!!!!).
Then the guy asked "And which five historical figures would you invite, dead
or alive?" I hate questions like this and after playing for time a
little _{"I'd rather they were all alive... Otherwise it'd kill the mood a little hahahhaha!"}

I said "Winston Churchill, Emily Pankhurst (seriously, I had no idea. I
was grasping at straws. And yes, I meant, as my mother later pointed
out, Emmeline Pankhurst) and Hitler." I couldn't think of another two.
That's just to prepare you for the fact that I seriously suck at these
questions....

My artist would be Alexander McQueen. He would make
me gorgeous clothes while on holiday. And I would do anything to have
him alive and creating again.
My writer would be Lord Byron. I'm a huge fan and I think he'd be a pretty fun traveling partner.
My wild card would be Jen. Yes, that's right, ^ScENeYmE

Mature Content

6) What is your biggest challenge personally in creating your work?

I
find it hard to keep my work fresh. I too easily adjust and become
content with where I am and what I'm doing, I have to keep striving to
better my last piece of work and be more creative. It doesn't sound like
much, but I find it a huge challenge.

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7) What new art techniques have you discovered this year?

I've
mainly discovered and experimented with new retouching and post
production techniques. Hopefully I'll be able to share some with y'all
soon, I'm working on releasing some retouching tutorials and photoshop
actions soon!

8) When are you most creative and why? Time of day/week/season e.t.c

Irritatingly, it generally tends to be when I can't do anything - like when I'm in
the bath or late at night. I guess it's when my mind has nothing else to
do.
I tend to get frustrated that I get so inspired by things on dA
or Tumblr and then have to wait days or weeks to organise a shoot or
shoot a concept inspired by them.

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9) Are you professionally trained in art – have you been to college or Uni to study it?

I'm about to start a degree in Fashion Photography at London College of
Fashion, but I've been working in the industry, self taught, for nearly
three years.

10) Finally, Describe an insecurity you deal with in making art.

I hate it when I'm finished shooting and I'm importing the images onto my
computer and the whole team gathers round and watches them come in. I
haven't had a chance to check them or do any edits to them and I hate
what I'm seeing and become incredibly insecure that they'll all suddenly
go "Oh my god what the fuck? Why did we shoot with her?!"

A Selection of Pixel-Spotlight's work

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