Interview with UK Artist Craig Shields
Craig Shields is an extraordinary 22 year old graphic designer from the UK. With a long lineage of artists in Craig’s family he feels comfortable with a pencil in his hand. Currently attending his last year at a University for design, Craig is now thinking about what path he will take when he graduates.
In this interview Craig discusses how his stint in the University has benefited him as an artist. He also describes how he created one of his amazing pieces for the latest Depthcore art pack. So let’s get into another awesome interview!
1. Welcome to Psdtuts+ and please introduce yourself. Could you tell us where you’re from and how you got started in the field?
Hi, my name is Craig Shields, I’m 22 years old and I live in the city of York, UK. I’ve always had an interest in art, since an early age. My mum was an artist, and her mum, and her mum before that. It runs in the family I suppose.
It was natural for me to pick up a pencil and draw something eye catching. I used to get in trouble for always doodling in my books at school though. I was obsessed with making my own little characters and art became more of a habit than a hobby, I only did it because I was bored in class.
It wasn’t until we got the Internet back in 2004, that I came across Depthcore. I was amazed. Digital art was new to me, inspiring and I wanted to create my own. One thing led to another: I got a copy of Photoshop, and got creating. All those years later, here I am. Not to mention I’m now a member of my inspiration, Depthcore.
2. In your bio you stated that you are in your last year of design school. Describe how design school specifically helped you become a better artist.
Yep, I’ve still got one more year to go, and then I’m done. The course I take is probably not the best course for me. I was under the impression that in Graphic Design we would have been learning some Photoshop techniques, and some illustration work would have been involved. But no, all we get given is briefs from websites to complete.
Briefs that don’t interest me or get me excited. A lot of the work is bookmaking. Stitching page after page together. I find it boring and I also find it hard to incorporate my skills into any of the work we are given. As negative as it all sounds, I think it has made me a better artist because I’ve learned a lot about what I don’t want to do in the future, pushing me to work harder at what I like doing.
3. You have pretty much chosen designing to be your career in life. Who and or what initially made you want to pursue this field?
Like I said, it runs in the family. I love things that stimulate me visually. The internet has been my main source of inspiration. Everyday I find something that makes my work look like crap. It’s not a bad thing. I’ve always found that thinking my own work isn’t good enough just makes me want to do better next time, and try something different. It’s always been like this for me, its my workflow.
I enjoy a lot of what I do, even client work. Being able to create something and make someone other than yourself say they like it, makes me happy. I strive to be the best I can in each piece I do, like most other artists out there.
4. Your design style varies from each illustration you do. How much do you really experiment with new techniques when you are about to create a new piece?
I call it exploring. I hate sticking to the same style. I like to test myself and see what I can and can’t do – push myself. It really helps to keep me going and stops me getting bored quickly, lol. I refuse to read tutorials, I’d rather find out how to create something my own way, in my own time. Its more enjoyable for me to explore different techniques sometimes with good results, some bad.
5. In terms of designing what would you say is your biggest strengths and weaknesses? And when creating illustrations how do you play to your strengths and away from your weaknesses?
My biggest strength would be my determination to better myself as an artist. As corny as it sounds. Reading more design related material, such as: magazines, books, blogs, websites, etc. Talking to other artists too. Seeing what they’re doing, how they go about things and then wanting to do the same for myself. Like every designer out there, I want to be better.
My weaknesses….erm. I drink way too much Red Bull – lol. It keeps me up all night, but does nothing for my imagination. I lose my sense of direction when making something. Unfortunately, I sometimes have lots of work to do so I have no option but to stay up all night. I think I have a problem…
6. “Hocus Pocus” is an astounding illustration that you created for Depthcores latest pack entitled “Her”. Explain to us what lies within all this beautiful chaos. And please walk us through the process of creating this illustration.
Thank you! The concept revolves around love at first sight. The man can’t explain why he feels the way he does about her. He just does. Its magical, surreal. Almost like she’s placed a spell on him.
I started off with the models face. She’s beautiful but I wanted to add a creepy twist to it. Adding textures and painting little details on to her gave her this look. The hands were added next. They were positioned to give the impression that a spell was being made. A combination of dark and grungy textures made the background, and various other paint textures to create a sort of spider-web pattern around her head.
Vibrant green marks were made with my Wacom to represent your typical spell and also inject some much needed color into the image. Finally, some foreground shapes were blurred to give a sense of movement and depth.
7. What do you plan on doing when you graduate from design school?
I’d like to continue freelancing, or I’d like to get a job as a junior designer at a small design studio. We’ll see, it all depends on this next year and what happens. I’m just going to take it day by day.
Digital Arts Magazine Tutorial
8. Thanks again for providing Psdtuts+ with this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?
No problem, thank you for the interview. For everyone reading, enjoy yourself and what you do.
Where to find Craig on the Web
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nice work ….
good work…!
I’m studying graphic design in the UK too, slightly older than Craig, and I pretty much agree with everything he said in response to question 2. I feel as though the briefs are rubbish and that the course isn’t letting my shine at things I enjoy doing, but it’s making me realise what I really do enjoy.
Of course you can implement some things, but the briefs don’t really make me feel excited, although hopefully that will change. Also I laughed at the bookmaking/stitching comment, as I’ve done that too!
: ]
wrong, thats because you are inexperience and you dont like being told what to do. when you work for company, every briefs arent excited, some are excited. think about that, intern.
That’s the corporate thug attitude moving towards the creative designer attitude. If a designer is REALLY good, people will beg him for work to be done the way he wants it to be done, styled the way he wants it to be styled. If you’re the average pixel pusher working as a mere tool, then yeah, your weak/silent/always listening/good kid attitude is gonna pay off, that’s for sure. But it only means your ideas are not good enough
I have seen your work before i just couldn’t remember where. I am officially a fan of you now. Keep it all up, bud.
Saw you in adobe photoshop magerzine I think or computer arts.
I get muddled.
Great work I love the react piece.
About the question 2…
Maybe the “problem” is that design and art aren’t the same thing.
Exactly. Design and art are very different things indeed.
i saw ur works in abdu…awesome
Job Done And Freestyler are excellent pieces of work
Craig is really amazing , his piece ” Job Done ” is a legendary piece in depth core , probably the best black and white design iv ever seen and th concept is cool .
Hot work… definitely one of my favorite artists… congrats Craig
About #2:
It’s always a shame when I hear stories like this, I’m not sure how talented people end up going to schools with such useless programs. I’m a 3rd year at Rochester Institute of Technology (in New York) for New Media Design and I absolutely love it. I find the course material is exactly what I want to do when I graduate, the technical skills I am taught are useful and up-to-date with current standards, and I also get experience with real-world clients. Not to mention my professors are absolutely amazing and will go to any length to get us great jobs. (My former classmates currently work at Firstborn, Big Spaceship, AKQA, Odopod, etc….)
Anyway, great interview, absolutely love Craig’s works. They’re breathtaking!
Every one a winner. Inspiring and awesome. Thank you.
Love his work, these type of illustrations are great.
the first four are unbelievable.
SICK
Awesome work
WOW. it’s just WOW
amazing, i love his work!
great work!!!!!
Nice! The style is perfect for print advertisement.
Whoa, love love love the composition of freestyler!
It surprises me that you’d find a graphics design course weak, because those taught here, while they do not focus on Photoshop techniques (which isn’t supposed to be what school is for, anyway), teach a lot more. I’ve a friend who’s done it, and hers had a lot of things involved, such as, say, semiotics, ergonomics, usability, history of art, package design, digital design, webdesign, vector art, 3D art, psychology, economics, typography, diagramming, marketing, aesthetics, drawing, photography… and that’s just what I recall from her, as I didn’t go for graphic design (I went for computer science)…
Hi Sibby.
The course isn’t necessarily ‘weak’, its just not for me personally. I just think that it doesnt suit me and what i like personally. Wheras it might be for someone more design oriented, rather than someone like myself who is more of an illustrator.
When i first chose the course i did want to be a designer, but as the years have gone by ive come to realise that i want to make illustration my first career choice, with design as my second.
It was just my personal opinion on the course and how it affects me. The course is one of the top courses in the UK, and i’m not slating it what so ever, nor am i calling it weak.
Thanks.
What Melody doesnt love?
A great insight into Craig Shields design career so far, and how he got into design. His designs are really expressive with an element of space age.
Craig Shields, continue on and expand urself more mate ur blessed with gifts not a gift bros. May u be encouraged and inspired as much as u have inspire many of us all around the world; your work, all your work is a gift to the human race and espcecially to those wanting to be come arts of any kind.
I am lost for word last but not least i will say your place in history is already marked, I thank God for your life.
Shalom.
i agree! i am going into my final year of graphic design: illustration…. i find my course really uninspiring and i never get the right briefs to express myself and do what i want to do! Don’t even get me started on book binding!lol!
your work is absolutely stunning….
it’s inspiring to know that someone my age who feels the same about uni can still push forward and create this wonderful work!
thanks! x
I admired you design..
am currently in Africa Uganda think will be coming to uk for a design course, damn your just too good your ma inspiration keep it up
incredible works.
Congratulation to your excellent work.