Having entered the world of art at a relatively young age, Camillo Pasquali learned everything he needed to start creating worlds of his own. Today, this Vienna-based freelance artist treats us to a series of imaginative landscapes that strike both utopian and dystopian notes in an awe-inspiring combination.
“The way I see it, I’m still at the beginning”, says Camillo in this week’s On the Spot, where he talks us through his artistic path from video games to fantasy worlds. Let’s ride this journey together!
What did your first steps as an artist look like?
When I was about 12 years old, I started to become more and more interested in the artistic side of video games. The first thing I found was GIMP, a kind of stripped-down, free alternative to Photoshop. However, I soon realized that the software was limiting me a lot, so I switched to the actual Photoshop and started learning it. At that time, there were no video tutorials, so I had to make a lot of things up from text manuals.
Over the years, I started getting jobs at graphic agencies, even while I was still at school, and step by step, I got to where I am today.
How did you develop your current art style?
Just like any artist, I think. I learned the basics and then started copying other artists and works that fascinated me. I’ve been influenced not only by digital creators, but also by video games and anime.
Of course, the circumstances, the society and the time you live in all influence your own style as well. That’s why it’s always evolving, as long as you keep creating art. For my part, I like to create these crazy, colorful worlds that hopefully may inspire somebody or simply invite them to dream.
What is the most important thing you have in your studio?
Probably not a very inspiring answer, but I would say my PC. Creating art the way I want to is only possible with a powerful computer. Of course, my sketch pads and graphics tablets are also important, but without my PC my art would look very different.
How would you define your biggest success so far?
It was probably when I decided to change my style a great deal to something more in line with my current “self” and I got an incredible amount of attention on various platforms as a result. That was the first time I realized that there are people who actually appreciate my work.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Literally everywhere. Mostly from other artists, but also from anime, movies, books, cooking, nature, animals… The list goes on! My point is, if you go through life with open eyes, you can find inspiration all around you.
In your opinion, how important are social media for artists nowadays?
If you want to get noticed – they’re very important. Social media offers opportunities for artists that no generation before us ever had. However, it’s also where you “compete” with the whole world for the attention of art lovers. That’s why the tastes of most users have become very refined, unlike in the past when you didn’t have access to art from every place in the world and every period of history. In that way, social media has definitely shaped art as much as our society in general.
Which artist would you like to grab a coffee with?
Leonardo da Vinci. I love his work, and even if only half of all the achievements attributed to him are actually true, he was still probably one of the most interesting people who ever lived.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not creating art?
I love cooking, especially Chinese at the moment. Otherwise I like to try new things, visit new interesting places or meet people. I like to spend time with my family. Oh, and I still play video games and watch anime, but unfortunately I don’t have as much time as I would like for these.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to continue building my business around my art, further develop my style, and make sure that my work reaches as many people as possible. The way I see it, I’m still at the beginning of my artistic career, so there’s still a lot to do – which I personally find very exciting! I look forward to seeing what I can achieve with my art.
Instagram: @millisworlds
