Peter Maciocha, AKA Enjin, is a designer from Poland. He's an incredibility talented artist that makes amazing illustrations. He finds his inspiration from music. Peter makes the majority of his designs in Photoshop. His illustrations are a mix of photo manipulation, 3D elements, and more. Let's jump into the interview with Enjin.
1. Welcome to PSDTUTS! Please introduce yourself, give us a brief bio, tell us where you're from, and how you got started in the field.
Hello, my name is Peter and I am a 24 year old designer form Poland. The first thing you should know about me is I hate writing about myself. However, I know this is interview so I'll try. I've finished studying the arts in college, but the knowledge I got there wasn't enough so I would say I'm a self-thought designer.
Two years ago I showed my first computer generated work publicly and that was the beginning of my experience as a computer graphic designer. In the fall of 2007 I discovered "Enjin" and showed my first works with that name. That's how I presented myself to the entire world now. Everyday I work as web designer, sometimes as a motion designer, but my real passion is illustration.
2. "The Ark" is one of my favorite designs by any graphics artist; can you please give us some information on the process of making this masterpiece? How did you come up with the idea? Did you have any setbacks while making it?
This design was created for the "Crestock Photoshop Contest." Competitors had to make illustrations based on at least one of four photos provided. I downloaded the photos and started thinking about the concept. The idea came to me while I was playing with a photo of a house (the one that is on the turtle).
I just felt that it would be nice to create a fantasy Ark with not only animals but with landscapes on it. I started out with a couple sketches and then started working, I didn't even release what I had made until I was done. Creating that image was a lot fun, it's one of the easiest illustrations that I've ever made.
3. Can you tell us about your first Photoshop experience and how much you have evolved since then? What is the most important lesson you have learned?
To be honest, I don't remember my first experience, it just happened. One day I just got addicted to Photoshop and I still cannot cure myself. Over the years I've done lots of experiments in PS and it helped me find my own techniques and style. But my biggest step was, when I used a tablet for the first time, let's say that I've changed from a boy to a man.
Photoshop gives a great amount of freedom to artists, you can do anything with it, but over the years I've learned that sometimes this can be a problem. When you have such freedom, it's hard to tell when the work is finished, you always want to add some more detail, change something and you could do this forever. Sometimes, you need to say stop, even if you think that your work isn't finished.
4. You are a professional in Photo Manipulation; can you please give us a few key techniques that you always use in your designs?
I don't think that there is any key techniques. I just think about the concept and try to do it the easiest way I can, but if I had to point out one, I would say that digital painting is my the key one. I also like to use DOF (depth of field) which is an easy effect to do using PS, and gives great depth to images.
5. You seem to use a lot of 3D elements in your work, what do you use to make them, and how do you think they benefit your artwork?
I treat 3D as an add-on to my work, usually it's not the major part of the image. 3D gives more options, you can create more complex illustrations and create things that are impossible to do only with Photoshop alone.
I use 3D Max, which is quite complicated, so I always try to make the 3D images as simple as possible, then I work on it in PS, so the render and final image usually are very different.
6. What are your favorite resource websites to visit when starting a new project? What draws you into using them? What is so unique about their resources?
I love the Behance network, it's a great place for inspiration, ffffound.com is also great (those two are my favorite). What I love the most about them is that I don't need to dig for a long time to find good resources, because almost all of them are great there. I also use Google or Wikipedia when i have a specific topic or theme to do. I usually use them when I need to have more information on a topic.
Wale and Blue Scholars | 3/2008
7. Your work is full of unique imagery, can you tell us what inspires you to make some of your art? Where do you find your ideas? Can you give us a specific example of a time when you were inspired to make a piece of art?
My main inspiration is music and music is the most effective way for me to imagine things. I would say that I create images, based on music. A great example for that are my two pieces "Ruthless" which were inspired by Amon Tobin's song with the same name.
One day I was listening to that song and suddenly the idea came to my head, I took a pencil, drew some sketches and started illustrating. This work is probably the most personal thing I've ever done.
8. Thanks again for providing PSDTUTS with this opportunity at interviewing you, any final thoughts? What would you tell other designers that hope to be as good as you one day?
Well, never stop believing in your skills, with hard work you can accomplish anything you want. Sometimes it takes time, but it's worth it. Try to find your own techniques and style and I'm sure you will be rewarded. Anyway, big thanks for interview and best regards to all people reading this. Hope you got inspired.
Where to Find Enjin on the Web
Peter Maciocha, AKA Enjin, is a web designer, motion designer, illustrator, and digital artist. You can find out more about him and his work below.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )hood September 14th
ziomek z Polski:)
Bboytjuh September 14th
Great interview,
Good and clear, and it made me see u can’t always just have an idea…
You can just start and see what it will bring to you!
Thanks!
bboytjuh
PaulR September 14th
Great Interview. Nice
sumit September 14th
You have inspired me to buy a tablet pc
Raymond September 14th
Thank you for doing this interview. Enjin will be one of my inspirations in web design.
rjton September 14th
very interesting
NaldzGraphics September 14th
good interview.im starting to be a fan of him
Lawrence77 September 14th
nice one….
very good photos over there …
i’m liking it….
All authors are requested to give such tutorials to us….
thanks…
Lawrence…
Dainis Graveris September 14th
amazing artists..i have no words to say..just amazing..huh..
diesel September 14th
Amazing, what a beautiful folio…thank you for sharing his creativity with us!
Rodrigo September 14th
Great interview.
Enjin, you are my new idol!!
Mephisto September 14th
Good Artist, Good Interview, but it’s driving me crazy trying to work out how he did the silver paint drips in ‘Can you dig it’ :@
loswl September 14th
Excellent interview!!…Great to see the works f different artist and see how they started out in the business, He has some reat pieces in His Portfolio, very inspiring! :o)
hiperkarma September 14th
thank you
Nikhil Nigade September 15th
This was an amazing interview. The work is great and source of inspiration is really unique!!
Lucas Loyola September 15th
oow nice.
puffgirl September 15th
WOW! love the ark
5ivedance September 15th
amazing…especially the last one. Perfect work.
Lawrence77 September 15th
nowadays PSDTUTS becomes bore….
Hey guys come up with new ideas jpeg’ly
Lawrence77 September 15th
Dainis Graveris your site is very good…
Joel Falconer September 15th
The turtle is very cool. Reminds me of Discworld a bit.
insic September 15th
This guy is amazing. I love his works.
Joefrey Mahusay September 15th
He is very creative designer…Great work!
Duo September 15th
Those works are truely very nice, but sorry, what makes him “incredibility talented”? I’ve lots of arts with more unique and creative look.
Duo September 15th
I’ve seen*
Ani September 15th
Interviews and link bait is all good…but for the last month, it seems to be all that I’ve spotted on here drowning out what should be quality tutorials. Kinda annoying paying for a subscription service for what appears to be now very few tutorials overshadowed by similar stuff people can find on a freebie blog.
Let’s see more tutorials and less interviews and spam posts please guys
Shane September 15th
great stuff.
Make Design, Not War September 16th
Insightful interview - had a good time reading through this one… I always love seeing a little more behind the images, so this was great
Darrin September 17th
Kewl, I agree with music being a major influence in Art. Also, I will probably be buying a tablet myself.
maurice September 17th
Very creative guy, can have much inspirations from his work
Rob September 17th
Is it just me, or are there so many amazing designers from poland?
Literally 2 of my top 5 favourite digital artists are polish!
Something in the water.
Photoshop Brushes September 19th
wow. Cool Stuff. Than You!
Takumi86 September 25th
Jesus Christ this site is stunning, i have bookmark your site, so wonderful to have visit here
Danish Jalbani November 13th
Nice interview
Great work
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