| Interview with Raul Gonzalez By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview.
How are you and things in Spain?
How are you and things in Spain?
Raul Gonzalez; First of all I would like to thank you for your
interest. I am just fine and working alot on new drawings in which
I try to improve or do something totally new. Truth is that I think
there are always possibilities of change so I always try to keep
myself busy and drawing... There are two actual artists here in
Spain in which I really identify myself with and those two are Rafa
Garres and Mike Ratera.
interest. I am just fine and working alot on new drawings in which
I try to improve or do something totally new. Truth is that I think
there are always possibilities of change so I always try to keep
myself busy and drawing... There are two actual artists here in
Spain in which I really identify myself with and those two are Rafa
Garres and Mike Ratera.
Blissfulviolet: Tell me about yourself and what inspired you to
become an artist?
become an artist?
Raul: For some reason while growing up I had the need to draw
everything I had come up in my mind. What influenced me the
most and my drawings were the LP covers of classic heavy metal
bands like Iron Maiden, Dio and Megadeth I came across. I was
fascinated by those covers, what I saw, the realism in the effects
I saw in them. So of course I had to try and I wanted to learn to
do the same, so I began to draw and taking my work seriously.
At the age of 15 I started going to an art school, so you could
everything I had come up in my mind. What influenced me the
most and my drawings were the LP covers of classic heavy metal
bands like Iron Maiden, Dio and Megadeth I came across. I was
fascinated by those covers, what I saw, the realism in the effects
I saw in them. So of course I had to try and I wanted to learn to
do the same, so I began to draw and taking my work seriously.
At the age of 15 I started going to an art school, so you could
say I had it quite clear then. While walking to class I would get flash ideas for a drawing and would think
"oh sh**!" I couldn't wait till I got home to draw what I had on my mind so I would draw it right there and
then. Lol
"oh sh**!" I couldn't wait till I got home to draw what I had on my mind so I would draw it right there and
then. Lol
Blissfulviolet: By looking at your work, one can make the assumption that horror is a huge influence.
Would you agree?
Would you agree?
Raul: Yes of course all my work is based on horror.
Blissfulviolet: What are some of your favorite horror flicks and artists?
Raul: My favorite horror films would be Alien (part 1 & 2), The Night of The Living Dead, Evil Dead, The
Exorcist, Hellraiser... and nothing new! I passed alot of time watching those films. As for artists, I would
say Hr Giger because by the time I was 14 I had seen alot of illustrations of monsters and dragons but
Hr Giger always took fantasy and horror to a higher level and that really changed my mentality, but not
for long. I didn't want to copy or imitate Hr Giger because his works are personal and unique, of course
copying or doing something similar to his work would make me feel mediocre. So I haven't lost my
interest for the styles of Dungeons and Dragons or classic horror, Frank Frazetta or Bernie Wrightson
style, so you could say you can see alot of influences of any artist be it comic or illustration.
Exorcist, Hellraiser... and nothing new! I passed alot of time watching those films. As for artists, I would
say Hr Giger because by the time I was 14 I had seen alot of illustrations of monsters and dragons but
Hr Giger always took fantasy and horror to a higher level and that really changed my mentality, but not
for long. I didn't want to copy or imitate Hr Giger because his works are personal and unique, of course
copying or doing something similar to his work would make me feel mediocre. So I haven't lost my
interest for the styles of Dungeons and Dragons or classic horror, Frank Frazetta or Bernie Wrightson
style, so you could say you can see alot of influences of any artist be it comic or illustration.
Blissfulviolet: Do you have a certain technique or process in
which you use to create your work?
which you use to create your work?
Raul: At first I used Gouage on hard paper but I realized that
was not the best technique for me so I started using a acrylic
paint which is a much better technique for me seeing you have
more choice as, more brush strokes, cover, paint over etc...A
few months ago I tried oils but I don't think that technique is for
me either. I am interested in using Photoshop also. Using
Photoshop I can have alot of copies and try different ideas on
each and make digital illustrations. But you know for me the
most "authentic" art is painting on paper or a surface instead of
using a computer. Painting on paper or surface I have a feeling
of doing something "real". My process is. I do a sketch and if
I am happy with that sketch; I draw it on hard paper and then
directly paint it. No mystery really and I usually take a week.
was not the best technique for me so I started using a acrylic
paint which is a much better technique for me seeing you have
more choice as, more brush strokes, cover, paint over etc...A
few months ago I tried oils but I don't think that technique is for
me either. I am interested in using Photoshop also. Using
Photoshop I can have alot of copies and try different ideas on
each and make digital illustrations. But you know for me the
most "authentic" art is painting on paper or a surface instead of
using a computer. Painting on paper or surface I have a feeling
of doing something "real". My process is. I do a sketch and if
I am happy with that sketch; I draw it on hard paper and then
directly paint it. No mystery really and I usually take a week.
Blissfulviolet: Out of all the artwork you have created up to
date, describe for us which one you would consider to be your favorites and why?
Raul: I would say my favorite work to date would be the covers I did for Suicide Solution. The covers
consisted of a spectacular scene of a city in pure chaos, building in ruins, zombies walking around the
city....very George Romero movie like. But really I don't like to talk about my own work and prefer people
to give their opinion on it. Lol
consisted of a spectacular scene of a city in pure chaos, building in ruins, zombies walking around the
city....very George Romero movie like. But really I don't like to talk about my own work and prefer people
to give their opinion on it. Lol
Blissfulviolet: You recently did some work for Toyvault. How did that come up and what type of work
did you do for them?
did you do for them?
Raul: I was very exciting! I got in contact with them and from what it seems they were about to come out
with a new horror card game. They offered me to paint some scenes of demonic possessions and some
other mystic scenes. I was very satisfied with that work.
with a new horror card game. They offered me to paint some scenes of demonic possessions and some
other mystic scenes. I was very satisfied with that work.
Blissfulviolet: What current projects are you working on?
Raul: I get all kinds of job offers, from people wanting tattoo designs to cd covers. Right now I am
working on a t shirt design for Summers End, a very competent band in which I feel very at ease working
with. I would say I feel less at ease and uninterested which I am asked to do something far from my usual
style of work.
working on a t shirt design for Summers End, a very competent band in which I feel very at ease working
with. I would say I feel less at ease and uninterested which I am asked to do something far from my usual
style of work.
Blissfulviolet: Other than creating amazing artwork, what
type of hobbies take up your spare time?
type of hobbies take up your spare time?
Raul: Well I usually dedicate all my time to drawing or if
not contemplate the work of other artists. But I also like to
read horror and fantasy books. Right now I am reading
Cell by Stephen King. I would also like to get around to
reading the forth part of The Dark Tower by Stephen King,
but here its impossible to find and on Ebay you can find it
for 60 euros...60 euros!...Imagine!
not contemplate the work of other artists. But I also like to
read horror and fantasy books. Right now I am reading
Cell by Stephen King. I would also like to get around to
reading the forth part of The Dark Tower by Stephen King,
but here its impossible to find and on Ebay you can find it
for 60 euros...60 euros!...Imagine!
Blissfulviolet: You are obviously a metalhead, name
some of your favorite bands?
some of your favorite bands?
Raul: Yeah I am and I like alot of classic bands like
Megadeth, Sepultura, Slayer, Mercyful Fate, King Diamond
new cd is really good, you know the kind. Lol
Megadeth, Sepultura, Slayer, Mercyful Fate, King Diamond
new cd is really good, you know the kind. Lol
Blissfulviolet: If today you were not an artist, what do
you think you would be doing?
you think you would be doing?
Raul: If I didn't have any other election...I think I would be doing any other thing in the artistical field like,
Cinema, Literature or Music. You know I have really never thought of it...really.
Cinema, Literature or Music. You know I have really never thought of it...really.
Blissfulviolet: Any final words?
Raul: I would like to say thanks for the interview; it’s a pleasure to see people are interested in this kind
of art. I would also like to thank all the people who support me. To all the artists and musicians I would
like to say what I say to myself always...Never give up!
of art. I would also like to thank all the people who support me. To all the artists and musicians I would
like to say what I say to myself always...Never give up!
Raul Gonzalez is a horror/fantasy artist that resides in Barcelona, Spain. He has
created many CD covers and T-shirt designs for a variety of metal bands. Gonzalez
has also had the opportunity to work with Razorback records, ToyVault, The
Adversary productions of Houston, Texas and many more, who have all found his
work to be amazing.
created many CD covers and T-shirt designs for a variety of metal bands. Gonzalez
has also had the opportunity to work with Razorback records, ToyVault, The
Adversary productions of Houston, Texas and many more, who have all found his
work to be amazing.