Last week, we launched our interview series here on Design.CreativeFan, where we will be interviewing some of the talented designers and artists from around the globe to offer their insights to you.

In week two of our interview series, we sat down with USA-based designer and Evoke member Rob Shields, to talk about his design techniques, styles and influences.  A writer-turned-designer, Rob has been working with design for four years and has quickly risen to prominence, with features in a variety of digital art magazines and showcases.

Enjoy the interview!

• Name: Rob Shields
• Age: 28
• Location: USA
• Website: http://robshields.net/
• Software: Photoshop CS5, Cinema 4D, Adobe Illustrator CS3

Thanks for taking the time to interview with us. First off, could you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a self taught artist and have been designing for about four and a half years.  For the past six months I have been moving away from my previous dark portrait based style and expanding into the abstract and digital painting scene.  My goal is to be free of photo manipulation by the end of 2012.

Illuminated

How did you get started with design?

I started to design in 2006 as an attempt to help cure my writer’s block.  It didn’t work too well which is something that I still feel kind of bad about.  So accidentally would be my official answer.

Drop It Doe Eyes

What are your major influences?

I think classic foreign cinema, poetry, philosophy and literature are currently having the biggest impact on the subject matter that I choose to deal with.

How would you describe your style, in a sentence or two?

My style is a combination of abstract typography, narrative painting and portraiture.   I really respond to work that is highly detailed and crafted slowly.

We Have Never Been Modern

What draws you to the style of art and design that you make?

The art and design that I make is partially a product of the art that I admire and partially a longing to express my own voice.  At the moment I am very attracted to the elegance of digital painting, the kinetics of abstract work and the boldness of minimalism. Overall, I’m not very concerned with sticking to a specific style but at the same time I have set certain stylistic limits to help maintain a recognizable voice.

In Search of Lost Time

Do you have any advice for beginning designers out there?

Don’t copy other designers, become better than them.

Where do you see yourself in the future, and how do you feel that you will be growing as an artist?

I have very specific goals one of which I have mentioned in previous questions. Really the most important thing to me is to continue to improve not only my technique but also my creative process.  I will be pushing a lot harder into more narrative work which is going to open up a whole new realm of expression for me.

Escape

Anything else you’d like to say? Any projects you’re working on that you want to draw attention to, or closing thoughts for the readers?

I will be launching version four of my website in early October so keep an eye out for that it will be a pretty major update for me! Also thanks for the interview and for reading!

If you want to read some more about Rob and his techniques, he has been featured in Advanced Photoshop and ComputerArts issues, so check those out.