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Interview with
Jean-Pierre Targete
Featured Artist for January 2001
Would you introduce yourself and give a little personal background?
My name is Jean-Pierre Targete I was born on October 21st 1967 in New York
city. I was raised in Miami Florida and that is where I currently live.
How long have you been an artist? How long have you been creating fantasy art?
I've been an Artist since I could hold a pencil...I've been creating
Fantasy art since age 13 I'm 33 now.
Have you had any formal training in the fine arts?
I
have taken a Art classes since elementary school and throughout high school I
was part of a unique program for gifted students called P.A.V.A.C performing
arts and visual art center. I was fortunate enough with allot of hard work to
get a full-scholarship to the School of Visual Arts, where I studied with some
of the best Artist and instructors in the country.
What are your biggest artistic influences and inspirations?
I think at an early age Comic books were my greatest inspiration along
with films like Star Wars and Jason and the Argonauts anything that had a hero,
creature or fantasy element I loved. Artist wise as I got into my teens I
admired Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Richard Corben the Hildebrandt
brothers Rowena and many comic book artist. As I got into my twenties and in
college was exposed to the old Masters like Rembrandt, Anthony Van-Dyke, Peter
Paul Reubens, Ingres and David, that is when I realized how vast and rich Art
was. I think Life is the best inspiration, nature is the greatest masterpiece.
Can you describe your creative process - how you come up with ideas for a new drawing and how you take those ideas and create a finished piece of art.
I
am constantly coming up with new ideas for images...once I get an idea I usually
brainstorm putting my thoughts on paper in a rough form, these can include
thumbnails on a napkin or worked up doodles in my sketchbook. One I have a rough
I like I usually develop it into a refined sketch hammering out more details and
deciding on color and lighting etc. Once I have a good sketch I start the
painting and work on it till I am satisfied.
Do you have a favorite fantasy artist or an artist you admire?
By far Frank Frazetta, no Artist has inspired more young Artist then this
man he is a legend and I salute his achievements and I thank him for the hours
of visual enjoyment I have received from looking and studying his masterpieces.
What advice would you give to young artists who are just starting out?
Keep drawing never stop, keep a sketch book with you 24 hrs a day sleep
with it under your pillow. Always follow your heart and dreams don't worry about
your competition but seek out your inspirations and learn from the masters then
develop your own style and have fun doing so. Art is a rich gratifying
experience keep in near your heart.
If you could be a character from a fantasy novel, movie or game, who would you be?
One of my all time favorite characters is Han Solo in Star Wars...I'm a
rogue in many ways and I like to explore the far reaches of my galaxy just me
and my Millennium Falcon.
Finally, what cartoons did you watch as a kid?
I
watched the Super Friends, The cool Tarzan cartoon that was rotoscoped and Star
Blazers...was there any other as good as that for kids growing up in the early
80's? ;).
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