Favorite Quote: “Great Googily Moogily!”
Favorite Movie: Today: The Big Lebowski
Favorite Book: Today: Adobe InDesign Manual
Favorite Bands: Today: Drive By Truckers
Favorite Songs: Today: The Mob Goes Wild - Clutch
Favorite Photoshop Tool: Polygon lasso tool
How did you get your PSC nickname?
Unfortunately, the story is so boring, I'll spare you of it. It was a name I used for UnReal Tournament.
What is your real name and age?
Ken & I'm twenty-fifteen.
Where are you from and what do you like best about being there?
Syracuse, NY & c'mon get serious. ;)
What do you do to keep the bills paid?
I get paid to Photoshop~!
Really. I went pro.
What do you do in your spare time?
Hang with my girl....read.....you know...stuff...
How did you find PSC, and what do you like most about the site?
Howard Stern mentioned the contest featuring Artie Lange. I checked the site, lurked for a month...etc.
What I like most about PSC is my friends I have here, they know who they are.
If you could change one thing at PSC, what would it be and why?
I don't have much of a problem with how PSC has evolved really. Things are continually getting better.
Is there any other information about you would like to pass on?
I met L.L. Cool J once.
How many hours per week do you spend on PSC?
Not as much as you may think.
What other sites, not Photoshop related, do you like to surf?
Over the last year, I've slowly become an avid indie music fan.
www.indie911.com www.emusic.com
What tools do you use to chop?
First of all, I HATE how all you guys refer to it as a 'chop' or 'chopping'...it's queer. Sorry, it is.
That said...Macintosh G4, OSX...no tablet (yet)...just my mouse & sporadic creativity.
What gets your creative juices flowing, how do you create a masterpiece?
I think, for me, the original image has to trigger something. Be it a joke, pun, subtle tweak, whatever. I used to be able to pride myself on making a post out of the original - no matter what it was. Now I realize I can spend that time, figuring stuff like that out, on other things.
What inspires you?
No formula for me. It's either there or it isn't, from the beginning. If I have to spend more than 10 minutes trying to figure out a concept, I'll pass. Got a life.
Do you have a system? Does a chop have to be done a certain way following steps or are you a messy chopper and just go with the flow?
The only thing resembling a system that I have, is the sheer will to make the post I'm doing match whatever vision I have in my head to begin with. Sometimes it's very frustrating & involves having to step away from the project for a few minutes. To my own amazement, much of my 'better' stuff (both for PSC & professionally) ends up exceeding my expectations. Doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.
What style of chop do you prefer to create?
Most of my PSC stuff I guess would qualify as 'funny styled', or attempts toward that end. As I continue to evolve, I try to make whatever style I do (both for PSC & professionally) more realistically credible. A lot of that coming into play through detail work (lighting, shadows, etc.).
Filters, brushes and techniques: Which do you use, and not use, and why?
Surprisingly, the bulk of stuff that I use in PS is strictly 'right out of the box'. Nothing third party or special, other than what is already contained in the program by default.
When do you know that you have it just right, or is it constant changes up until, or after, you post?
I can usually tell about midway through the process if the whole thing is gonna succeed. Meaning, if it's gonna accomplish what 'I' want it to creatively. I might spend some extra minutes, at the end, doing final tweaks. Once I upload it though, I just want to be done with it.
What is the limit to what you will chop?
In 2002, PSC was still in it's infancy. Things were A LOT different. It was more about attention & votes than at any other time since.
So, that said, virtually nothing was off-limits. I look back at some of the stuff I did back then & it was/is absolutely ridiculous.
Now, with the time passed & getting older, there are definitely limits to what I would do. I think the current crop of upper tier PSC artists know how to push the envelope & maintain some class. That's what I like about people like Anfa, Rey Rey & Claf (among others).
Are there any tips and/or tricks that you would like to pass along to less experienced choppers?
Less is more. You don't need to do what everyone else is doing or whatever the current trend is. That's ok if you're still learning the program(s). However, once you're established with knowing how to make posts, infusing your own personality is much more interesting & useful.
What is your favorite type of source image, and why?
People. I think that's just an extension of what I always gravitated to as a painter or illustrator, before Photoshop.
There is often talk about how the source is used and to what extent it should be. What are your views on all sources, outside source use and animations?
It's nonsense. If the post or artwork sucks, no amount of “I made this all from source” is going to change that.
What is your preferred resource for outside source images?
Google
In your opinion what makes a good chop?
A firm grip on your axe, knife or cleaver handle.
Do you have a system to get things started?
The only thing resembling a system that I have, is the sheer will to make the post I'm doing match whatever vision I have in my head to begin with. Sometimes it's very frustrating & involves having to step away from the project for a few minutes. To my own amazement, much of my 'better' stuff (both for PSC & professionally) ends up exceeding my expectations. Doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.
Have you ever completed a chop and then decided not to enter it in the contest? If so, why?
Only a few times. Sometimes things just don't end up the way you want & you have to just get on with life & do something else.
After you finish your chop do you just post it or seek opinions of family and/or fellow choppers first?
Used to do that a lot. Now, not so much.
If some one finds a fault in your work do you change it or stay with what you posted?
If I value that person's opinion, then maybe. Otherwise, when I upload it...it's done.
What qualities do you look for when deciding to vote on a chop?
"Am I entertained?"
Some member prefer not to vote for filtered chops or animations. Is there any particular style/type of chop you won't vote for?
Stuff that looks like it's either following a trend or looks like it's derived from a hack tutorial.
Time is always a factor, how much time do you spend on a chop and how much time is too much?
Depends. Anything longer than a video rental, unless you actually know what you're doing, is way too long.
We all love to get votes. Now are you a constant vote checker or do you just let it go and check once a day? (be honest)
Depends. If I've got down time at work the day of a contest, I'll check a lot.
What chop of yours did not do as well as you expected?
I was blatantly ripped off HERE: http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/40086/ps-popcorn.html
What do you consider your best chop so far?
Hard to say. I have favorites. I'd just as soon leave that determination to others.
What do you consider your worst chop so far?
Anything from the first 10 or so pages of my portfolio.
Who is your favorite chopper out there and why?
Claf. Super intelligent & talented. Many of his posts speak volumes beyond just the art itself.
What do you NOT like to see in a chop, and why not?
Schlock, tutorial-driven, hackneyed crap.
What is the best chop of all time?
Again, hard to say. Too many to mention.
Do you have any other PSC related comments to add?
I was very pleased to lead my team, 2MGD, to victory in the 4th PSC Scavenger Hunt. I didn't even want to do it & hated how it overwhelmed my free time that week. It was surprising & satisfying to know that the items I did (all 5 or 6 of them) accounted for the majority of our points. The fact that we silenced a lot of people who didn't want us to win was even better.
