carlos_teran_70's photostream

By profession, I'm a 38 year-old physician, living in Mexico City. I also consider myself a digital artist interested on diverse themes and styles. Most of my inspiration comes from music and movies. In many ways, my art is cinematic in the sense that I create scenes, as part of a greater story that we happen to stumble upon as it unfolds. I especially take care of the angles and lighting as part of that influence from cinema that permeates my artwork.

As an irony, I began working on 3D as a result of stress. I found the opportunity to create an entire digital universe from scratch one pleasant and relaxing experience. However, I can't create without being stressed, so it's a double edged sword.

I often try to offer something different on every piece, even when sometimes is just a minute detail I'm the only one aware of. In my graphics (besides Poser Pro and 3D Studio Max) I usually work with Digimation's GestureMAX, FXRealm Studios's Creature Creator or Reiss Studio's Bodystudio, depending on what I want to accomplish. I seldom use only one.

I've always thought that the real force and truth of this universe comes from a woman. Therefore, my art worships the innocence and beauty that is hidden in every woman, even in the darkest of situations.

I've never tried to create something photo-realistic per se, as odd that it might seem. My approach to digital art is to create something I will never see on real life, not to create a mocking reality of sorts. I've always complained that we constrain ourselves into reality and the world that surrounds us a little bit too much for our own sake. So, in every piece I create there is a part that is completely inexistent, intangible and impossible. It's a sheer joy to design scenes and characters that don't exist. I can conceptualize without any practical consideration for such practical aspects as whether or not such scene or situation is realistic or even possible. In essence, I'm free to construct my own separate reality.

Most of my artwork is related to erotica because that is the realm I feel more comfortable with. However, I'm far from the explicit or hard-core approach of many artists (that I respect) because it doesn't suits me just as interesting. I prefer to leave something to the imagination of the viewer, in order to establish a relationship between the characters on the graphic and those who look at it.

Regarding the visual influences on my artwork, I can mention Olivia De Berardinis, Patrick Nagel, Boris Vallejo and Luis Royo among those that I admire the most. However, I try to create a distinct image that departs from their styles, to create my own.

I even have anecdotes regarding every one of them. Like owning (and losing while moving) my complete set of first edition collectible cards by Olivia; buying an Atari 2600 cartridge just because Vallejo designed the illustration on the package (finding out later that it was a really lousy game); or buying Duran Duran's Rio album to enjoy Nagel's artwork on the cover (to have an ugly price sticker ripping the artwork when pulling it out)... and I don't even have to mention that every time that I see a Heavy Metal's cover by Royo, I feel this crave to have it in my hands.

I have a list of music pieces that I usually listen while creating, but lately that list is a blend of songs by Karizma, Evanescence, Dido, Pink Floyd, Queen and Rasputina, among others.

I've been asked often why I don't do any Photoshop post-work on my graphics. The main reason is that I'm way too lazy to even try (or when I do post-work on them, I've found out that I can't reproduce them or recreate them later if something goes wrong, instead of just pressing a "render" button), and that I feel more pleasure in pushing the envelope on the software rather than trying to show how nicely I can hide my mistakes. I prefer people to see how much I can get from Poser rather than Photoshop. Nevertheless I've been blessed with the chance to collaborate with amazing digital artists such as Aneliya Kalaydzhiyan and Sophia Ividt-Andersen, who are able to create stunning post-worked versions of my graphics.

It's probably a coincidence, but I've noticed that most of my audience is mainly composed by females. I think that this obeys to the fact that my art is intended to portray intimate aspects from every woman, and that it's inspired on them. I've been told that they find a bonding relationship with several of my graphics, and I find that encouraging. Most of my poetry is also inspired in them, and it also reflects on my art.

The kind of scene I enjoy the most, is the one you would like to see on the cover of a fetish magazine, raw and colorful, yet dark.

I've been reading Shakespeare for over 20 years. It's so easy to fall into his words, and find an insightful view of humankind, regardless of the times. Shakespeare was not a philosopher, or a preacher, or a conventional moralist; just a dramatist who knew the limits of what he could do, he represented things and left his audience to look for some meaning in what they saw. He made his audience think. I just got a few months ago, a wonderful letter from someone who enjoys my artwork, expressing how much it means to her, in 9 pages. But the part that got me was how she explained to me that my work was easy to fall into... and made her think. Mostly bringing back memories from the past.

I don't like the idea of being tied 100% of the time to the model's physical reality, or the surrounding environment (lighting, clothes, props). Most of my characters are a blending of many elements, from people that I personally know, to people that I've seen somewhere, and I usually place them in situations impossible to photograph (at least within a budget) or even to create on real life without using Photoshop. So, I think that I'll remain as a CGI artist and part time photographer for the time being.

Some people always ask me why my wallpapers are so dark. It's a personal obsession of mine (everybody complains that my TV is way too dark when watching movies) and I just can say that I love shadows and darkness in general. That reflects on my artwork, that features often a huge contrast of lights and shadows.

My files are also hard to download most of the times because I seldom compress anything, in order to preserve the most of details from my original render, that is usually 600 dpi. As I have a broadband connection, I simply don't notice how big they are until someone complains. But that's part of my commitment to give you the best quality that I can produce, every time.

In 2003, I was invited by Diane Griffith to become a featured artist at Renderotica, and that was the beginning of a wonderful experience. I've always been glad of this opportunity to be among the best digital erotic artists. So far, I can proudly say that some of my best work is posted in the Premier Gallery.

I enjoy creating my artwork. This has been because of the constant support of my fellow Deviants and girlfriend, just as well as the interest of over 900 thousand visitors (so far) that give me the honor of having my artwork grace both their walls and computer screens.

I've been granted the pleasure of being Artist Of The Month at Renderotica, working in several commercial animation projects, independent films (supervising visual effects) and having my digital comic Eternal Minuet featured bi-monthly in Renderotica Magazine. Also, I was invited to become a featured artist at Sublime Blue, the British erotica site.

And the future is bright, with my sets of 3D products for Poser Pro, and clothing line that will feature some of my graphics in high quality printing. Besides, I'll be knee-deep in the creation of some very-noir graphic novels to be published by Silver Moon Publishing in the UK.

There is a memorable line in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night: "The past is the present, isn’t it?... It’s the future too. We all try to lie out of that but life won’t let us". In this case, his words reminds me that my artwork is also about remembering the pain associated with certain people and events, a pain I thought I had forgotten but had simply consigned it to the unconscious.

I've been blessed with enough self insight to remember that I can relate to the totality of my artwork as being a satisfying creative experience. It sort of has everything: It has passion, eroticism, divinity, sadness and joy, mysticism and romance. Somehow, these elements seem to blend in an agreeable and proportionate concoction. But I can't really judge this. Nor is it either appropriate or important that I do so. I had the most intimate connection with it, having made it, and that must suffice. The thinking, I'll leave it to you.

I create female 3D art because I've something to say. Maybe sometimes the message isn't that clear, but it's lying there, lurking in the shadows. Hope you might join me there, to find it.