Mr. Juan Pitluk: A Genuine and Industrious Artist
Mr. Juan Pitluk is an artists who knows what every passion should constitute: an awareness of the craft’s past and the artist’s heart on his sleeves.
Through Mr. Pitluk’s interview, we’ll get to know his regard for the prime movers of the visual arts, his pipeline, and his efforts toward producing high quality digital art. And if you look at his works online, you’ll get to see the fruits of his efforts. Indeed, they are such sights to see.
So let’s get to know Mr. Juan Pitluk through this feature and be inspired by a genuine and industrious artist.
Xeno Creatives (XC): We understand that being an artist such as yourself, you start with the very basic of tools for honing your craft. As such, what processes did you have to learn (given the technical know-how needed for ZBrush) to be well-versed in your discipline?
Juan Pitluk (JP): I always wanted to work in an area related with art and ZBrush fills that gap perfectly. I started learning 3D ten years ago watching tutorials and reading e-books. I also have a friend who taught me how to use 3Ds MAX.
XC: When did you realize that you wanted to pursue ZBrush as a medium? Would you want to expand to other media or do you want to focus specifically on ZBrush?
JP: Learning ZBrush was the way I found to bridge art and business.
As for other media… yes. I believe that once I established myself as a digital sculptor I will start to experiment with classic materials like clay and wood.
XC: Have you tried your hands on other media? If so, what was it?
JP: I have a Fine Arts education so I tried painting, engraving, clay modeling. I also worked as a prop artist for theater plays and commercials where I had the chance to work with different materials.
XC: Did delving into the art start-off as a want or a necessity?
JP: Both. I´ve always enjoyed drawing since I was a kid. I was always drawing my favorite cartoon heroes and videogames characters like: TMNT, Mortal Kombat, Captain Tsubasa, Saint Seiya and Dragon Ball Z. As I grew, I started looking at Frazzetta, MacFarlane, Peter Chang, and all the classic painters and sculptors from the Renaissance.
Then switching to digital, 3D in my case, stands out as a need because it allows me to support my family and also keep doing what I enjoy the most.
XC: We have had the opportunity to see your portfolio online (specifically on Facebook and Art Station) and we must say to describe it as impressive is an understatement. Your superhero renders are super-awesome, and your sense of anatomy is noteworthy. Do you have favorite pieces? What are they and why?
JP: Thank you. There are three pieces that I consider significant in my portfolio.
Green Arrow is the first one. It’s a piece that shows an improvement over my previous characters. Then, Thor which was my first piece to be sold under Marvel´s license. I also had the pleasure to work with Mufizal Mokhtar as art director.
Finally, Dr. Fate, which I worked on in my attempt to focus more on composition, flow of the lines, silhouette, etc.
XC: Who or what can you consider as your influences? What attracted you to them?
JP: Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti, this may look “cliché” but they are what I would call an “ARTIST”. Always learning and investigating, defying their time with a vast knowledge of Science, Mathematics, Anatomy, Psychology, Religion and Philosophy. I´m also very fond of Gothic architecture and sculptures and how they used math to achieve harmony. I can say the same for Egyptians and Greeks.
As for 3D, Daniel Bel, Ryan Kingslien, Erick Sosa, Mufizal Mokhtar, Marthin Agusta, Martín Canale, Romell Chopra are my main influences.
There are a lot of very talented people in the world.
XC: Are there any other pieces that you would want to create? What are these and why?
JP: I would like to try creating in anime style within the collectibles industry. Having the chance to work on the characters from series I watched as a child would be very fun.
Apart from creating renders of Superheroes across different comic book universes, do you also see yourself delving into Game Character Design?
I´ve worked for video games in the past and I enjoyed the experience. But right now I want to develop a career in the collectibles industry, so I´ll keep focusing my energy in this area.
Maybe in the future I´ll reconsider working for video games.
XC: If you weren’t doing what you’re doing right now, what do you think you’d be specializing in instead?
JP: That is a difficult question.
I believe I would like to work for the Practical Effects industry. I really like what Legacy Effect, Steve Wang, Rick Baker, and Stan Winston do to name a few great artists. Unfortunately practical FX industry is very small in my country.
XC: What piece of advice or message can you give young aspirants wanting to enter the craft/industry?
JP: So my first advice would be to take a look at all the steps in the pipeline to find what calls your attention. It’s always a good idea to know how the pipeline works and be able to develop minor tasks in each area.
Then, SPECIALIZE. Choose one area that you consider the most relevant for you and invest your energy in it.
ALWAYS ASK FOR ADVICE FROM THOSE YOU ADMIRE AND DON´T BE AFRAID TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP LEARNING AND IMPROVING. EFFORT ALWAYS HAS TO BE REPAID.
Want to see more of Mr. Juan Pitluk’s works? Click here!
