Zilla774 FAQ 2005

Question compiled from deviant requests. Everything you ever wanted to know about me and were not afraid to ask!

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How did your name come to be? like, I've never heard zilla anywhere else
Dunno really, probably because I used it as my nickname in UT2K3 for a while. These things tend to stick after a while.

Why not zilla775?
I wanted just Zilla, but some other bugger already got that and then went inactive. So I had to add something to it and 774 reflects my birthday (July 1974) and I guess it sounded ok.

What is your real name and why do people find it cooler to call you Zilla?
My real name is Ian. I have no idea why people find it cooler to call me Zilla. Maybe its because Ian is such a dull name.

When/how/why did you start to create art
I have been creative as long as I can remember. I loved art as a kid, painting, drawing, modelling, even managing to colour inside the lines once or twice Then I moved on to Lego and stuff like that which I loved, then on to Fantasy and Sci-Fi Miniatures, then got into computer art.

I do art because I simply can’t imagine not doing it! It’s the best release for my emotions that I have. Not being able to do art would be like loosing a limb, or being blind for me.

What do you use now to create your works? (when you started?)
I use both Mac and PC, running Photoshop and Illustrator mainly. I find myself only using those apps these days. I have been known to dabble with 3D Studio Max, Bryce, Cinema4D, Poser, Vue and a few others, but less and less as I become more proficient in my digital painting. Mainly, the 3D side of my skills was used to make up the deficiencies in my other skills. But ultimately I guess my advise to others has always been to never rely on one single skill alone.

What inspires you?
Music, emotion, seeing other art, but mainly whatever sparks off an idea. Sometimes I tend to get the best ideas in silly places, like when I’m in the shower just letting my mind wander. I always work with music on, I cannot imagine separating the two things. Music is a catalyst to my art. Which I guess sometimes explains some of the things I do LOL

How the hell did you get yourself in Exposé 3!!! I wanna know! And how do you you feel being along side other highly acclaimed deviants?
I submitted several of my works to the book and to my absolute shock one was chosen. I consider that to be one of the highlights of my ‘career’ as an artist to date. I am absolutely gobsmaked to be in there along side all the other stunning artists. I do feel a bit of a fraud to be honest, but I think maybe my confidence as an artist is not as high as it should be sometimes.

How much time on average do you spend on dA?
Generally DA is open in my browser at work all day. So I browse when I can during the day. At night, I dip into it whenever I’m not gaming.

I’d like to spend more time commenting and stuff, but I just don’t have the time. It’s the one thing that I feel bad about.

What is your most favorite thing to do outside of dA, your computer, and art in general?
There’s other things? Wow. I must get out more.

Generally I’m either out on my Mountainbike, playing Guitar, or working (which sucks ass and is not by choice most of the time)

What education have you had?
The bare minimum LOL G.C.S.E, A Level and College.

How you came to be a member of the DA family?
I was browsing the web for a new desktop wallpaper and came across DA. I thought it was really cool, but didn’t really understand what it was about. It took me another month before I joined just for the hell of it to see what would happen.

What drove you to start getting into art?
I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It just happened naturally

What artists do you admire including if any at DA?
Far too many to mention here. A lot of them are at DA. There is an infinite wealth of art here at DA right under you fingertips. I’m always discovering something new here.

Why you don't make any collabs (or why do you make it so rare / if you even make it)?
I did a few collabs early on when I first joined DA and it was a great stepping stone for my skills. I also collaborated a lot with ~abe123 who was my bestest buddy on DA until he disappeared off the face of the planet, something I am deeply sad about. Since then I don’t seem to have found anyone else who sparks the same chemistry in me. I have tried a few collabs, but it just ended up being really hard work. I think I’m better working on my own to be honest because my workflow seems to only suit me. But never say never, if the right project came along I might do something.

Why have you abandoned 3d renders?
I always saw my 3D work as a means to an end. For the abstracts it was fine, although not exactly groundbreaking or original for the most part so I stopped an moved into areas which interested me more or pushed my skills to a more individual area. The fantasy stuff was 3D driven for a long while because I didn’t have a tablet to draw with and my skills were not quite there yet to be able to draw things from scratch. I find it more challenging to paint digitally these days. I’m sure I’ll continue to dabble with 3D for a long time to come though.

What kind of tablet?
I currently use an A5 Wacom Intuos 2. It fits my needs perfectly right now. Comfortable pen, excellent sensitivity and I really don’t need more than A5 size, so this is definitely what I would recommend to anyone else.

Why DA?
I didn’t know any other sites existed when I found DA. But having tried other similar sites, they don’t have the same community or ease of submission as DA. Also it became impossible to spread myself between all the sites with the time I have.

Why don't you change your avatar?
The exceedingly talented artist `mick-mick did this one for me and I love it and his work. This av totally rocks. Seeing as he is not taking any new requests at this time, it’ll stay as a testament to his work. Or until such time as someone makes me a better one (which is gonna be damn hard). I’m totally rubbish at doing avatars too.

Do you actually work outside DA as an artist?
Yes and have done for my whole working career. But not as a digital painter, but as a graphic designer and web designer. I’d love to work as a digital artist though as my skills would grow immeasurably given the opportunity to push myself. Maybe one day I’ll be given that opportunity.

What pulls are you to create such beauty in your own style?
Wow, great question… I can honestly say I have no idea. My style, for whatever its worth, just is. I cannot be anything other than what I am. You either like me and my work, or you don’t. Simple as that. People seem to either really like my work, or they hate it. I tend to get extremes of reaction from people. But then any reaction is good, to inspire or annoy means I’ve at least done something.

If you were chose for a DD, Which piece in your gallery would be the worthy piece?
Argh. Horrible question! I would hate to have to do that. It feels wrong for me to choose whether my work is even good enough to be a DD. Anyway, all the work I really like, is generally the stuff the is liked the least on DA. Go figure.

Can you cook?
Yes!

Can you cook well?
Yep, not bad at all. I do all the cooking in my household, so I’ve gotten pretty good at it. Mainly because it was either eat shit, starve or get good at it.

Are u an elvis man or a beatles man...
Beatles at a push, although I’m have to say I’m not really a fan of either.

If you could fly, where would you go?
Right now? Hmm… two places at the very least, one being Madrid to see my friends there, and the other would be NYC to visit another close friend. Then, I guess I’d just noodle around, seeing all the cool places in the world.

Is it true that magical monkey gnomes come at night to steal ur socks and tightie whities?
Yes. Hide your blancmange too. Those pesky critters love the stuff.

Do you wear tightie whities?
Er. No.

Boxers, briefs, banana hammock, or commando?
Boxers, well techincally 'trunks' those lycra based boxers. Much more comfy

What colour socks do you prefer?
Green? If I had to choose. Or play it safe with Black.

Do babies taste better with or without bbq sauce?
Ooo… tough one. I’d say better. But only because I love BBQ sauce

If i gave u my address, would u ever send me a letter or stalk me?
I’d probably send you a letter if I could ever find a damn pen in my office. Grrrrr. Pesky things are always disappearing, I think the Magical Monkey Gnomes like pens too….

Would u like my address?
LOL! I might have known this was coming…. Sure… and just for giggles, give me your phone number and bank account details

WTF for the win, or WTF for the save?
It has long been my belief that WTF has been sent from above to save us, so I guess WTF makes the save. But then having made the save, this also means that it’s WTF for the win! YAY!!! GO WTF! It’s a WTF win/win situation! SAVED! WON! WTF! WOOOOO!!!

Golden shower or snowball?
Ok, this question officially scared me. I have no idea wtf a ‘snowball’ is, but if its in the same context as a ’golden shower’ I am going to put my hands over my ears and start loudly saying ‘LALALANOTLISTENING’ and run away.

Although on a side note, amusingly there was a Chinese takeaway (quite a good one actually) in the town I live called ‘Golden Fountain’ which always made me chuckle…

Cake or death?
Death…. No wait, Cake! (damn)

How tall are you?
6ft 1inch

What type/year car do you drive.
Currently a Renault Laguna RTi Sport. Not very glamorous I’m afraid. Next car is going to be a VW Golf, equally unglamorous. Much though I’d love a BMW or Honda R-Type, I just can’t bring myself to spend that much money on servicing. Or insurance. I’m a poor artist dammit!

2%, Fat Free, or whole Milk?
Semi-Skimmed here in the UK, so I guess 2% is the equivalent in the US? Fully fat free is just cloudy water. Yuck.

What is your bank account number and password? (we've all been thinking this, but I'll just say it)
You first

Have you ever tried to act goth?
Oh yes. A lot when I was 17, and then by the time I was 20 I was a full on nu-metal/death metal fiend. I still listen to a lot of my old loves, like Fields of the Nephilim (who I am listening to right now as I write this) so I keep myself in touch with my Goth-ness

Have u ever attempted to nail jello to a tree?
No, but blancmange can be. Especially if it’s a week old.

Do u fit into overhead storage compartments?
I can barely get my fat ass into a plane seat, let alone in the overhead locker. So I guess I’d not make a good gimp then

Do you have any pets? if so what are they and what are their names?
2 Persian cats. Coco, who is a 16yr old Chocolate princess, and Izzy who is a 3 yr old Chocolate Smoke and very fat, which is why she gets called Fatima Pigletton. Their real pedigree names are hilarious though…

coke or pepsi?
Pepsi. It’s the choice of a new generation. Plus, anyone who can set fire to Michael Jackson is ok by me

Why does my neighbor's cat think my front yard is a public toilet?
Dunno, try removing the cat litter from it and see if that makes a difference?

What's your favorite colour?
Black and Red. Mostly

What’s your middle name?
I don’t have one. Something I love my parents for. Everyone else has stupid or silly names they hate and I can laugh at them without fear of reprisal MWAHAHAHA!

What's your fave LOTR character?
The Mouth of Sauron. That character rocked my socks off on the extended version. The rest all need to get a room already. Especially Merry and Pippin. I might have mentioned this before.

What are your thoughts on the concept of coincidence?
I believe that things happen for a reason, even if we don’t know immediately what that reason is. Sometimes things happen that are hard to explain by coincidence alone.

What inspires your polls
Blancmange mostly. Damn its evil influence! It’s the bastard child of Jelly and Custard I tell you!!!

WTF goes through your mind when you’re doing polls?
As little as possible mostly. I try to keep my mnd clear of clutter at all times. Becoming a zombie is my ultimate goal.

How hard it is for you to think of a WTF choice?
Generally I’ve got the WTF before the rest of it LOL. It’s the WTF option that makes me laugh the hardest. Hopefully people enjoy my polls because I try to make them interesting and amusing so people will actually take part. These days though they seem to be driven by the WTF Army I think I’ve spawned a monster.

What is your favorite food
Um. Anything my mom cooks is yum.

Marshmallows! Burnt, crispy, or melted?
Melted, but slightly crispy. Must be done infront of a real fire though, or BBQ ☺

Do you Drink/Smoke/take Drugs?
I like the odd pint here and there. I don’t smoke and I definitely don’t do any drug other than aspirin.

Favourite emote?
<- I love this one. Or maybe this ->

Do you love us?
Infinitely

Z.