As you may already know, we like to get in touch with artists that express their creativity through their work. So, we come back to you with another interview. Hope you will enjoy it!
Subsign: Before we get things rolling, let’s get acquainted. Tell us a few things about yourself.
David: My name is David Cubero, I live in Barcelona where I work as a Motion graphics and compositing artist in my own studio. Before that I have worked for several animation and movie companies.
In my spare time I play with my toys collection with my project @SuppaDuppa666 where I try to make funny and spectacular images with action figures using all the tools I have around me.
Subsign: What was your childhood like? Do you think your experiences from childhood have influenced your present creative endeavors?
David: I had a quiet childhood surrounded by the things that surrounded a kid growth in the 80’s. Sci-Fi movies, comic books and action figures all that things have influenced me for sure and they still do, I still enjoy all that stuff. I keep all my childhood toys, my favorites: All the things Kenner did in the 80’s. As a teenager started with underground comics, music and movie, that shaped me a little too, but that’s another story.
Subsign: How would you describe your work style?
David: Chaotic and humorous. I don’t know if I have a work style. Looking at my pictures I see that it has been changing through the years, but they share the intention of trying to make you giggle.
Subsign: Can you share with us how your creative process works?
David: I start working because most of the times I want to make a joke with a character. Sometimes it’s just that I have a figurine on my desk, I start looking at it from different angles and suddenly the idea of a new photo comes to my mind.
Then it comes the photo, I don’t spend too much time in my shootings I am not a patient guy and I always think that, like in the Advertising world I can fix anything in the post-production process. My aim is to get the image I want and I don’t care how to get it, I’m not a CG or a photography romantic. Practical effects or digital effects, I love them both and I use them when I need them.
In fact, I use my lunch time to shoot my pics in places around my studio and go back the fast I can to edit it ASAP and go back to work.
Subsign: How does your workstation look like?
David: I like to have all my things in my studio well organized but it’s not always possible, mostly when you have a lot of work to do. The most important is having my toys, my camera and a computer near me to do what I want to do when I want. And Blu tack! Tons of Blu Tack, I always need it in my photo sessions to make things fly or attach something to something, then I delete it in PS (God bless “Content Aware”). I have always with me these two cases too.
Subsign: What is your favorite work you have done so far?
David: I don’t have a favorite work at all. I’m in the constant search of the perfect joke :). I love when images don’t need any kind of caption to send their message, I guess my favorites are these.
In fact, I have a series of pictures that have been quite successful around, a series of Classical Art through Marvel Toys.
Subsign: Who do you admire as a visionary?
David: Bill Watterson; I love every line he draws, what he explains and the way he manages his art in this mainstream world.
Subsign: What advice could you give to someone starting out in the creative field of work?
David: Work, work and work. Even when you are not inspired, work and something will happen. It’s the only way to learn to do something.
Subsign: If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
David: I would like to learn modelling in Zbrush. I have started thousands of times with it but never find the time to work hard with it and build the things how I would like them to be.
Subsign: Can you recommend for our readers a book, a song and a movie?
David:
- Comic Book – Jimmy Corrigan, The smartest Kid on Earth (Chris Ware, 2000).
- Song – Suicide Demo for Kara Walker (Destroyer, 2011)
- Movie – Kikujiro No Natsu (Takeshi Kitano, 1999)
Subsign: If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?
David: I am married and father of three children, so It would have to be a kid friendly party during the day time. Music, barbecue and friends, that is enough for me.
Subsign: What did you wanted to be as a grown up?
David: I wanted to be a comic book artist, no doubt. In fact, I wanted to do the cartoons for the newspapers, I think my toy photography is, in some ways, a similar form of expression.
If you know a creative that should be in the spotlight feel free to contact us at jojo@subsign.co .
For more of David’s work you can follow his on the link: David Cubero on Facebook, David Cubero – instagram, @SuppaDuppa666.
