Interview: 10 Questions with ELIOLI ( Elena and Olivia Ceballos )

ELIOLI (Elena and Olivia Ceballos)
Blog: elioliart.com
Tumblr: elioli-art.tumblr.com
Pinterest: Elena and Olivia (ELIOLI)
Carbonmade: elioliportfolio.carbonmade.com
images copyright Elena and Olivia Ceballos

10 Questions with ELIOLI ( Elena and Olivia Ceballos )



1.... who is your favorite artist?

We always dread it when someone asks us that question, because there are so many fantastic artists out there, and we cannot simply choose just one! Just about any Visual development artists and animators at any studio, past and present, are certainly big inspirations for the both of us.   We think the links to the artist's page on our blog might sum it up better! (This can go for links on our Tumblr accounts too!)



2.... do you offer workshops for artists?

We do not offer any workshops at the moment, but we provide simple Photoshop drawing tutorials here and there for other artists to reference. Obviously, there is not only one way to go about a drawing, but hopefully our tutorials provide some insight on some of our process.



3.... what do you like to listen to while you work?

We tend to listen to a lot of music from the 90’s, which is the decade when we were born, so it’s a bit nostalgic for us. Other than that, we listen to anything that sounds good. We don’t listen to a lot of modern music today, simply because we’re slow at catching up with things! Some days we want to listen to Rock, and other times may call for more mellow tunes. We also like to look up videos containing music from other eras, including music from ancient times from other parts of the world. Gregorian chants can count, as odd as it seems. Our interest in types of music is crazy, but inspiration can come from anywhere!


4.... what medium and tools do you use to create your art?

For traditional works, we use Col-erase and Blackwing pencils for sketching, and a piece of tissue for smearing.  A mechanical pencil works just as fine, especially when we have to tackle much smaller details in a pencil drawing. For colored pieces, we use Photoshop CS3 for rendered, painterly works, and Paint Tool SAI for a lot of our line work and graphic-style drawings.



5.... during an average week how many hours a day / week do you work on creating art?

This year has been really busy for us, and we haven’t been able to produce much personal work for ourselves. Staying busy with something isn’t always a bad thing, though! Since we are in college at the moment, 4 to 5 hours a day is all we have! We hope to produce more work in the summer, that is, if something else comes along!



6.... are you working your dream job?

Well, we have been doing some freelance work in our spare time, and the projects we have been working on have been somewhat of a challenge, but a great learning experience all in one. We have also been contacted to do some freelance work for DisneyToon Studios recently. It’s nice to work at the comfort of our own home in Georgia, but we hope that we can fly out to California again to  work in a company, God-willing. We just have to be ready to move out…


7.... do you feel its important for others to pursue their dream jobs?

We think that pursuing your dream is a great goal to have, but know that there will be trials out there in the real world. Sometimes it’s hard to accomplish what you want to do without life getting in the way. Whether we’re just being too optimistic about things or not, we just try to realize that there are reasons for certain aspects of your life not coming in to play. Doors will close if it needs to be closed, but others will open in the right moment. You just got to get yourself out there, and not be afraid to show your work to the world.


8.... where can people see your work (online, conventions or exhibits)?

Our work and other contact sources can be found at:
Blog: elioliart.com
Tumblr: elioli-art.tumblr.com
Pinterest: Elena and Olivia (ELIOLI)
Carbonmade: elioliportfolio.carbonmade.com



9.... was there a certain moment that you knew you wanted to be an artist?

Our parents knew that we loved drawing at an early age, but it wasn’t until we saw DreamWorks’s Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron in theaters. We replayed scenes over and over again on the DVD, just to see the intricate, but subtle performances in the animation of James Baxter.  Man, can he animate a horse! (That’s where we learned to draw horses!) As we got older, (and when the internet sensation began to explode), we were able to find so many amazing artists that we didn’t know existed! It opened our eyes to so many possibilities to try, including various styles and techniques.



10.... is there anything else you would like to add or say to other artists?

Never be afraid to show you work. Get blogs, Tumblr, etc., anything that showcases individuality in your art, and just have fun with it. Also, don’t over work yourself, just so you can show something every day for the sake of it. Take a break, and refresh your creative juices. Trust us. You do not want to be stressed with trying to get that perfect drawing out, because it will click one day. Don’t ever feel the notion to belittle or avoid someone just because they are not working in the industry. Stay focused, and be kind and receptive. It sounds cliché, but it makes a world of difference to at least show appreciation to an artists’ dedication, even when they may not be up to par with your work. Overall, just enjoy what you do, receive advice from someone you trust, and spread your artistic awesomeness!