Interview with Digital Manipulator Gwyneth Ellis-Arslan

My name is

Gwyneth Ellis-Arslan

My art name is Pendragon Arts but also, in the past have worked under my name, Gwyneth AE.

-About yourself

I was born in Freeport, Bahamas. My father was English and Welsh, my mother was American of English, Scottish, Irish and Native American decent. My father was a private ship’s captain and a piper, drummer and drum major in pipe bands all across the U.S. and Canada so between his hobby and his profession we moved a great deal and lived many places in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. He passed away when I was 9 and after that we settled in Ft. Lauderdale, FL until 89′ and then moved to Tucson, AZ for 17 years, San Antonio, TX for 6 years and now live just outside of Bonn, Germany. My husband and I have been living here together since 2012. I love Germany so much. There is a deep and amazing beauty and history here. Just walking outside or in the woods feels timeless among the story book forests. My husband is of Turkish Descent but is a German citizen. I am a U.S. citizen living abroad and loving it.

-How you come in painting/art field

I can not say that I came into the art/painting/graphic/manipulation field as much as it had been a deep desire and love of mine for years that I was finally able to start bringing into realization about 2 years ago. I started with GIMP and then moved onto Photoshop a year and a half ago. My actual education is from the University of Arizona in Anthropology so I have no formal artistic training but learning as I go and loving it.

-Do you have social profile or page?

http://pendragon-arts.deviantart.com
https://www.facebook.com/PendragonArtsDA

-Some ART of Gwyneth Ellis-Arslan

Trust and Betrayal by Pendragon-Arts

Ghillie Calum The Sword Dance by Pendragon-Arts

Ode to Memoirs of a Geisha by Pendragon-Arts

Gabriel’s Message by Pendragon-Arts

-Which is your first art work

I do not have a first art work per say as it has been developing over time, but I do have my first commissioned work: “Gabriel’s Message”

-How much time you spend in a week

Honestly my schedule varies but I spend as much time as I can at my computer. I’m rather obsessive when the muses takes me and then I spend time recuperating afterwards until grabbed again by the muses.

-Tools of work

As I shared before, I started off with GIMP but then 6 months later went to PS6.

-Do you have qualified degree in relevant field?

As I shared earlier, I hold no artistic degrees but instead hold a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology.

-What you do other activities in daily life

Aside from working with my art, I love gardening, spending time with my children and husband. Family is the most important thing to me. I am very passionate also about great action movies and music.

-Currently are you working with any company or freelancing

Currently I am a freelancer. I like the open and flexible schedule it offers.

-A message for newer designers/artists

Practice, practice, practice. There are times where you feel like completely giving up but hang in there, take it slow, one day at a time. Don’t expect perfection from yourself but continue to done your art and eventually you will even develop your own unique style. Often we are our own worst critic, but again, don’t give up. The desire to create, to bring your passion and your visions to life requires skill that must be trained over time and it takes experience and time to do that. Be patient with yourself. You will get there. I am still getting there myself.

-Your inspired artists

Favorite artists, that’s a tough one. I’d start with Sandara, Brian Froud, hgjart, Anne Stokes, Heisien Jin Yao, Cornacchia art, Omri Koresh, Valentina-Remenar and many more that are traditional art medium masters and have transferred their master traditional skils into the graphic, digital world.