Sci-Fi Art Now Creator Interview: Nemons

The format of SciFi Art Now - out this October - is such that it promotes the art of the creators, but there's not much room to tell you more about them and their work. We're publishing interviews with creators here to redress the balance.

Gary Hall (aka Nemons) has worked in the games industry as a commercial artist for over 10 years creating characters, concepts, logos, user interfaces and more for companies such as Sony, EA, Microsoft, SEGA and Activision. 

Now he's trying to establish himself in his own right in his own way, more of which can be seen on his official web site...


SciFi Art Now: What tools do you mainly use to create your art?

Gary Hall: Pencil, paper, scanner and my iMac!

SciFi Art Now: Why?

Astro Zombies by Gary Hall

Gary: I like the crispness I can achieve by using a computer and it let's me adapt my work for different media

SciFi Art Now: What inspired you to become an artist?

Gary: Reading Asterix, TinTin and 2000AD and watching Disney films and other animations, I used to spend endless hours copying my favourite characters and covers.

SciFi Art Now: What was the most useful piece of advice you were given when you began learning your craft?

Gary: Don't give up! practice, practice, practice...

Durham Red from the UK comic 2000AD
Homage by Gary Hall

SciFi Art Now: Which artists most inspire you?

Gary: Albert Uderzo, Disney and Pixar, Saul Bass, Chris Foss, HR Giger, Aubrey Beardsley, James Jarvis, Junko Mizuno - I could go on and on!

SciFi Art Now: What is the appeal to you of science fiction as an inspiration for some of your work?

Gary: I love retro sci-fi and b-movie horror films, the monsters, heroes and girls are just fantastic - the 1950's and 60's was the golden age of these type of films and their posters really inspire me. Men were real heroes, women were fainting femme fatales and one-eyed martian killer cyborgs were one-eyed martian killer cyborgs!

SciFi Art Now: Do you have a favourite piece of work or project you have worked on?

Gary: I'm never satisfied with anything I do! I guess it's a built in survival system to make me create more work :)

SciFi Art Now: In your career, have you had any bizarre experiences while creating your art?

Gary: I have so many bizarre experiences on a daily basis it's nice that they don't happen when I'm drawing.

SciFi Art Now: What most frustrates you about being an artist?

Gary: that the world and his dog are expert art critics and never let a moment go by to tell you "what you've done wrong" or "what they would have done"

SciFi Art Now: What keeps you going despite the hopefully occasional frustrations?

Gary: "Why stop now just when I'm hating it" - Marvin!

SciFi Art Now: What advice would you offer to anyone starting out as an artist?

Gary: Never let anyone stop you drawing what you want to draw! It might not make you rich but it will make you happy.

Web Links

• Check out Gary Hall's web site at: http://nemons.deviantart.com

• Contact Gary via: gary@octopus-ink.co.uk