eBoy
INTERVIEW ISSUE 3
German based Pixalites eBoy have been producing striking and colourful 8bit digital art for over ten years. Hailed as the ‘Godfathers of Pixel’, they are known for their works which are compiled of millions of fragmented dots. Founded in 1997 by Steffen Sauerteig, Kai Vermehr and Svend Smital, eBoy were, and still are, at the forefront of this art form. They embrace new possibilities emerging in the ever-evolving Digital World.
“The decision to directly work on, and for the screen, led to the use of pixels, and the modular based work system started to evolve. This resulted in complex object rich artwork.” Adidas, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Paul Smith, DKNY, Kidrobot, MTV and The New York Times have all called upon the creative talents of eBoy for their advertising trips. Here at WUW magazine we’re all about the best art in the world - they simply put a smile on our faces whenever we look at their handiwork.
WUW: Hello eBoys. How are you today? eBoy: Busy as always. WUW: What have you been up to lately? eBoy: Two of us preparing to move to Vancouver, Canada by the end of May. WUW: eBoy is made up of three people. How did this union occur? eBoy: We knew each other before eBoy, and we thought it might be a good idea to work together under one name, like a band. We started as two eBoys, very soon we were three, then four, and after some years three again. WUW: How do you go about forming ideas for you pieces? eBoy: If it's a job, we often start with a raw briefing or a sketch from the client. From there it is hard work. Ideas come while we’re at it. WUW: Is it a collaborative process between you and the client? eBoy: It depends on the client and the project really. We have been lucky, but being a slave can be fun too. WUW: Where did the initial idea come from to form compositions using just pixels? eBoy: We wanted to work on and for the screen, so pixels were just natural to use. And they turned out to be quite funny. WUW: You have worked for some of the World’s leading businesses by creating imagery for their advertising campaigns. How do you find a definition point for each client, and manage to keep each project individual? eBoy: Each project turns out to be unique because each client has different needs. But we're not an advertising agency with this kind of approach. WUW: Who approaches whom? eBoy: The clients have been approaching us...so far. WUW: What software do you use to create your art? eBoy: Photoshop and a pinch of Google SketchUp from time to time. WUW: What is the art process like for eBoy? eBoy: We share work on everything, and spend hours discussing stuff. WUW: How long does it usually take to put together an eBoy pixel extravaganza? eBoy: To complete a big Pixorama city could take two months or even more. The problem is that we might never finish, so we publish snapshots. WUW: You have a line of toys. Are the characters derived from pieces of pixel art you have formed in the past? eBoy: The concept for our Peecol toys is based on a modular system of pixel-figures with interchangeable upper and lower parts. The pixel-figure-system is named Peecol too, and existed years before the toys. When we developed the toys we adapted the modular concept. WUW: Do you ever think you would work with other medium? eBoy: Yes, sure. It depends on the project. 3D is something we really would like to have more time for. And music. And carving with wood... WUW: Who would you like to create a piece for that you haven’t done so already? eBoy: Apple, George Lucas, Lego, and many, many more. WUW: Do you have any advice for future pixel painters? eBoy: Go to an art-school. Start a blog. WUW: What’s the dream? eBoy: Being able to see how the world will look like in a couple of hundred years.
