DIS C OV ER W H AT F IRE S UP T HE IM AGIN AT ION
OFCONCEPTARTISTRIYAHDCASSIEM
DREAMING OF DROIDS
READER INTERVIEW DREAMING OF DROIDS
OUR READER
All article images © Riyahd CassiemRIYAHD CASSIEM
http://www.riyahdc.wix.com/riyahd
@Riyahd_CassiemA
n early love of sci-fi inspired South African
Riyahd Casseim to become a concept artist.
We caught up with him to discover how
Photoshop has helped him on his creative
journey, and how his style and approach has changed
and developed throughout his career so far.WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF SCIFI COME FROM?
I immersed myself in art, film, and books at an early age.
I was constantly drawing and exploring different
mediums, from pencil and paper to painting on canvas.
With support of my mother and influence from my
father, I was introduced to science fiction and fantasy
authors such as Jules Verne, Arthur C Clark and Edgar
Rice Burroughs. My fascination grew with the art andvisual effects in the films like Aliens, Predator and Blade
Runner, as well as well as graphic novels like Heavy
Metal, 2000 AD, X-Men, Spawn, and Batman. I was then
committed to [the] idea of learning as much as I could
about the production process of creating characters and
environments, to be able to one day create my own
theme and graphic concepts.WHAT’S A TYPICAL WORK DAY FOR YOU?
I work as a independent freelance digital artist doing
visual effects, motion graphics, digital sculpting,
illustration and concept art. I usually work at night, I
spend the first hour or so working out what work needs
to be done, checking messages, re-evaluating previous
work and so on. I then break down the work intoAmiya: fundamental principles of art and design,” if you “Have a solid foundation in the
want to make it as a digital artist, advises CassiemAurielia: “Life drawing, anatomy, composition,
form, tone, texture and colour,” are all important, adds Cassiem. “Try to learn how to
emulate how light affects shapes and different materials. There is a lot to be learned by
studying the Old Masters for fundamentals”