Well I've always been into art and have been doing graphic design for quite a few years now. I was one of those kids who painted his matchbox cars. Once I found out I could 'customize' my PC it was only a matter of time I guess. I started with SysMetrix and then straight on to WindowBlinds. The diehards of Skinning.net at the time really 'pulled me under their wing' and... well... a few years later here we are.

Doing something new. I mean the 'tried and true' stuff is nice and usually makes for good usability but I really like to do the ones that look different. Just seeing the final overall project in completion and basically creating a whole new environment is cool. Plus I just find it fun, just wish I had more time to do it, would be nice to just skin all day. Lately I've been more focused on usability as I've working my way around SKS6, WB6 and Vista (as a whole, seeing I switched to it as my main OS). Its a 'change of pace' but I think I'm going to go back to do what I truly enjoy.. mix it up.

Oh that's easy, that one where you get in this zone and you can't pull yourself away from it. Maybe its the concept or the overall view you can't get out of your head or something else. All I know is its good when you just can't stop thinking about it or working on it. That's besides all the usual stuff like design, cleanliness, usability ect. But, from a skinners perspective, when your in that zone and the skin becomes something personal and more for you and your 'idea' it doesn't really matter what others might think of it... that's the best by far because your going to put that extra touch in it then.

My ideas come from all over. From paintings to TV to a wacky dream, an idea can come from anywhere. I have gotten ideas from the community at large but not so many direct request in the past. My last few skins however have been co-worked with individuals in some fashion or another. The latest (and soon to be released) has been a very closely worked on skin with a non-skinner but skinning community faithful, wont say who till the skin is released but every aspect was mulled over with them till everyone was happy. Not something for the 'faint of heart' to try

I would say pretty good, I've talked to just about every last one and some on a regular basis. Skinners in general tend to be a good group of people and rather friendly. In many ways we have all been through a lot of the same type of things so we kind of understand where each other is coming from I think.

Well if by fans you mean the community I think I'm rather active. I try to reply to comments and help with questions. I do a lot of 'behind the scenes' community related things so I think I interact indirectly in that sort of way also. I'm also on the IRC a lot so there is a lot of interaction there to.    ...such a weird idea, me having 'fans'  hehe

Never really thought about it. I guess its a bit in how you present yourself and in maybe an extra sort of checklist on those things you put out now, make sure its 'perfect'. Keeping up with your current skill set and expanding it too. As an artist your always wanting to expand on what you already know and do anyway. As a 'Master' your expected to have a certain 'quality' and bring that extra ~umph~ 

I mull over the idea and concept mentally for a good while, that could take anywhere from a week to a month, after that I just dive right in with a lack of fear to change things as the skin/project grows. I try to let the skin take on a life of its own as I'm working on it. Other then that its just digging away till its complete. I use all my skins as I'm working on them, no matter how long that might take.

That would be my Psycho suite I guess. I think I had more fun doing that set of skins then any other to date (speaking of which, it might should be updated lol). It wasn't the most well received as it was pretty weird and a strange color but that just played into the whole fun of it for me. I originally saw a painting on the book cover "Psychohistrical Crisis" and was just inspired from there. I even read the book as I worked on the skin (interesting scifi book btw if your a fan). I even wrote the artist and got his blessing on it. All that together just made the whole project that much more for me.

WC has helped make me feel 'at home' on the net. I mean where else is there such a large group of people who have a similar interest and its all in fun. Its like a second life away from real life for me. I've grown to know a lot of the people here rather personally and have never had any 'problems' or the like (for the most part). Let me just say if I never have before that...

 

 I love all you people <3