Interview with Ahmed Shaltout

Reaper says:
what's your real name ? (that was a joke his real name is Ahmed Shaltout)


Reaper says:
what got into art in the first place?
Reaper says:
eih
Reaper says:
no answer
Reaper says:
walla (or) do you want me to ask all questions first
Passion says:
I've been drawing ever since I was very little
Passion says:
when I was very young I would do random sketches of blob like creatures
Passion says:
but at the age of 3 I copied Ernie and Bert from sesame screen off the TV as is XD
Passion says:
at least that’s what I am told
Reaper says:
hmm
Passion says:
I've been into art since forever... it’s basically what I do regardless of what everything tries to convince me to be XD
Reaper says:
why do you do your art right now?
Passion says:
wow how do u reply that?

because it’s the best way to express myself

because I feel satisfaction seeing the ideas or feelings in mind materializing... I prefer the art related careers because u create a visual product that u feel has a part of what u had come to life... rather than careers that involve no visual output. No offence to others I am sure they love their jobs but I find difficulty
Passion says:
doing otherwise
Reaper says:
what inspires you to do what you do mostly?
Passion says:
depends on what u mean by what inspires me
Passion says:
as in specifically or generally
Reaper says:
both
Passion says:
generally it’s usually a feeling I have. if I am doing something for myself like character artwork... it’s a feeling I am feeling right now from a person experience or just on the spot that needs to become an image might be a part of a bigger story...

in work though I have a process that I would follow in order to "inspire" myself when u need to under deadline... which isn't exactly the same as
Passion says:
doing it when u feel it XD.. but..eating well.. sleeping well.. keeping a positive attitude with urself and people around you.. which reminds me.. people inspire me allot.. just talking to them.. and seeing their points of view on an idea I work on makes my mind explode with ideas
Passion says:
so I guess what inspires me is my own feelings and others feelings
Passion says:
and Cilantro's (a coffee shop) Cheesecake flavored Latte
Passion says:
with extra cinnamon powder and chocolate powder
Reaper says:
oh cool
Reaper says:
what do you think is unique about your art than other people ?
Passion says:
I would say that this is a little similar to the inspiration question.. I would say it makes me unique and doesn’t at the same time because this, at least from my point of view.. is the core of artwork, and it’s the ability to express a feeling using expressions, lien strokes and color .. basically that I concentrate on creating images that shows how I feel more than how I think.. also related
Passion says:
to that.. a designer where I work once said "good designers copy, great designers steal" .. if u take that literally u'd be shocked.. but it isn't literal.. good designers learn from others by copying their styles.. great designers do their work by "stealing" the very essence and soul of the artwork they few and use it in their own way.. my style is always based on everything I feel and input
Passion says:
from others.. whether artwork or people
Reaper says:
hmm
Passion says:
me3ada2 Ana (am I being too complicated ?)
Passion says:
ma3a2adak*
Reaper says:
bel3aks (on the contrary) this is awesome
believe me this is 3ady (normal)
Reaper says:
I'm loving this
Passion says:

Reaper says:
do you think growing up in Saudi then going to Egypt affected your art/thoughts about art ?
Reaper says:
and did this change of environment affect the way you think in general ?
Passion says:
wow hard question
Reaper says:

Passion says:
well growing up in Saudi Arabia.. since implementing artwork.. at least in the form of character artwork.. isn't culturally popular or accepted there.. one would give up on it.. but I can't help it.. I just couldn’t' stop drawing.. growing up I didn’t' have much friends or appreciation for what I did but I never stopped XD.. as a child I ended up drawing on all the walls in the house.. till my
Passion says:
father had to repaint occasionally and ban me from drawing on walls .. growing up I would fill my homework notebooks with more drawings than anything else.. and if any of the assignments where "draw something" or a diagram or anything that would be
a happy day
Passion says:
coming to Egypt mainly put me in an environment where some people strongly believe in going for ur dream while others are completely against it
Reaper says:
do you have scans of megeed of the jungle ? (drawings he made making fun of a lab assistant)
Passion says:
I don’t think so that’s so long ago XD.. drawings where I made fun of lab assistants and professors at college may not be easy to find right now XD
Reaper says:
ah because you showed them to me once in a copybook I thought you still had them
Reaper says:
so continue about Egypt
Passion says:
Egypt I came to AUC at 1st.. I didn’t' stay their long but the one thing I got from there, is initial motive to pursue my dream.. 1st I found a job as a newspaper cartoonist within the university.. then heard people talk to me about following my dreams
Passion says:
then I was transferred to a public college where people had the exact opposite mentality.. as depressing as that was I still held on to it.. with time I learned to have good friends and learned to love.. which somehow made its way in my artwork in an unimaginable way
Passion says:
I wouldn’t' say I regret how I grew up.. because every event I went through my life added to what I do and in my artwork in a way
Reaper says:
true
Passion says:
even if it looks like I have two extreme styles in my art
either totally crazy or very serene
Reaper says:
what about your experience with fionkat, and was that ever published

Passion says:
that was one issue .. my experience with that.. although it took me an effort to do that back then.. was that I got allot of credit from my employer back then from my ability to get in touch with my "feminine" side.. capable of drawing something with a more delicate emotional content.. but back then I wasn't yet comfortable with that thought.. probably cuz of society's influence.. and because I
Passion says:
was going through a phase where I had a bigger urge to express the more "Crazy" feelings rather than the serene feelings.. but since I was the best at doing so they had a hard time letting go .. I hated it back then but for some reason everyone loved it
Reaper says:
does your gender affect your work at all or the output of it or the thought process
Passion says:
I am actually not sure .. I mean I know I am capable of both getting in touch with either a masculine or feminine feeling.. but I have seen female artists that .. obviously got in touch with that feeling at a level much higher than I could dream to .. and of course there are the male artists that get too in touch with their masculine side that their images reek of unwanted masculinity XD .. I would
Passion says:
say probably not.. if it did effect I would probably not be drawing what I draw
Reaper says:
hmm
Reaper says:
do you feel the internet is the best way to display your art (deviant art) would you use it in a different way to publicize your art and have you ever thought if putting your art in a real gallery or does tat not fit your work.
Passion says:
well a real gallery is a little difficult.. my aim is to reach a level where I can make better animated work.. perhaps I see myself as a digital artist.. maybe if that real gallery consisted of various LCD screens either with static images, animated work.. or series of static images integrated with music like a moving storyboard
Reaper says:
ah ok
Reaper says:
do you feel that the digital medium is more comfortable and versatile than traditional drawing ?
Reaper says:
oh and you didn’t answer how would you better publicize your work online ?
Passion says:
well I actually like a mixture of both.. digital drawing enhances our work but I prefer to do it in a natural way.. and by that I of course mean, WACOM even if that sounds like an advertisement .. I have always been impressed by new ways of inputting digital art in natural methods.. traditional drawing is very important to learn .. at least from my point of view, in order to take it to the next
Passion says:
level in digital art
Passion says:
well I would better publicize my work online by giving more time to finish my own work for I've been trapped in turmoil of corporate artwork not giving me time to great something to make a gallery out of
Passion says:
but soon

probably by.. on deviant art or other sites
Passion says:
creating high quality images to put online for sale as prints
Passion says:
rather than just an image gallery
Passion says:
I believe in the online world for one main reason
Passion says:
because I feel the artwork I create is something for the world to see
Passion says:
but at the same time the idea of a digital screens gallery is cuz I wish for the people around me to see what I have in store too
Reaper says:
some of the corporate if you are allowed
Reaper says:
I don’t think so
Reaper says:
assume I have nothing
Reaper says:
ok about animation
Reaper says:
do you think you would pursue it more ?

Passion says:
yes I would pursue it more since it’s my goal.. I feel I am a little behind but what’s making me feel ok about it is I am learning allot doing what I do now.. even if it's "postponed" whatever I learn now will help in what I wish to learn later.. but I definitely wish to pursue it more soon.. since I feel I can do it naturally
Passion says:
I just need to learn more and practice
Reaper says:
do you feel working in graphic design has helped your character drawing techniques
Passion says:
my more recent work gets colored more instantly.. sometimes I choose colors while doing the image.. my work used to be more monochromatic
Reaper says:
hmm
Reaper says:
what are your artist plans in the near future any projects you want to pursue or you are currently working on
Passion says:
ironically what I as thinking of currently perusing isn't pure artwork as much as it’s something that can help compliment it.. which is learning flash action script in order for me to have a chance of at least sampling interactivity with the animations I would create.. second is trying to get a stronger grasp of classic animation and try to get some more solid samples out there rather than test
Passion says:
runs

Reaper says:
have you tried looking at other net artists that have their animation and artwork interactive
Passion says:
I did .. I found some things I like.. but many are easily satisfied.. and the ones ii DO like have reach such a high level that probably requires me at least 2 years of training to get there
Reaper says:
you have recurring themes of emotions friendship and breaking free in your work as well as multiple personality do you believe those are the main topics you like to represent or are there deeper topics you want to portray in your work
Passion says:
there are deeper topics .. those are usually the topics that appear when I express myself for myself
Passion says:
but yes I would love to go further
Reaper says:
do you think you would want to use your art for controversial issues like politics masalan (for example)
Passion says:
no because in my point of view.. there are feelings behind what lead to the political issues in the 1st place.. I would probably see it from the point of view of a person who’s' misunderstood in the political process.. or the sad and twisted mind of a person that thinks he did the right thing and how he appears form the outside as a person that hurts many but deep inside he thinks he's a sad person
Passion says:
and thinks he's doing this since he's right.. rather than use it to express something that is "going on wrong with the world".. I prefer going to the source.. and for me
Passion says:
politics is a surface issue no matter how deep u go
Reaper says:
your recurring character buzz is always evolving and you told me before he is like a representation of yourself, do you believe the reason he looks different now than when you first invented him is because you yourself evolved into a more mature artist
Reaper says:
do you feel embarrassed or restrained to go into more adult themes with your art like making them dressed indecently
Passion says:
I feel it’s unnecessary
Passion says:
and if I was to express such a feeling I feel there would be a more creative way than the obvious
Reaper says:
in your work there is a recurring theme of technology did that come from your CS background
Passion says:
probably.. but generally I've always been fascinated by the concept of balancing nature with technology.. many people would be against that but I'm not.. probably comes from my background of being in Saudi Arabia
Passion says:
the way they build things there u feel complements the environment
Passion says:
people would say nature + technology = carcinogenic DNA engineering to create unnatural large fruits that are bad for u
Passion says:
I see a harmony between nature and technology something like creating underground water pipes that make plants grow in the dessert
Passion says:
rather than modifying the core of creation
Passion says:
desert*
Reaper says:
hmm
Passion says:
the idea of a futuristic reflective building.. a modest a grassy field has always fascinated me
Reaper says:
this brings us to another theory since you talk about the unity of nature and technology you also talk about being split on the inside though
Reaper says:
split personality
Reaper says:
cyborgs
Reaper says:
etc
Reaper says:
do you believe that humans should have more than one personality inside
Passion says:
I believe the concept of split personalities is not as pure as people think it is.. and sometimes I feel its something ur born with.. some people have a fixed way of thinking and feeling.. some people have various little personalities inside them.. both have its advantages and disadvantages. what I enjoy about having various mini personalities that all become one whole personality is the capable
Passion says:
I don't think people SHOULD have more than one personality although it’s naturally for most people to have that.. just not everyone admits it
Passion says:
I think people just need to be honest with them







3/10/2008
6:00:01 PM
Reaper
Passion

ok my professor is asking you do you have any new characters in mind right now
3/10/2008
6:02:50 PM
Passion
Reaper
buzz is every developing as usual.. but there is another character I seem to be more concentrated on recently .. the unnamed character I called Emotions :P.. I started seeing his personality more clearly and the environment around him.. opposite of buzz.. he isn't fueled by grief and rage as much as he is driven by a sense of innocence and the urge to be better.. he is a very excited person deep in
3/10/2008
6:03:13 PM
Passion
Reaper
inside but he has more childish emotions that I feel the other character buzz doesn't not connect with as much except in the form of crazy fun
3/10/2008
6:03:17 PM
Passion
Reaper
hmm
3/10/2008
6:04:53 PM
Passion
Reaper
anyhow the new character seems to be concentrating on more emotional feelings that people view as "feminine" but in fact they're more.. innocent .. and how to release those feelings in an amazing way how to relax and take it easy rather than explode and go crazy :D
3/10/2008
6:17:50 PM
Reaper
Passion
have you considered making a flash video game for you characters
3/10/2008
6:19:15 PM
Passion
Reaper
yes but not those specific characters.. but that’s the idea I wish to pursue at the moment with a few friends at work.. but we're taking our time cuz we want this to be fun not another source of pressure.. if it becomes a source of pressure.. how will we express ourselves properly :) anyhow yes.. we've been talking about it for a while and starting collecting the necessary resources to make a
3/10/2008
6:19:16 PM
Passion
Reaper
step :)
3/10/2008
6:20:40 PM
Reaper
Passion
thnx allot dude
3/10/2008
6:20:47 PM
Reaper
Passion
all the class thnx you too
3/10/2008
6:20:54 PM
Reaper
Passion
you've been live in my classroom
3/10/2008
6:21:35 PM
Passion
Reaper
ok :D
3/10/2008
6:21:43 PM
Passion
Reaper
thanks everyone it was an honor :)
3/10/2008
6:22:22 PM
Reaper
Passion
they already saw on facebook :P
3/10/2008
6:23:15 PM
Reaper
Passion
my proff thinks you should put more of your stories the work
3/10/2008
6:23:18 PM
Reaper
Passion
like buzz and emo
3/10/2008
6:23:29 PM
Passion
Reaper
I will do my best to do so :)

It's a Caveman's world

Interesting how when time progresses we revert to the past, when one grows up they start to act younger midlife crisis, peeing the bad later on in life just as they were kids. but never in my life have I imagined that civilization itself would revert back to old times. All the signs were right there but no one noticed, reverting back to polytheism of ancient times this time worshipping zeuses and heras that are better known as hollywood stars. and after this reading i discovered that we are back to the great age of the caveman, hiding in our little caves as dictated to us by the major dinosaurs better known as the corporations, or for a more closer concept the videogame corporations.

you see acording to the eye opening gamer theory, I discovered that the video game world is placing us (gamers) in a world in which we are blindfolded from the real world, better yet we were forced to live in a masked world, a world that resembles reality yet it just isn't the real world. with games resembling reality more and more it is no longer a matter of escapism, it has become a form of psuedo life in which the gamers live and thrive. and who wouldn't want to be an extremely awesome person that defies the rules of physics. well this can go overboard and take over their real life, making the virtual world real and the real world non-existent.

But the theory is even deeper than that, you see in a game, there are timekeepers, score keepers, judges, and written rules. life as it turns out deeply resembles the video game (Ironic init while games try to emulate life, now life is resembling the games, the irony is uncanny) with only minor differences, you don't know the score, you don't know the rules, you don't know "merde" (excuse my french), you're just pulled into it, slapped on the butt and off you go, you're on your own from then on out, the rules ?? no one tells you, the score ?? no one knows, the goals ?? you set your own.

mackenzie states that immersing oneself in a game locks you up in that virtual cave that venturing into the outside world afterwards seems next to impossible, and the real world isn't easy to venture into normally due to the vagueness of its objectives, no one knows how you should play in this life game, but it sure beats the hell out of any algortihm, so in my opinion one shouldn't focus on one game or the other but simply combine the two to reach optimum results in both. with moderation ofcourse in matters relating to military affairs (seeing as how most games tend to arch in that direction call of duty is only cool when you're blasting polygon based blood and guts aight)