Gracious enough to agree to an interview with us, we asked a few basic questions to allow you to get know this fabulous creator...
Totally Pawsome: As an artist, what comes first for you, the story or a snapshot and why?
Carl Springer: Hey, firstly I just want to thank you for having a platform where you can do these interviews and allowing me to contribute.
So to answer your question usually the story comes first, because when I'm working from a brief there is already a description of the character and I'm trying figure out who they are, what do they do, what is their story.
TP: What would you say sells your art to people?
CS: Hmmm that’s a hard thing to answer, because I've never asked anyone, but I'd guess it's my designs and the fact I create African fantasy art which is refreshing and unique within the western TTRPG community
TP: Why the TTRPG space?
CS: I’ve always been into fantasy art and rpg games and became more strongly connected with it when my favourite fantasy artists worked heavily on 4th Edition of D&D, since then I was drawn in by how the fans of ttrpg shared the same love I have for fantasy and it’s a strong close Nitt community, I have always found nerds like me welcoming plus I love history and lore and to me all the D&D books were just that.
CS: My favourite piece I've created is not a ttrpg character but one of my own character designs for my African fantasy project, it's of a Griot (Mage in my universe) and I love it because the colours are unique and the research into African cultures such as the Fulani and Hausa really come through in the design but in a fantastical way.
https://artstation.com/artwork/8wN61q
TP: Coming up with a piece is often an idea that gets written into a journal to come back on. How often do you find yourself working on one piece and another comes to mind and can you give an example?
CS: So for me I don’t have much of a problem with that, as I'm always worldbuilding in my mind but once I start designing a character all my research and sketching goes into developing my characters lore/ background.
I find it difficult bouncing between pieces because once I start on a journey, I need to see that quest to the end, my side quests so to speak are usually what weapon or clothing I can design for the character
CS: Most inspiring I would say is that in my own work I design a lot of black characters in fantasy that are inspired by cultures of black origin.
https://artstation.com/artwork/8w2a9q
TP: Where do you see your artwork taking you in 5 years?
CS: 5 Years honestly, I don’t know each day in art for me is a battle of self-doubt and perseverance, so I just try to focus on keep creating, but I'd like to be working on a fantasy rpg game as a character designer/concept artist
TP: If you were given the time and opportunity to create anything you wanted what would it be and why?
CS: So I kind of already do it creating art for my African fantasy world Ma’at Dynasty but given more time id just continue creating that world, I'd love to be able to travel to countries in Africa and draw and experience it first had. I'm a big believer that fantasy is just history and culture we’ve forgot and retell in a different way.
TP: Who do you admire in the fantasy art community and why?
CS: Easily my top 3 favourite fantasy artists that all worked on D&D 4e like I mentioned before are Jesper Ejsing, Wayne Reynolds and Steve Prescott I practically live in their visualisation of fantasy, with Richard Whitters and Vinod Rams being other honourable mentions
TP: What got you into TTRPG's in the first place?
CS: No one in particular got me into TTRPG’s I was actually the one that got my friends into it, which wasn’t difficult because we’re all gamers and love RPG games. But to answer your question it was just a natural progression for me, I follow where fantasy art takes me and I was bound to end up at ttrpgs sooner or later.
thanks for having! always fun to nerd out about fantasy outside of my mind
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