Your Full Name
Niccolo Balce
Tell us about you
I’ve always wanted to be a programmer ever since I’ve played my first PC adventure games back in the 90s. I always thought I’d end up in IT or in the architecture field because I’ve always been fascinated with computers and my dad’s an architect. But then, I went to an art college when I hit 18.
I was trained in traditional media and self trained in digital drawing. At some point, I dabbled in web design with my own site www.the-null.com. After that I ended up drawing for Halfproject and went on to draw for a lot more people and ended up doing illustrations for the comic book and trading card game industries. These days I’m trying to help out in the video game industry.
In your opinion, what would be the secret ingredients to become a great illustrator?
I’d say lots and lots of practice, tons of patience, great memory and a bit of imagination. And it helps to have a sketchbook or something similar always at hand.
Where are you located?
I’m just moved to San Francisco. I was from Chicago a few months ago.
What is the most fascinating part of being an illustrator?
The most fascinating part about illustration is seeing my own progress throughout the years. I still keep my drawings from way back as a reference point.
Where do you get inspirations from?
I get my inspiration from watching movies and walking all over whatever place I currently live in.
How do you promote/ sell/ showcase your work?
I showcased my work through websites such as my own or in deviantArt or other social art sites. I’ve also done conventions and also sent printed folios to art directors.
What is your long range goals in your life?
I’d like to be able to direct an animated film. Or probably a video game.
What types of assignment/ project are you attracted the most? Why so?
I generally gravitate towards projects involving video games. Because I’ve always loved video games ever since I was a kid.
Who is an illustrator that you look up to? Why so?
Massimiliano Frezzato. He’s done such an epic job with his series “Keepers of the Maser.”
Describe a difficult work/ project situation and how would you overcome it?
A difficult project situation would probably being given just a few vague keywords to start with. It happens more times than I’d want to. I’d usually ask for more details or do some research on the given task.
What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting our lifestyle?
I think of it as a vast well of information. Information’s so readily available now in so many formats, which wasn’t the case around a couple of decades ago.
If you could turn back time, how would you do things differently?
I would probably learn how to skateboard and learn guitar shredding more properly. And whatever I used to turn back time, I’d somehow turn it into a sweet DeLorean.
How do you keep your work fresh? Do you need to consciously adapt your style or does it progress naturally?
I let it progress naturally. I have consciously adapted my style into different popular styles a lot of times, but it always “snaps” back to something else.
Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
ImagineFX, Expose, and the Pixiv artbooks.
In what kind of a work environment do you do your best work?
Probably somewhere with a huge window and lots of fresh air. I’ve yet to find a work environment like that.
What do you like the sound of? Why so?
I like the sound of waves crashing around in the beach. Reminds me of my childhood.
If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
My current websites are: http://robotnicc.deviantart.com and www.the-null.com
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