I approached Moritz with a sense of awe and admiration for their work as I’ve been following them for quite some time. In this new segment in the blog I will try to carefully craft a list of 20 thoughtful and engaging questions that delve into their creative process, inspirations, and experiences. I reached out to Moritz through their Instagram as a means of communication and was thrilled when they agreed to take part in the interview. I felt incredibly honored to have the opportunity to exchange with them and gain insight into their artistic vision.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background in art?
I am an illustrator from Germany. My art is mostly inspired by fairy tales, folklore and dark fantasy in general.
How would you describe your artistic style?
I am a traditional artist and my art is mostly done in inks. While I started to work with acrylic paints I mostly draw in black and white. Stylewise I am inspired by renaissance artists and their drawings and engraving techniques.
Can you walk us through your creative process?
Process wise its pretty simple… I am constantly sketching in my sketchbook (remember take it everywhere with you…you never know). Once I select a sketch, I redraw it with pencil on some fitting paper (I love to use Bütten or some other thick paper) and ink it with bölack ink. I use a fountain pen or a traditional dip pen for my more elaborate stuff. And an inkpen for the faster. more sketchy stuff.
What inspires you to create the art that you do?
Creation wise it’s not that easy to explain…inspiration is most important and everywhere. There are often longer thought processes involved followed by a creative outburst.
How long have you been active on Instagram as an artist?
Hmm…I think since 2017 (?)… But initially it was just for personal art stuff. Just random art without any intention on doing it professionally.
Can you tell us about your most popular or well-received piece of work on Instagram?
Hmh… that’s something very revealing…my most liked piece until a year ago was a five minute very random sketch…it just triggered the algorithm in the right way. No clue why. Now my most popular drawing is an adaption of the wickerman figure. Again I used the right hashtags, as it seems..so that (likes) really has nothing to do with the quality of the art. It can be rather frustrating.
Have you had any formal art education or are you self-taught?
I am mostly self taught. But I am from a creative family and both my parents made art for a living and are still creating art in that space. So they surely taught me a lot. Otherwise I attended some courses but that was more for fun and drawing in company. While I was always doing creative stuff I really got into drawing again six, seven years ago.
Have you ever had any exhibits or shows of your work?
Some local group shows. Nothing more so far, but something I will be looking into in the future.
Can you tell us about a specific project or commission you have worked on that you are particularly proud of?
I finished my first bigger project last year. A collaboration with the Italian publisher hollow press who made a tabletop game: “Boneforest”. I was the sole Illustrator and the whole game pushed me immensely in every aspect. But I also made some illustrations for the magazine “Fiddlers Green”, and I am very proud to be part of a magazine that holds the tradition of illustrating in such high regard.
How do you handle negative feedback or criticism of your work?
Sounds strange…but there hasn’t been any so far. So that’s an experience I still have to do and probably will sooner or later. We’ll see how I will handle it, I guess it really depends on the kind of critique you receive.
How do you use Instagram to promote and share your art?
I just post my stuff and make sure to interact with the community as much as I possibly can. To be honest, I am not the best at the social media game…I probably have to improve that as it seems to be increasingly more necessary.
Have you ever collaborated with other artists on Instagram or in person?
I have a frequent collaboration with a miniature sculpture (Meridian Miniatures). Together we work regularly on a range of miniatures based on my concepts.
How do you stay current and informed about new developments in the art world?
Mostly through rumours in the community, I have to admit.
Do you have any upcoming shows or exhibitions that you would like to promote?
Nothing planned as of yet.
Have you received any recognition or awards for your work?
Not in the last 15 years, apart from nice words from those in the community. But I guess you can say the fact that I am able to work as an illustrator and that people are willing to trust in me and spend money on my work as the best kind of recognition, right?
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or pieces you are working on?
I work on different things all at one time. Some personal stuff, some smaller commissions and a bigger one.It’s an upcoming RPG but I won’t go in to any massive details here.
How do you handle pricing and selling your art on Instagram?
For selling stuff on instagram….I don’t have a shop at this moment as I am mostly working with commissions at the moment, but otherwise I would recommend setting up a shop. Just selling stuff over instagram though can be chaotic. In any case, sort out the legal stuff first… as it can be overwhelming sometimes…
Can you share with us some of your favorite artists or art movements that have influenced your work?
Of course my biggest influence are the artist of the Renaissance like Dürer, Cranach, Bosch and Breugel. But also contemporary artists like John Blanche, Chris Riddel, Edward Gorey and many more. I also have a soft spot for Art Nouveau illustrators like Beardsley, Clarke, Rackham, Poignany and again a lot of others.
And lastly do you have any advice for aspiring artists on Instagram?
It’s a cliche but don’t give up. Instagram is becoming increasingly frustrating for artists. But it’s still a good platform to present your work. Just make sure not to create solely for the plattforms algorithms. Create for yourself and enjoy the process and if that’s done you can enjoy posting it, but you don’t have to get your creativity killed by the pressure.
Again a massive thank you to Moritz for taking the time to answer my ahort interview questions. It was a pleasure to learn more about the man behind the art and your creative process. I know that you will continue to inspire and delight audiences with your amazing work for many years to come.
And thank you for reading my first instalment in 20Q.
