Rene Kunert

Tonight we are visited by the artist Rene Kunert.
She does some wonderful unique images. You can find more on her
website and her tubes at CDO. Rene has chosen some tags to illustrate
her art style. Thank you so much for talking with use Rene.

1) How did you become a part of the psp tube community?

I actually started out in the Photoshop community.  I made wallpaper designs and Icon development.  I did some web design and site building in there, also.  But, I couldn't express myself the way I wanted to with those because they are so limited.  Then I saw some of these "attitude" tags way back in the days of Myspace.  It made me wonder what it would be like to make a few of those.  So I tried it out.  Then I was hooked.

I had joined a forum where there were just a few of us chatting and joking and just hanging around.  It wasn't a psp forum at all.  Just friendly people chatting.  I posted these phrase graphics all the time and I made myself a userbar to put in my signature and that is when the siggie explosion hit me lol.  Everyone wanted one of these userbars.  And eventually, they just got bigger as I went along until my specialty was the 550x200 forum siggies.  And still to the day lol.

After a while, I figured I would go find others that are interested in the same thing.  Then I found tubes.  Yep, the first signs of my addiction were spotted.  I started drawing a few simple little characters for another forum.  They suggested that I find somewhere to license them.  That is when I found MPT.

Now I have thousands of tubes, have made thousands of tags, and don't see any signs of stopping any time soon.

2) What does your artwork mean to you?

Freedom.  I can express myself the way I want to.  It allows me to sink into what I am doing and block everything else out.  It is like a meditation, really.  I don't know how to explain it...  When I am drawing, I AM the drawing.

3) What inspires you in creating your artwork?

My daughter.  She is the reason I started.  I drew my very first character drawing after her.  She still has that drawing and looks at it every day. *blush*  If I haven't drawn anything in a couple of days, she will push me to start another project.  Very demanding, that one hehe. I dunno where she gets it...


4) How long have you been selling psp tubes?

Around 3 years now.  I was at MPT for 2 years, and then moved to PTE where I sold a few months before going independent.  I love being independent.  So much freedom in it.  No pressure of quotas, no worry of how many sales I make, no one pushing me except me.  (and my daughter)


5) How do you create your artwork? Is it by hand or digitally? What tools do you use in doing the artwork?

Well, I have several types.  I have those drawn by hand with a graphite pencil, a piece of charcoal and a kneaded eraser. Then I have my digital characters.  They are 100% drawn in Photoshop.  Then I have some that are based solely on Photography.  Mainly old classic cars.  I am a car fanatic.


6)Aside from psp tubes, what else do you create with your artwork?

I am a tagger through and through.  But I do have a few other things I make.  I have prints that I sell on a couple of sites.  I also make my own greeting cards for the holidays.  I crochet.  If I can do it with my hands, I try it out lol

I also put together scrap kits.  I sell those at a couple of different places.

I also LOOOOOVE a good photo manipulation.  I work on a manipulation for days before I am happy with it, then it goes right to deviantArt.  I am glad so many out there allow stock photo usage for just that.


7) As you have developed your style and artwork, which artists have influenced you?

Hmmm I can't really say... I admire all art.  I see a lot of artists that have artwork that blows me away.  But I can't really say that any of them have influenced me.  At first, some though I was inspired by Suzanne Woolcott.  I suppose she did have a little influence on me at first, but not so much anymore.  I love her artwork, though!  But I don't think I would really compare myself to anyone...


8) Does the psp community help artists become more well known with getting their names and artwork more visible?

I think so.  The PSP community is a HUGE community.  And to tell you the truth, I would not have ever heard of half the artists I know now had it not been for the PSP community.  I have also gotten to know a few other artists personally because of the community.  I love everything about it.  Even the occasional dispute.


9) What do you enjoy the most about being part of the psp community?

Seeing everyone's visions.  Those who wouldn't even pick up a pencil can be an artist in their own right.  I love seeing how everyone can take the exact same image and create something totally different.  Meeting all these people who are bottled up artists, and the explosions of "Mojo".  I love the giving nature of most in the community, though it is sometimes drown out by the negativity of a few small groups.  The competition is also a huge plus.  And it is friendly competition.  I don't see many times where someone turns into a "sore loser".  Those who have never won a contest still push their way through.  THAT is dedication.  Sometimes I can't help but sit in awe of most taggers. I love you guys!