Poland-based Maciej Hajnrich or Valp, is one of those digital artists who can take an ordinary photograph and turn it into something completely mind-blowing. He's not only a master of photo manipulation, he's a talented illustrator who can whip up his own, unique designs.
As a self-taught artist, Valp has been able to hone his skills over the past 15 years. He started his career when the internet was just coming of age, so he found his inspiration through magazines, books and movies. Nowadays, he says, “I really love to dig through the web, magazines and movies for new artists and their artworks. For example, now I'm impressed by the Tron Legacy art direction which gives a breath of fresh air to all futuristic visions I've already seen. This stimulates me to do more and better.”
When asked how he fell into this line of work he told us, “You know, that kind of feeling you have when you see something you want to do or have – I spent days experimenting and playing with graphics just for fun. And this became my profession.”
What's next for Valp? “Currently I'm considering some other software or using more of my drawing skills but I don't want to abandon the style I've achieved so far. In other words, I'm thinking about where I should go next – if I want to be myself, be unique and not do the same stuff with the same techniques all the time.”
Finally, what's some advice he would give to others, just starting out? “Stay focused, believe in yourself, practice your skills, listen and learn, be patient and never give up.”
