Ted Kim, also known as Ted Kimchee or Seoulman is a concept artist and illustrator born and raised in Canada with extensive work in the video game industry since 2000. He has contributed to a number of published titles including Cel Damage, Cel Damage Overdrive (UK), Full Auto and Full Auto 2: Battlelines working as Lead Concept Artist for some of them.

His most recent work is a tribute to the well-loved Capcom characters: The Street Fighters Tribute book alongside great comic artists such as Adam Hughes, J. Scott Campbell, and Sean Galloway.

Aside from working on freelance projects with Imaginary Friends Studios and other companies, he likes to create personal artworks that he sells on his website store and also in Facebook.

Ding Ding Chung is a marketing-turned-animation student at Savannah College of Art & Design in which he was exposed to the endless potential of 3D animation. Currently he is a Concept/2D artist with Silver Tree Media, a game and media company located at Pittsburgh, PA. His main responsibilities in the art department are character and environment design. His artwork can be viewed at http://www.adingding.com/.

Here’s a little interview with Ding Ding conducted online.

Tell me a little about yourself, about your life?
My name is Ding Ding Chung. I love to draw and conjure up stories whenever I have the capacity to do so. I was a marketing student during my college days in Taiwan but soon enough I realized I really don’t like it. I enjoy creating, telling and even immersing myself in stories which I would translate into visual concepts through drawing. So it is pretty obvious for me to learn art and become an artist instead of becoming a sales or business man. In order to better myself, I decided to study aboard. At that moment I only wanted to learn making animation in 3D since I was drawn to it endless potential. So far, it has been very enjoyable as I am doing the thing that I always wanted to do. I’m hoping that one day I can inspire others with my work, the same way others did to me.

Where did you go to school?
Savannah College of Art & Design.

What classes did you study? What is your major?
M.F.A in Animation. I also took a foundational color drawing class and two anatomy classes with the sequential art department.

What helped you become the artist you are today?
Definitely my parents and my family. Without them, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today. My professors and classmates in SCAD played an important part too. They encouraged, inspired and even challenged me to push harder to become a better artist. Finally, I think many, many, many great artists whom I’ve come to know in online forums have been inspiring me and fostering me since I started learning animation in the U.S. It’s awesome to see so many great works of art online.

What do you hope to become one day?
I know I’ve been inspired by many people’s work and got plenty of help from them. I hope one day I could inspire others who would in turn inspire others to do likewise.

Do you intend to stay in the States for a long time?
Yes, that is my long term goal.

Who are your influences?
An attitude. Not just a specific person but I have seen this attitude so many times in many great artists I’ve come to know. Also, within that attitude, I would sense creativity. Great artists don’t just create designs or paintings that are unique, but unique in a good, beautiful and innovative way.

My artistic influences come from Gino Lorenzo Bernini, Mucha, Jon foster, Sparth, Ashley wood, and Zack Petroc.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from my life and my personal experiences. The key is to keep an open mind in order to sensationally capture and interpret things that are happening around me.

What is your most favorite subject to draw? And why?
Character because they are the first things I will notice in a story. In the same way, we’re all characters in our own story.

What inspired you to become an artist?
A passion to create or interpret a concept of my inner worlds and communicating it via my drawings to my audiences. At the same time, I just want to do something fun and inspiring.

What wisdom could you give us, about being an artist? Do you have any tips you could give?
I feel that the key difference between two artists is not just their skill level, but in the way they would look and interpret the world around them. They should have their own philosophy, aesthetic and their unique mental structures of creativity. It is essential to develop these valuable essences within you to become a successful artist. So in my humble opinion, work hard to sharpen your skills technically but don’t forget your inner self. You are a creator, not just a technician.

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?
Via www.adingding.com/  or write to me via my email address: bigdingding@gmail.com

Finally, do you have any of your art work for sale (sketchbook, prints, or anything) for people that like your work can know where and when to buy it?
No. I haven’t really thought of this.

Where are you working now? And what is your job?
I work at SilverTree Media, a game and media company in Pittsburgh, PA. I am a 2D artist working in a great team of artists, and my job scope includes character and environment designs.

Kim Kang San, a.k.a. Manager B.P, is a concept artist from Seoul, Korea who has worked on the concept designs and illustrations for various games.

Check out his website which include his sketches, drawings, tutorials and even a blog. His recent works can also be found on his CGPortfolio.

Randis Albion (Andre Weiss) is a German designer / artist / director based in Bangkok, Thailand, producing amazing works through his personal studio - Deeper Than Words.

Working primarily with 3ds Max, Photoshop, Painter and ZBrush, the 27yr old artist's works range from illustrations to concept art, 3d modelling, texturing, matte painting and animation. He even dabbles with photography and creates photo illustrations using Photoshop. His diverse selection of works can be seen on his website, his CGPortfolio, deviantART, and also Epilogue.net's Art Gallery.

Watch the new music video that Randis created for Band Silly Fools - "No Regrets", and also his video tutorials here and here.