Tell us about yourself. Where did the name ExGemini come from? Where do you currently reside at?
Damn I hate that question! š I never know exactly what to tell about myself.
I am your average geek, born in Italy, 12 June 1980 and currently living in a small city in the North part of the country. The name ExGemini is a composition between the Latin prefix āExā, which mean basically ātheā and Gemini, like the zodiac sign. I came up with this name the day of my birthday in 2000: I meant to find myself a nickname that was both unique, original and, most important, reflected who I was.
How did you get started in doing 3D? How long have you been doing this?
Oh memories! I was like 15 the first time I put hands in the messy world of 3D graphics. Me and a group of friends really wanted to try to make a tech demo of some kind and I was the only one of the pack who ever used stuff like Photoshop and messed around a little with 3DStudio and LightWave. It was the very first days of 3D gaming, there still was this transition between 2D and 3D. Our biggest inspiration was Dungeon Siege but, we didnāt go too far: it was hard, if not impossible, to come up with a render engine all by ourself and there were other massive technical challenges.
Since that day I always kept trying and trying to learn the way of the big 3D programsā¦ and always failed. Just imagine that more than 17 years ago, the internet wasnāt so fast and populated like nowdays and tutorials and stuff werenāt things you could find easily. More than that, the people who actually used complex programs like 3DStudio at a professional level, were just an handful. Only around 2004 I had enough money to attend a Maya class that lasted a full month. Iāve learned a lot from that experience, from basics to professional details but, there is always room to improve!
Youāve done a lot of work based on the superhero genre. What intrigues you about it? What about superheroines did you find to be most appealing?
My very first comics were from Image Comics. Back then they had far superior artist and only much much later Marvel and DC were able to fill the gap and blend both good stories with good art. As works of art and imagination, comics naturally intrigue me but I tend only to stick with stuff that has sci-fi material in it. The more the merrier!
Most of my works on superheroines does not revolve around the canon costume at all, as you probably know already by checking my renders. Everywhere you look there are artists that can sketch a PowerGirl in any position with her signature costume, which is cool, but what about a skirt and a blouse? I like to think: mmh if StarFire or Zatanna were out for shopping or a date, what they would wear?
The most appealing thing about superheroine of all times is the way they are able to wear skimpy costume that are just a step away to become porn material and look both cool and proud it in, like itās something of every day.
I have to ask: Marvel or DC? And why?
Not easy to say. If Iāve to pick based on Characters, I would say Marvel cause it has a more wide roster of super heroes that I am fond off. But if the question is based on stories and materials, well I think that both has pros and cons, I always though that DC was a little bit more mature, but donāt ask me why!
Who are your favorite heroines and which do you like working with the most?
Another hard question! There are plenty that I like just because their look, like Emma Frost for example, but I simply cannot stand the character itself *shrugs*. I love PowerGirl all around, she is a fun, lovable and fragile character all in one ā¦ but, ofcourse, DC comics is messing things up on daily basis. Wonder Woman is definitely my personal best for various reasons and letās not forget Shulky!
I like to work with pretty much all of my models cause I put a lot of work in them. The moment I decide to create a 3D version of any given heroine, they cease to be the canonical from DC or Marvel and become more alive. As weird as it sounds itās like a girl that live next door.
Iām a major roleplayer since the day of D&D first edition, so you can understand that for me it becomes a second nature to give every fictional face I work with, a more in depth personality. It helps a great deal to define what kind of muscle Shulky must have without compromising her feminine side. It helps to define how big PowerGirl boobs must be before it become ridiculous and, when I work on commissioned characters, more information the owner gives me, the more I can enrich the final product.
Some of the major comic companies previously have attempted to present their comics in the 3D style, yet the classic 2D style is still present in a majority of todayās comics because itās considered symbolic to the industry. Do you think thereās a place for 3D to be part of the comic industry and be accepted like its 2D counterpart? Or do you think thatās a pipedream?
Itās not just symbolic as you said, which is true, but itās due the unique nature of 2D art: simply stated, itās warm. 3D art tend to be sterile and cold. It can deliver outstanding realism but in a comic book thatās not what you want to see: you want to detach yourself from reality and dive in a world filled with perfect ladies with antigrav boobs and rock solid butts and guys that can wear spandex suits and look freaking manly shooting laser from their eyes. Both can be obtained with 2D and 3D but itās the final impact that matters. And hand drawn and colored picture will always feel warmer and deeper than the most amazingly render 3D picture.
I am confident that in the near future 3D graphics will be a complementary part of the classic 2D: long ago comics were colored by hand with classic mediums, now they are colored with computers and itās a welcome addition; colors gives volume and you can almost feel how round that thighs are :D. I think, I truly think that 3D graphic is a gear that will fit well in the already complex machinery of the comics industry.
We know you best from your gallery on Deviant Art, so we donāt know if youāve done any more explicit work due to the regulations on the site. Have you done such works? If not, have you ever considered doing it?
š You have no idea mate! All commissions that Iāve done so far were handed me by very nice people, exception made only by a couple of rotten apples that didnāt even paid the work. Some of this nice people, after one or two commission, timidly ask me if Iām able to do a more mature version, almost like they are afraid Iāll go nuclear on that request :).
As a matter of fact I do renders that fits barely inside the x-rated label. Itās not exactly my field of expertise but thanks to the people who commission me such art, Iām getting better and better in that too. *nods*
What are some of your biggest inspirations in the art world?
Well, out of the blue is hard to say: Sometimes Iām inspired by a movie or a tv series episode, other times is another artist concept or a song. But most of the time is that idea that is circling around your head since the dawn of time that is waiting to come into existence. Sometimes I watch a movie and 2 days later an idea pop into my mind: āMmh I should do a render of PowerGirl in that position with a small story attachedā, while other times I just wait to be in the right mood and state of mind to start a project.
Your style in 3D has a great look to it as your renders look phenomenal. How do you get from point A (the idea) to point B (the finished product)? What tools do you use to create your art?
Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes, other times 2 days. Depends on the subject and how smooth my mind can process the idea. Consider the idea you have in mind like a sketch: most of the times you have only to clean it up, paint it and you are done. Other times you keep erasing and fixing stuff and inevitably end with a final result that is totally different than the original idea.
I start with a concept that is usually a situation, then I select an actress/actor that would look good in that particular scene. Clothing, hair style, lights and mood of the picture follows in a back and forth to see which one is better and go on and on forever fixing errors and details until either a) Iām exhausted or b) I convince myself itās done! *smiles*
For the tools, as you asked, itās basically a notepad in case I need to note down parameters and names of clothingās, PoserPro 2012, PhotoShop and your trusty mouse/tablet.
Do you have any advice you’d like to give to any aspiring artists?
I am not a guru but please trust me on this one: be patient! You have no idea how much you can get stuck on something without even realizing it. If you find yourself totally blocked, you canāt continue a work, put down the pen, mouse or whatever you are using, go for a walk, clear your mind. Most of the time I find myself blocked, I take a walk or do something else for an hour, when I sit down again on the project, I solve the problem in mere minutes without understanding why I was blocked in the first place!
You do commission work! Wanna give us the lowdown to help potential customers buy one from you? And I hate to put you on the spot, but what were some of your favorite ones to do?
Simply contact me on DeviantArt, drop me a note and we can discuss your commissions idea and price.
My favorite type of commissions are the one where the client shows implication in the progress: I usually do 2-3 test renders that I send to the client to see if he/she likes it or not. This helps me a lot to fine tuning the model on the client taste and make him/her happier.
Do you have any future projects coming up within the year?
Oh goodness where to start from? š I do have tons of ideas in the space vortex you call ābrainā and no idea when Iāll be able to make them reality yet. I would love to work again on the Justice Illustrated fake magazine, with more covers and interview to the pretty ladies of the comic books, Iāve also some story driver renders that include my alter ego Nathan Furian and a million of other sexy renders that you can only imagine.
At the moment Iām focusing my efforts on learning a bit more of Z-brush and 3DStudio but I would love to learn to use Vue to create some stunning landscapes for outdoor renders.
Any last words for our dear Affect3D readers?
I would like to thank you guys for asking me an interview ā¦ for an artist is always a moment of joy when his work is recognized as good!
Where can we find you online at (blogs, sites, etc)?
I never really cared to have a blog so you can find me at my DeviantArt page and thatās all, sorry!
Epoch
April 11, 2012Nice job on the Asari chick. I’m trying to figure out if it is modeled geometry attached to a V4 head, or if it is a Zbrush or Mudbox sculpt? I’d guess it’s the prior, because it looks a little too detailed for a sculpt since V4 isn’t very poly heavy in the cranium area. Top notch replica. I love it.
ExGemini
April 12, 2012It’s a model attached to V4 head.
I’m not really good with z-Brush yet.
It’s just tons of postwork in photoshop to make sure the “asari’s crown” looks blended well with V4 head š
renderfan
April 6, 2012ExGemini puts a lot of effort in his backgrounds. Nice work! He’s right that 3D is cold, but it’s getting better. I think it’s easier to avoid “uncanny valley” with 2D as an artist’s hand is able to create natural lines. Something as simple as Charlie Brown can feel natural, but hyper-realistic 3D can look odd.
renderfan
April 7, 2012I just noticed that the blue babe was an Asari from Mass Effect. Very cool!
ExGemini
April 12, 2012Thanks mate š I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one thinking that about 2D and 3D š
And the Asari was a pain in the ass to make, but she came out … well yummy! š
miro
April 5, 2012Really nice dick girl pics, all of them, particularly the second last. Great work!
ExGemini
April 6, 2012Thank you š
ExGemini
April 3, 2012Again I thank you for this opportunity š