November 2002
Aram Alverez

Art is embedded into my brain. Coming from a family of writers and artists, my growing environment was filled with arty influences. Ok, being the carpenter's son won't make you a carpenter but in my case it really marked the path. In junior high school, I glued photo collages on my notebook covers. I guess that was my beginning in the arts.

I got involved with computers. I really like them but my muse got a bit confused. I learned how to program. For nearly 5 years I was too involved coding in C++ or Pascal, and although my arty muse was there all the time, it was somehow over-shadowed by that "binary" way of thinking. But I kept myself doing both things: coding and designing.

In the early 90's I began to work on one of our newspapers, as graphic designer. It was my art school, the place where I learned the basic and not such basic rules of graphic design… and I still consider that designing a newspaper rather than an ordinary job –as people use to think og it —could be a special place to learn those hard rules you will always need.

But soon I found the ceiling restrictive, work was great but I felt I had learned it all and needed some more challenges. I found a job with a news agency, designing magazines and printing advertisements. I couldn't have been happier. I spent over 6 years at this job. The things I learned at the newspaper at my early times were like a life saver at this new job. Magazines and newspapers: different look, quite equal on design rules. And because I was also programming all that time, I was promoted to be the head designer of their multimedia division. For the first time I was able to blend coding and arts into a one project. I did around 10 multimedia CDs titles and everything went just fine. Until I discovered the Internet!

When I first saw my employer's page it looked really ugly graphically speaking, but as it was around 1995, now I know why. My first web pages were like downloading a mammoth through a ¾ "pipe. I was influenced by multimedia surroundings and its lack of worry when talking about file size. I then started to learn over the Internet, taking online courses and tutorials, to overcome this issue. All my experience and knowledge comes from the "street", not from an art school. My real school was the day to day job and my desire to experiment and learn each time a little more.

Eventually I ended up a Creative Director of an advertising agency. I liked this a lot because the status and the things I could do without a boss haunting me. But at the same time I was willing to go back and do some coding, and do my own art instead of directing a designer to interpret and play as my muse's hands. I got fed up very quickly. I wanted to keep myself doing graphic design. I wanted to keep my brain thinking on the logic that is needed for programming. And above all, I wanted to keep myself learning. Finally I broke out from the office environment, created my own studio and became an independent artist. With 10 years of expertise on these fields, I felt like I could fly on my own, a decision I'm now happier with.

On my pilgrimage towards knowledge –which I know is a lifetime path—I have been researching using the Internet and local libraries, about things like conceptual design, philosophy, history of arts and psychology among others, spending years on research and readings, getting my feet wet into deep problems to be solved.

It has been 15 years since my first job doing graphic design and I still feel like I'm a rookie learning the basics. And although computers do the big job, I make sketches by hand, using my preferred tools: cutting knife, glue and printed art bits. Now, as always, I'm involved in graphic design blended with coding when needed. One of my hobbies is the implementation of little utilities that can help me to do automatic things quick. Not a lot of time for that, especially with pressing deadlines, but I manage to set aside some time each month to keep the binary muse alive.

For some time now I have been creating 100% original artwork for websites and print jobs. They are like reviving my old school days when I created my controversial notebook cover collages. Now it is pretty much the same but with 15 or 20 years experience. I always try to execute my customer's ideas using photorealistic compositions using the computer as a tool, and the muse as inspiration. This month I'm happily celebrating the 111th website created since year 2000.

You can see more at lithium-design.com
e-mail: lithium.design@hotpop.com

—Aram Alverez

All images ©Aram Alverez and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the artist

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