Angel Artist Interview: Eric Merced

13 artists were challenged to create their version of angels. The end result is what we call our Angels Among Us online art show. You showed such a great response to the project that we wanted to give you more insight on some of the artists that created the work:

Eric Merced

First up….Eric Merced:

 
1. What inspired you to create the work that you did for Angels Among Us?

I love Angels. I am fascinated by what the Bible, the Word of God, says about them.
Little things like when they appeared to give God’s chosen messages. Those things to
me, are incredibly exciting.

This particular piece, which is called Ascension, I illustrated while I was in the middle of illustrating a Graphic Novel that also has, as one of the main characters,
an Arch Angel. So I was having such a great time drawing that angel for the Graphic
Novel that I wanted to draw one for myself on the side. But I wanted to make the
illustration more angelic in contrast to the character I drew for the comic.

When the call went out for submissions to AAU, I could not think of a more perfect
illustration in my portfolio than this one. I think the timing was just perfect.
 

2. What medium did you use?

I used a mixture of mediums, if you will. It’s pretty much the same with 80% of any

By Eric Merced

illustration I work on. Pencil and paper for the sketch, Brush pen and Pens for the
line art, and Photoshop CS3 for the digital coloring. I will usually use Adobe
Illustrator, but not in this illustration.
 

3. Is there a process or protocol you go through before you begin
creating, and if so, what is it?

I’m usually creating illustrations for clients that hire me. So it’s a different
process for them versus for when I draw for myself like the Ascension piece.

If I’m drawing for my own enjoyment or for a self promotional piece, I just usually
sketch something out. If I like it enough it will make it into the ink stage and
then color, if I feel strong enough about finishing it.

With Clients, it’s a matter of getting an art job order, making a few sketches based
on the descriptions they give on the order, and working our way to the final
illustration. More or less. But it’s more of a collaborative situation where 2 or 3
people are working on an illustration, or a set of illustrations at a time.

4. How long did it take you to complete this piece?

I completed the over all drawing, pencil and inks, in an hour or less. But the color
came the next day I think, due to my freelance work. I worked on this on my free
time. But I think, over all, it would have taken me at least 2 hours or less. It’s
not a very complicated piece. It’s simple and straight forward.

5. Was the image influenced in any way by anything in your life?

Definitely. It was a direct result of my faith as a Christian. And not just that,
but my interest in Angels, as God’s messengers and our protectors. I believe 100%
when the bible says that he sends his Angels to watch over us, to protect us. I
often find myself wondering, how does my Guardian (or Guardians) look? What is his
(their) name(s)? It’s fascinating. To know that God loves us so much that even so,
he assigns Angels to guard us. And how many times do we get in a car, and without
even realizing it, those Guardians go to work? Protecting us from accidents and or
our enemies plans?

So yes, this illustration is definitely an extension of my faith. I rarely draw
biblical illustrations. But when I do, I like to base them on things that interest
me deeply about God and his Word.

6. What artist(s) inspires you?

You know, I grew up with Disney, and comics. I think the Little Mermaid was the
movie I saw where I said, “That’s it. I know what I want to be for the rest of my
life. I want to be a cartoonist!”. In comics, two Artists stand out the most. Arthur
Adams and Mike Mignola. But it does not stop there. There are allot of different
Artists, both Christian and non Christian, that inspire me. It would be a long list
really, but I think Disney, Adams and Mignola are responsible for my interest in art
and comics.

Check out Eric’s sketchs and portfolio on his website at EricMeced.com

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