Creature artist Dominic Qwek

140430_DQ_bioDominic Qwek is a creature and character artist with over 10 years of working experience in the CG industry. He started his career as a 3D generalist for advertising before moving into the games sector. He has contributed to triple-A titles such as the Starcraft II franchise, Diablo III and Killzone 2. He currently works at Blizzard Entertainment as a senior cinematic artist where he helps to create the visually stunning cinematics that the studio is known for. Dominic’s skill set is versatile, ranging from character and environment creation to creature design and 3D rapid prototyping, examples of which you can see at the foot of this interview.

Tell us about your journey

I was exposed to art from a young age. Comics, games, movies and cartoons were the main catalysts for decision to become an artist. My parents were always encouraging of me taking an interests in the arts: they would provided me with art materials when they found me drawing on the walls of our house! They got me my first computer and gaming console when I showed interest in gaming. And when I watched Toy Story for the first time, they supported my decision to pursue a diploma in media design.

The breakthrough moment in my career was setting foot in the Blizzard campus. I’ve always been a huge fan of their games and art and being able to work for such a great company was and still is a highlight of my career.

How do you want to impact the world?

My plan is to keep creating my own designs and find avenues that allow me to explore ideas and develop a visual style of my own. I have a few ideas for IPs that I hope to pursue in the coming years. The trick is to find something to stick to for a good duration. Outside of CG, I definitely hope to pick up traditional sculpting again.

What are you passionate about?

Whenever I see art that evokes emotion or a fresh take on something old, I get truly inspired. I feel excited to create. I enjoy imagining fantastical worlds spanning different genres, and throughout the years, I’ve drawn so much inspiration from other artists that I can only hope my art has done the same for others.

A career in entertainment art is extremely competitive, and while it’s easy to get obsessed with producing results, I think it’s important to slow down at times and enjoy the little things in life.

What would be your #1 advice to other artists?

Do it because you love it. If you ever find yourself uninspired, then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. Find that inner artist and figure out what made him or her tick – and once you understand that, hold on to it.

Related Links
See more of Dominic’s work in his ArtStation gallery
Visit Dominic’s website

Demonspawn: digital creature art.

Demonspawn: digital creature art.

Alien Pod: digital creature art.

Alien Pod: digital creature art.

Juicy Bug: digital creature art.

Juicy Bug: digital creature art.

Hachiwara - a Category IV Kaiju: digital creature art.

Hachiwara – a Category IV Kaiju: digital creature art.

Jawesome: digital creature art.

Jawesome: digital creature art.

Equirex: digital creature art.

Equirex: digital creature art.

The Enri: digital creature art.

The Enri: digital creature art.

Domorian Warrior: digital creature art.

Domorian Warrior: digital creature art.

Cyclops: digital creature art.

Cyclops: digital creature art.

Bruiser: digital creature art.

Bruiser: digital creature art.

Gillman: a 3D print of Dominic's creature art.

Gillman: a 3D print of Dominic’s creature art.

Hopper: a 3D print of Dominic's creature art.

Hopper: a 3D print of Dominic’s creature art.

Alien Matriarch: an image of Dominic's next 3D print, rendered in KeyShot.

Alien Matriarch: an image of Dominic’s next 3D print, rendered in KeyShot.


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About the author

Jim Thacker is a contributing editor for ArtStation Magazine.