Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to David Benzal. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

David, appreciate you joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Due to my background in traditional classical artistic training, my approach to work always relies on a solid artistic structure. Although I employ the most contemporary techniques, such as using 3D programs and digital painting, my classical foundation makes a significant difference in my work. When faced with challenges, I can always draw upon my classical knowledge of drawing and composition to solve any problem in the most effective way.

When I immerse myself in a specific theme, my immersion is complete. For example, my specialty lies in the medieval Japanese era and the samurais. This passion has led me to live several years in Japan, where I’ve established a second residence, and to delve into various traditional disciplines until mastering them professionally. This deep commitment enables me to represent the essence of this era and culture with the utmost rigor in my work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After completing my higher education studies in art, I began working at an illustration studio in the city of Barcelona, focusing on the advertising sector where everything moves at a fast pace. Here, I developed numerous technical skills to produce high-quality work quickly. Alongside my job, I started to cultivate my personal art as I’ve always been passionate about cinema and dreamed of designing characters and environments as a concept artist.

Over time, I began showcasing some of my personal works on professional concept art platforms, and after receiving several awards, my profile became more recognized. I started receiving very interesting job offers, but the turning point came when I began working on a Hollywood film, Jurassic World. I consider this to be the start of my career at a higher level, as from that point on, I collaborated on numerous highly relevant films, series, and AAA video games. I’ve been fortunate and honored to work with top film directors and on renowned projects in both the film and video game industries.

As an artist, it’s challenging to talk about oneself, as most of us are very perfectionistic and always see flaws in our work. We’re always looking to improve and explore new processes and details to elevate our work to the next level. However, the experience gained over the years working on high-level projects provides a solid foundation. Many times, almost subconsciously, I know when something won’t work, which is something I share with my clients. Based on my professional experience, I’m confident that when I’m part of a project, I have the ability to enhance its quality and take it to the next level.

It’s difficult to pinpoint what aspect of my work I’m most proud of, but perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve taken my characters, designs, and covers all over the world, and my work has been seen in iconic locations worldwide.

Some of my notable projects include exciting and impactful works such as Jurassic World, Game of Thrones, Love Death and Robots (seasons 1 and 2), Dune, Ghost Recon, Fortnite, Renfield, Alien, among many others. I’ve worked for companies such as Sony PlayStation, HBO, Netflix, Universal Studios, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Unreal Engine, Fuji Television, TOEI Animation, Epic Games, Ubisoft, 20th Century Studios, and Walt Disney Pictures, among others.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When you learn a profession or a trade, there are always technical and practical elements that you develop over time in your professional journey. It’s like a collection of experiences that you accumulate and can consult at any time for future projects. In the artistic field, it’s a bit more complicated since it involves other more personal factors, such as your current emotional state, your surroundings, emotions, etc. This may seem irrelevant when you have extensive professional experience, but I’ve found it to be very important in the artistic realm. The use of colors, shapes, and composition will, to some extent, be influenced by your mood, as there is a part of you in what you represent.

Once, while working on one of my first major projects, feeling nervous and tense, I suppose the director noticed it in my work. He gave me one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received, saying, “Enjoy drawing.” From that moment on, I began to enjoy every part of the project process, and the result was much better. This helped me improve in all my future projects

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Throughout the years, I’ve consistently felt the need to capture my ideas and represent them graphically, whether through illustration or animation. It’s something intrinsic to my being, as essential as eating and breathing. I’ve always experienced this sensation: my mind is like an endless wellspring of ideas that I yearn to materialize and bring to life. Although I haven’t fully defined my main goal yet, I know that my purpose is to convey emotions. Whether through a character’s expression or through the careful construction of an environment, my aim is to make the viewer feel: the cold of a snowy landscape, the hatred reflected in the eyes of a villain, or even through their style of dress.

This need for expression is something I’ve learned to recognize as vital to my well-being. During times when I’ve neglected to represent my ideas, I’ve felt completely lost, like a wandering spirit. However, when I’m immersed in the process of bringing my characters and ideas to life, that sense of emptiness disappears, and I experience a profound sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
A more physical and short-term goal is the publication of my third Artbook, this one focused exclusively on my project The Dragonfly Circle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davidbenzal.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david.benzal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davbenzal?locale=es_ES
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-benzal-51362374/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/David0Benzal

Image Credits
David Benzal