artiste d'mon >>> shultz & spence

NUDEWORKS
the fantastic study through a world of fantasy by larry schultz & chris spence
Interview by: Silverio Pantalla

Who are Larry Schultz & Chris Spence?
Larry: Larry is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He’s a graphic designer, photographer, and illustrator. He has a passion for art, life, and of course, beautiful women.

Chris: Never heard of him.

What is NudeWorks?
NudeWorks is a collaboration between two guys who met in art school, Larry Schultz and Chris Spence.

We're both Graphic designers by day, but we wanted to do something artistic that didn't require us to please a client. We started doing body painting, which was a lot of fun, but it wasn't until we started scanning the photos we took of painted models and manipulating them in Photoshop that we knew we were heading in the right direction.

We eventually decided to leave the paint in the can and simply create artistic nudes via digital camera and computer. We get to know our models during the initial photo shoot, and we try to put some of their personalities into the final images. Our illustrations were simple at first, but each of us seems to be growing and developing our own style.

Larry's images are often deep and complex, with extensive layer blending, while Chris’ work is deceptively simple and surreal. We hope that visitors to NudeWorks enjoy seeing our titillating spin on photo illustration.

What is your most important goal in life?
Larry: Basically just to be nice to everyone I meet. If you are always nice to people, good things will happen for you.

Chris: Id like to photograph the Olsen Twins. Ashley, Mary-Kate...call me. Wait...are they 18 yet?

How do you print your pictures on canvas?
Right now were using wide format digital ink jet with UV inks on acid-free canvas, but were always looking at better options.

If you could have just one wish, what would it be?
Larry: To be able to photograph and create digital illustrations of beautiful women well into my 90’s. Oh yeah, and to end world hunger.

Chris: See number three. (Olsen Twins)

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Larry: I would like to spend an afternoon playing Backgammon with Hugh Hefner. Not only does he have a great eye for beautiful women, but he is also a brilliant business man with a strong work ethic, which I admire.

Chris: Id like to be able to witness the first Neanderthal that picked up that piece of burnt stick and scrawled on the cave wall to illustrate a story. “This is what was chasing me, and tomorrow we'll kill it. Look, here's me throwing a rock at it.”

If you had to live in one room for your entire life, what would it look like?
Larry: The walls would be covered with illustrations from my favorite artists for inspiration. There would also be a wine rack, a hot tub, and of course my Mac.

Chris: The walls would be PMS 152, and it'd be full of Apple computers. Maybe a little fridge too. That'd be pretty good.

What do you think is the secret of your success?
Larry: I'm always willing to try something different when I work. It has made me grow as an artist. With each NudeWorks illustration that I create, I learn a little more and hopefully get a little better.

Chris: I’ll let you know when it happens.

What is the weirdest request you have ever gotten from a commission job?
A woman wanted us to shoot her with her pet Tarantulas crawling on her. We kept saying that we could just put them in digitally later on, but she wanted the real thing. They were actually pretty well-behaved though -- everyone got out alive.

Who have been some of your main influences as an artist and as a person?
Larry: I have many influences, like illustrators Luis Royo, Frank Frazetta, and Serpieri. In the digital realm, I like Christopher Shy, Bajema, and Jason Beam. As for Photographers, I admire Helmut Newton and Roy Stuart.

Chris: I'm not actually a big fan of his art, but Jackson Pollock is very inspiring because he was truly original.

What is the latest CD (music) you have purchased?
Larry: Coldplay, Radiohead, and Chris Isaak.

Chris: The new Deftones. I liked White Pony better.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
Larry: Sitting in front of my Mac working on another NudeWorks illustration of course.

Chris: If I'm not doing something creative, then I want to be rotting quietly in a coffin.