Starting 2018, we are featuring one special artist from our AVLoops platform as the Artist of the Month. The first feature is visual artist Catmac (Marcos Fernández). With an educational background in Psychology of Perception, he creates sophisticated, highly detailed abstract 3D computer animations. His contents are fluid, minimal and organic, appears to be point-cloud manipulations or even real-time generative art. Below is our interview with the artist as we discuss his working process and inspirations. You can see his works available on AVloops here.

Where in the world (city) do you live?

Well, now I'm spend most of my time at Guadalajara, Mexico. I spend at least two months per year at Madrid, the city I was born and lived for most of my life. 

How long have you been creating original visual content?

I started doing VJ in 2007. At that time I used to use footage recorded with cameras or phones. In 2012 I decided to move from "video footage" content to motion graphics. 

Why do you give away your visuals as Free VJ loops online?

At the beginning there was no other way to share my work. I learnt from people who share their work on the net so I assumed that I should do the shame. Now there are more that 100K downloads per year, so I feel I have to take care of this creature. Recently discovered that many people leran to perform as a VJ using my loops. That is very important for me. There is a simple and deep pleasure in sharing. 

What inspires you creatively?

I do not have an specefic source of inspiration, I'm still looking for them. Everything that happens in front on my senses can be used to create something else. The intersection between organic and artificial is maybe my main interest right now. Also the concept of interface and the way it transforms ourselves, it is also an obsession for me. 

What tools (software) do you use to produce your content?

Aftereffects, Cinema4d, Resolume, vvvv and mandelbub3d, mostly. 

What type of dance music/musician do you listen to most?

Electronic music, classic music, pop music. It's more about artist and names than about styles or genres. Now I'm listening, Beach House, Moderat, Four Tet, ChloÈ, Max Richter, Johanatan Bree, Data, Isaac Delusion, Siriusmo etc.

On average, how long does it take you to create one visual loop on your computer (minus rendering time)?

Haha, that is a secret. No, seriously, the setting up can take days, weeks. But once the machine is ready I can render many different loops in seconds or minutes. Doing 2-3 loops per day it's ok for me, on average.  

If you have all the time in the world, what would you do?

I tend to live as if that situation was true indeed. I do not like to be on a rush, unless some of my best works were completed under pressure. I'll like to sit down and relax, wait for interestelar travels and start to travel all around, for free. In the meantime, there are a lot of problems to fix here on earth. 

Very cool, and we are looking forward to seeing more creative visuals coming from Catmac in the near future!