Thanks to James Cabrera, one of VT’s contributors for this engaging interview with the talented illustrator: Niccolo Balce of www.the-null.com

How did you first start getting into illustration?

I’ve been doodling ever since I was a kid. I actually used tracing paper back then ‘coz my dad was an architect and he had spare tracing papers lying around. When I ran out of tracing paper, that’s when most of the learning began.

The Wacom tablet appears to be one of your tools of the trade. What do you see as the advantages to drawing into Adobe Illustrator as opposed to other graphic software that other Wacom users may utilize?

I could make very crisp and easily resizable drawings in AI. Managing colors and layers are relatively easier tasks done in AI too. Oh, and the biggest thing would be the AI filesizes are way smaller.

Can you tell us, briefly, a little bit about Adobe Streamline or Live Trace?

They’re like cheats. I use them rarely. Very rarely. Like the aligning-of-planets kind of rare. I think those were rather desperate times.

It appears that several of your works are derived in the vector form, but it is to my understanding that you “finish” many of them in Adobe Photoshop. Approximately how much influence does the vector form play in your illustrations?

On the contrary, I’ve had many works finished with vectors. My comics was even done 2/3 in AI. The remaining 1/3 of the process involved pencilling in paper. But as you’ve mentioned, a good deal of my work were also finished in Photoshop. It’s generally just me trying to find which tool would be better for each piece. If I wanted to make it look traditional, I’d use mostly painter or photoshop. If I’m going for cel shaded, I’d use mostly AI. Or if I wanted, I could use both or something. Whichever works. :)

Many of your works contain lively, engaging figures, how important do you feel it is to incorporate action into art?

I think it’s one of the first things to consider. The pieces has to convey motion in one way or the other and in a manner that would get across clearly.

Can you tell us a little bit about your involvement with such sites as Half Project and Web Agent and how, if at all, the exposure affects the art you create now?

Half Project was just for fun back then, but they also pretty much gave me a boost. Taught me how to work with a team, obey deadlines, and be an all-around good guy. Okay, maybe not the last one. I got involved with it in 2001, I think. As I remember, Rex found me in a bowling alley staring at the ceiling and told me that they could use my help as an illustrator. And that was a good timing too, coz that’s the time when I didn’t have much subjects in college.

With Web Agent, it began as a commission for their site. I did some client projects for them after that, but I’m much more affiliated with someone else now. I can’t say for now. I’ve probably said too much. The walls have ears…

Where do you get the inspiration for many of your works?

My inspiration comes from pretty much everywhere. Image boards, memories, video games, beer, past crushes, future crushes, crashes, trash…

Does your Filipino background play any role in your art or the inspiration for your art?

Yes, I think it does play a part in my stuff. I can’t exactly pinpoint how. It’s probably nuanced in everything I’ve done.

If Stan Lee had asked you to illustrate a super hero, what kind of super powers would he/she have?

Not really that much of a big fan of super powers, but I’d say… er…. Super cooking powers? The ability to make a gourmet meal with stuff from the convenience store… Maybe the ability to summon noodles from thin air. :)

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