Interview with Artist:
SiMo Sol
Today I am very honored
to be talking with a guy who goes by the name of SiMo Sol.
SiMo Sol is a German
artist and one of the best artist around when it comes to doing MOTU paintings.
MOTU!: Hi SiMo and
thanks for taking time out to do this interview with me. Over the last couple
of years, you have been doing some amazing MOTU paintings and your work just
become better and better every time you paint something. The painting you did recently
at Grayskull-Con is another masterpiece, so I am very honored to be able to do
this interview with you.
 |
| The Battle for Castle Grayskull (Unfinished - Work in Progress) |
SiMo: Thanks. It's my
pleasure.
MOTU!: Can you tell us a
bid about yourself?
SiMo: I was born in 1975
and I live in Germany. I have been painting since being able to think. I grew
up with Star Wars, He-Man, some of Marvels, most of DC Heroes. And drawing that
characters founded my interests in arts in early years. In the last years I did
more and more Oil Paintings about "Masters Of The Universe". I like
doing my very own homage’s to the old vintage Art and a lot of my paintings are
recreations of MOTU minicomic art of the first generation.
MOTU!: So SiMo, how did
you get started doing MOTU Paintings?
SiMo: Well, I did my
first MOTU painting in 2010. It was just a private thing, I was near to a
burnout and painted that as a kind of positive treatment. You know, good
memories and that stuff. The main thing about it was, to crossover the very
first media we had from MOTU. At 1982 there were the minicomics and the art
boxes, nothing more. So I made the crossover and I created my favorite
minicomic cover "King of Castle Grayskull" as an painting like the
classic box arts. It was almost a kind of homecoming. I shared whole the
process in a German MOTU community and the feedback was overwhelming. So I
continued with the next ones.
MOTU!: How long have
you been doing MOTU Paintings?
SiMo: The first was
2010, then I made some other Projects, since 2013 I have been painting a MOTU
regularly.
MOTU!: What inspires
your works?
SiMo: That can vary. I
concentrate on the very classic take of MOTU, including characters and setups
of the first years in the 80s. Most of these paintings are recreations of ionic
drawings like card backs and mini comic motifs. I think, besides the right take
on the elements and characters itself, that is the main reason for people to
get my art right in that moment when they see it. It was already in their mind
in some way.
"King He-Man"
was an exception. I wanted a painting of him like it could hang on a wall in
Grayskull itself. That idea was born directly when the action figure was
revealed. As many of you might know, before MOTU was made in the way we all know,
it was supposed to be a Conan toy line, when it was developed. So I always had
in mind that Conan was the main reference for He-Man. Then King He-Man was
released, and I thought "Wow. Conan ended up as a bearded King, so does
He-Man now..." And I knew that I have to complete the circle by this
optical crossover with former weapons by his side and so on. It really has
become a great narrating piece. My only fear was that anybody would do it
before me, because it was so obvious to me.
MOTU!: Which of your
artwork pieces is your favourite?
SiMo: There is a lot
of passion in every single one, but maybe "The Prophecy of the
Legend." I like the peaceful setting and the lighting. But the King is
also a very special "baby".
 |
| The Prophecy of the Legend |
 |
| King He-Man |
MOTU!: Is there an
artist you relate to?
SiMo: Oh, not only
one. And I tell of them by homage’s in every painting I complete. The most
important names are Rudy Obrero and William George and Earl Norem just to name
a few. Since the Death of Earl Norem I have been painting He-Man's belt in
orange colours like Norem did, just to honor him.
MOTU!: What would you
call your style?
SiMo: Classic styled
fantasy oil painting.
MOTU!: What is your
preferred medium and why?
SiMo: That's easy. I tried
out a lot of media, but there is no better material for my art than oils. The
colours are intense, and oil is a patient medium. I can overwork painting again
and again. And I have to, sometimes I decide to change complete elements or
characters parts when they are actually finished.
Crazy, but I have to.
MOTU!: How did your
work develop throughout the years?
SiMo: I just learn a
little bit in every painting. Each one had its own challenges. It's my own will
to get better. A painting is finished, when I can honestly say that I would
hang it up on my own wall. That mark is getting higher every time, but I do not
make any compromise with it.
MOTU!: What is the most
fun in creating MOTU Art?
SiMo: That maybe
probably placing the MOTU (and other related) Easter eggs. I am one of the guys
who was blasted by the idea of bringing E.T. to the Star Wars Universe. And I
love to hide things. I hided my name into some of the paintings, for example.
Not the signature, but as elements of the scene.
MOTU!: Do you use real
people as a reference for your art?
SiMo: I do. I've
learned that from Alex Ross, a fantastic artist. His version of Batman in
Kingdom Come for example is based on Gregory Peck. When I "cast" my
characters I mostly have the German audio plays in my mind. You must know:
audio plays are really a big thing in Germany. There were audio play series
which reached bigger sale numbers than Michael Jackson. To name one: Our
Man-At-Arms had the grumpy, adult voice of German actor Karl-Walter Diess, who
has died 2014. So today my visual imagination for him is based on Brendan
Gleeson, because his face is the perfect addition for that voice. And that's
the main reason I choose him.
MOTU!: Did you ever feel
like giving up?
SiMo: No. But I am
honest to myself. If something doesn't work the way I thought it would, I have
to reconsider it. I never shun the effort to recreate a failed element in
another way.
MOTU!: What's the best
thing about being an artist?
SiMo: To create things
you ever wanted yourself.
MOTU!: What's the worst
thing about being an artist?
SiMo: Pressure. But
because I do not accept commissions at all, I am free in my decisions what to
paint and when to do it.
MOTU!: Is there a
purpose to your artwork?
SiMo: Fun, passion and
lifeblood. Of course there are different feedbacks.
Some of them are just
like "great art" or "you are gifted". I feel flattered by
that of course. Or "how much!"- that's not so important for me in
particular. I don't paint just for a sale. But the greatest responds are like
"Hey, you bring back some memories to my mind. Your He-Man is a rendering
of that character like I ever wanted him. Thank you." I always have to
gulp when I read that things, because that is my own intension.
MOTU!: How do you feel
when people interpret your artwork differently?
SiMo: To be honest
that doesn't happen very often.
MOTU!: What advice do
you have for aspiring artists?
SiMo: If you think
that there is something strange in your painting, take it seriously. There is
something strange and you should wipe out the words "I'll leave it that
way, nobody will take notice." That won't work. Never. I know it. *laugh!!!
MOTU!: Do you have any
upcoming MOTUC paintings that you are planning or currently working on?
SiMo: Yes. I have
three concrete paintings in my mind by now. After my actual painting I'm going
to take a small break to complete another project, but I will definitely start
the next painting soon. I think people who like my art can really look forward
to what will happen.
MOTU!: Where can people
view all your awesome work that you have done so far?
MOTU!: Thanks SiMo,
great talking with you! We look forward to seeing more awesome MOTU paintings
from you!!
SiMo: Thank you so
much.
Check out more of the amzing art of SiMo Sol!!!
 |
| Attack of the Invisible Gnomes |
 |
| Gaurding the Safety of Eternia |
