Today, we will be featuring the work of Chris Scholten.

Hi, I am Chris Scholten, a designer from the Netherlands. I was born in the 80’s and was always interested in creating images. Following in my father’s footsteps I started drawing. My father quit from his hobby long before I was born, but the things he drew inspired me to get better.

I went to Media college Amsterdam to become a Multimedia Designer in 2003. After this education I started working at a company I had an internship before. During this job I also went to the JUNIOR Academy Amsterdam trying to become an Art Director in the evening hours.This I passed within a year.

Please tell us a little bit about your background and how you started in graphic and web design.

Well, I was born in a small town in Holland. I have been raised in a small Christian family, where the bible’s standards were applied. I always knew that I wanted to create images. Later the internet started pulling me, so I made the decision to study MultiMedia Design in Amsterdam. Internet was not all because the ability to illustrate has always been something I wanted to do.

Where do you get your design inspiration from?

Everywhere! Other websites, magazines what I see around me and my beliefs.

What was your favorite project that you have worked on?

The last one I did. I am always the most happy with the last thing I have done (if I put a lot of effort in it to make it work). But I also criticize my work constantly to get better.

What is your signature style?

Realism. I always try to make things as real as I can make possible. So if you see something in my work that isn’t realistic enough… I am still learning!

What software do you use to get your design work done? MAC or PC?

Above all I use Photoshop CS2 or CS3, depends on the place I am at. Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver and IconWorkshop are my programs of choice! These programs are all installed on my big-ass windows computer. I know that I am supposed to use MAC because I am a designer. But I have always worked with windows and I really do not want to switch. Besides, MAC’s are thrice as expensive as a PC with the same abilities…

How do you come up with those amazing ideas and effects? Can you give us some tips on how to create those effects?

Well, I have an idea in my head which I want to put on the screen. I just try several things in order to achieve it. The best way to learn specific effects is to go out and look at a photograph of something that comes close enough. Then try to recreate it, or use that photograph. The best tip I can give you is to do as much high quality tutorials you can find. You should start on: www.photoshoplady.com.

Who is Crisco Spectrum?

Crisco Spectrum is my alter-ego. He represents what I want to do. I want to be able to change the grey colors of this life into colorful things with my art and designs.

What do you enjoy most about designing?

The ability to give someone a certain feeling or emotion with a picture or design. To make a design that is perfectly suitable for its purpose!

What are the top 5 websites that you visit on a consistent basis?

Well that would be pretty easy; Deviant Art, Behance, GUI Pulp, Photoshop Lady and Web Creme.

So what’s next in your design career?

I want to get better and better. Ultimately I’d like to start my own business. But that is not in the near future. I want to get a lot of experience in designing and usability.