Interview and feature 1

To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself? Real name, age, hobbies?

My real name is Fernando Adorneti, I'm about to be 19 years old (on august the 26)...I'm and university student (first year) and on my free time I like drawing, skinning, listening to music, watching movies and playing the guitar...also going out with friends and my (lovely) girlfriend and playing videogames (when there is time).

Where are you from?

I'm from Buenos Aires, Capitol City of Argentina.

Do you work or study?

This year I entered the university (the University of Buenos Aires UBA)...I'm a graphic designer wannabe

Why did you chose that nickname?

Well...when I entered the skinning comunity my "messenger" nickname was "Oconnor"...but this nick didn't have any special meaning, so when I loged at 1k1skins ( [link] ) i decided to change it...I choose "El Argento" because there weren't a lot of Argentine skinners around at that time (or at least I didn't knew them) and I also wanted to represent not only myself but my country

How long have you been skinning? How did you get started in skinning?

Well...I started skinning about 3 years ago...a day when I was pretty bored at home. A friend of mine borrowed me a CD with an old winamp version and some skins, so I decided to try them...first I just played with the skins...but when I saw that all the skins were zip files I decided to open them and experiment with them...so my very first skin was a modified "sony black hifi skin".

How would you describe your particular style?

I'm not pretty good at graphics...When I start a skin I try to create something new, to use all the window resourses in a creative way in order to represent something. I'd descrive my own style as "creative"...also my own skins are pretty geometrical, I love order and detail...so that would describe (just a part of) my style.

What tools do you use to create your skins?

Most people laugh when I way it, but I'm really used to MS Paint...most of my skins are made on MS Paint...this last time I've been using GIMP and I want to learn more...I promise I'll try photoshop one of this days...Other programs I use are some skinning tools as the Region TXT generator or the Viscolor TXT generator...all freeware...and AWicons Lite for the cursors...that's about all...and of course my own brain

Would you say that any particular skin or skinner has influenced your style? Do you have any favourite skin or skinner?

well...I love lot's of skins...this short 2 years in the forums I met really talented people...from whom I learned a lot and receive a lot of support...I must say that i've 3 influental artists...they have different styles but, I learned something from all of them... they are, ~883design and his style, very creatively and wisely used =StillWater-- has a pretty smooth taste and touch, his animations rock and so his designs.
Luigi Hann (*luigihann) is really fast and creative...his game skins are unique, and his animations great...

In your opinion, what is your best skin?

I think that Z-Axis ([link]) is a more complete skin than the others I Made...I think that it's the easyer to use...maybe my other skins are just easy to use for regular users, but not for new users...so I think Z-Axis is the more functional and colorfull skin I made.

What other art works or graphics do you do?

I draw, and I'm starting to try drawing with my Computer...

Where can we find your works?

Here at ~El-ArGeNtO, in 1K1skins (www1.1001skins.com) and in Winamp (www.winamp.com).

Which are your future proyects? Do you have anything new you are working on? Can you give us a preview?

About skinning I have one unfinished work I'm planning to finish but i want it to be a surprise...so I will submit it when it's finished...I'll make some more colour combinations for my last skin published and wait for more ideas to come... Apart from that I drew some cartoons for some kind of personal comic...and I'm planning to continue doing "vectorial portraits" for my friends...

jajajaj greetings