Special:	Timbul Cahyono
Title:	A man of the woods

Here we have someone for whom music is not just a hobby, but also a fundamental way of life. The passionate among you know this only too well. Growing up on Borneo, a wonderfully scenic island in the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia, Timbul Cahyono's artistic character developed accordingly over the years.

He retained his fascination and love for the fantastic nature and wildlife there, including some endemic species - even after emigrating to the USA, where he started a family.

Timbul, when did you realize that drawing is your thing?

As a teenager, when I was about 12 or 13, I sold my first drawing. I've loved drawing since I was a little kid.

When did you actually start drawing metal covers? And, has the initial try-and-error/DIY thing turned into what you had in mind?

I started doing covers for small local underground bands in the late 90s. In the mid-2000s, I did covers for some bigger bands whose albums were distributed nationwide in Indonesia. In the early 90s, when official merch was hard to find and very expensive in my area in Borneo, I made my own hand-painted band T-shirts. Friends would come with a blank T-shirt and I would paint it. I usually traded a cassette of a Metal album for a painting job. That's actually how I learned how to do Metal artwork.

What do you see as the biggest differences when you think back to your beginnings and today's results?

I think I have better skills today.

Like me, you are very close to nature. When did you first notice this in yourself and what do you always find most interesting, most impressive, most beautiful, most enjoyable about nature?

I have always loved nature, especially the forest. I also have a non-profit organization that works to protect the rainforest and runs an environmental education center in Borneo.

In some of your artworks you include flora and fauna, how do you feel about drawing and painting them?

I just love it!

Which classic Heavy Metal artworks immediately grabbed you in the early stages?

When I was a little kid, I got a copy of Iron Maiden's "Killers" on cassette from a friend of my brother. I thought, "This is so cool." I remember making a DYI poster of that album cover. The single cover of Metallica's "Jump In The Fire" also caught my attention at the time. When Iron Maiden's "Live After Death" came out, the cover just blew me away. Honestly, I was never a fan of Iron Maiden, but I think the "Live After Death" cover is one of the best Heavy Metal album covers of all time.

How do you go about drawing? Pencil sketches, then digitalization, further development and finally old school brushwork in a contemporary mix?

I do all of those. I do traditional and also digital. When I'm at home, I like to make sketches on the computer. When I'm out and about somewhere, I like to take my sketchbook with a pencil or a pen.

I do traditional and also digital. I like to do sketches on computer when I'm at home. When I'm out somewhere I like to bring my sketch book with a pencil or a pen.

How long does an artwork take on average from the first idea by the musicians to the final delivery?

It usually takes about two weeks, sometimes longer or shorter.

Do you feel you and your art are appreciated enough by the scene? Or do the creators of cover artwork still lead a shadowy existence in your opinion?

I think I get enough recognition from the scene.

Which artwork(s) from your hand are you particularly proud of?

One of them is the cover of the "Paradox" album by Nocturnus A.D. The album cover "The Key" by Nocturnus is one of my favorite albums and was painted by one of my favorite artists. I remember painting "The Key" on a t-shirt as a kid, and 30 years later I painted the album cover for the band. I thought it was unreal!

How did you experience the collaboration with me for the cover artwork of the Metal Message compilation "IX • Iron Prophecy"?

It was a pleasure! I first got a message from you that you liked the cover art of the German band Knife and you found out that it was done by me. You contacted me, told me about your project and asked me if I would be interested in doing the cover for the new compilation you are working on. You sent me a previous Metal Message sampler CD, I looked at it and said, "Cool, I'll do the artwork for the next compilation." I think it's cool, it's a good promo platform for a lot of underground Metal bands. I like doing something different. The art style was a bit different, and the music on the compilation album was also different from the music I usually listen to. This one I did in digital, but in traditional painting way except for the patches on the vest. I did a few sketches before started the painting. At the beginning and in the course of developing the artwork I got very precise ideas from you, Markus - I just put them together and some elements to make it fit an album cover. When I was told about these ideas, I immediately had pictures in my head and was so excited to paint them. You're awesome and very enthusiastic. I feel, Metal is your passion. You've send me a lot of voice messages that were really made my day. So all in all, it was great!

What have your friends, acquaintances and fellow graphic artists said about the finished artwork for "IX • Iron Prophecy"?

People like it, even though some said it was somehow different from my other art. Some know me more from the Death Metal and dark art style. It's actually great, people understood the message of this cover artwork. It's a Metal message!

Anything you would like to add?

Thank you for the interview, and it was great to work with you! I just want to say thank you so much, Metal Message, for spreading the message to the world! Horns up and cheers!

© Markus Eck, 08.10.2024

[ to overview ]

All copyrights for image material are held by the respective owners.

•

Advertising