Most skinners and non-skinners can probably spot something made by Vampothika without needing to be told who the artist is. Her style is unique, dark, and moody. Yet I have heard that Vampothika was anything but. So I assumed I would be safe in picking this Master for my next interview.  Not knowing what to expect, I proceeded…

"Now, do you still want the interview?" the vampire asked.
The boy's mouth was open before the sound came out. He was nodding. Then he said, "Yes."
The vampire sat down slowly opposite him and, leaning forward, said gently, confidentially, "Don't be afraid. Just start the tape."                                

Interview With The Vampire ~ Ann Rice ~Author

What attracted you to skinning?

The art and creativity naturally, cause I've got paint instead of blood running through my veins.

What was the first thing you skinned/made?

I found out that I could skin musicmatch jukebox when I got my first pc back in 1999.

So that was the first thing I skinned. Later that same year, I joined a skinning site called "skins for all" and used to upload wallpapers there.

How would you compare your first work with what you make now?

Hmm, that ones hard to explain, I still think my first few animated cursors are dodgy cause at that time I wasn't very good at animations, and I didn't have partial illusion on my side. I think the more i progress with Photoshop, the better I get. When I first used it, I was only taught a handful of basics, so I've been learning as I go ever since. But I cant live without it now.

It’s undeniable that your style is very unique, leaning towards dark, Goth, and perhaps macabre. What do you call it?

I cant describe my style, I know that I can be very dark and macabre..I guess its who I am internally. But it does have its advantages, I'm at my most creative when I'm at my darkest moments.

I believe we all put something of ourselves into our work and expose who we are , what we love, or what we want to some extent. Your work seems to lay it all out there (imho). How much of who and/or what you are is expressed in your work?

There is a lot of me that is expressed, and a lot that isn't...I do hold a lot back for the sake of Wincustomize being a family site. If I was allowed to, Id be uploading more erotic wallpapers.

Yet as dark as some of your work is (or moody for lack of a better word) there are rumors (which we’ll get to) being bantered about that there is another side to you. Did you know this?

I'm always the last to know about any rumors......*smile*

What I’m referring to is this ‘bright, cheery side. For example, your current ‘My Desktop’ Pretty bright and cheerful, don’t ya think?

hmmm, yes it is.....I like that wallpaper, its weird.

What programs do you use when skinning?

Serif Photoplus and Particle Illusion for animations because I love the way they look

What is Serif Photoplus and Particle Illusion?

Particle illusion is the program i use to do my animations, you can make your own particle illusions as well, im getting to do that rather well. Serif photoplus is basically just an art program like paint but more advanced...cant really explain it.

I see that you like to use brushes like I do. Are they difficult for you to work with? (Yeah, I’m digging for secrets and tips)

Brushes are laziness in a bottle for me, Im trying my best not to use them now and go back to my roots. I mean, I can draw anything I can imagine, I don't really need brushes at all. I don't find brushes are hard to work with, you just have to know the brush and what you can do with it. The only brushes that used to give me grief was hair brushes, I can easily go up to 100 layers in Photoshop for hair alone...but that's another story.

Have you made any of your own brushes? (And can I get some???)

It has crossed my mind, but I never got around to it. ... and get you get some?....get some what?? LMAO.

When you started skinning, who was your biggest inspiration?

Heir of Slytherin, and still is.

What all do you skin and what is the most fun for you to skin?

Windowblinds, Cursorfx, icons, Sysmetrix, Rainlender, wallpaper, logons.

Cursorfx is by far my favorite....its just fun.

Where do you get your inspiration for a skin from?

They just appear, some are epiphanies, some are visions, some are something I have seen.....and once an idea is born, there is no stopping it.

Do you plan your skin (do a complete mock up) first or just wing it as you go along?

Nope, I just let my imagination and feelings take over, and like I said, I cant stop it, its great.

Do you make it a point not ‘conform’ when you make a skin?

Yep, I truly believe not everybody wants vanilla 24/7.

“What’s with?”

Someone named Jack Nolan  wants to know : What’s with all the women? Why not some half naked guys? (To date there is only one *for the ladies….and Jack…Insect Music)

Actually I have 4 hot guys in my gallery. One is a vampire slayer, one is a vampire, one is a mystical wanderer and the last is a rockgod.... I do plan on adding more guys to my gallery in the future.

What’s with all the half naked woman?

I love drawing woman, and the female anatomy is my favorite.  I love how they become their own person and develop their own personality as the picture progresses. I fall in love with every single woman or man I draw, its part of the process I think. (im still in love with rockgod by the way)

What’s with the bald women? (Sinead O'Conner and Persis Khambatta are the only women who have pulled off that look)

I think bald woman make a very strong statement.......and I like them bald sometimes...depends on the woman and what her back-story is....

What is with the name change? (Kitty Malone to Vampothika) What did/do they stand for and why change them?

Kitty Malone was my first nick, it was based on the name Kit Marloe, a name Warner bros had dreamed up for Kim Novak when she first started in movies. But I had to kill off Kitty Malone as I just felt that I wasn't her anymore, and Vampothika was born. And as for Vampothika, I made that name up myself, and I think it stands for who I truly am, a Technicolor fusion of many things.

 You have participated in a few of the Community Skins/Suites on the site. What has been your favorite?

I've enjoyed participating in them all, so I don't have a fave.

Who does a Master turn to when they need assistance with their skinning?

Satan.

Do folks come to you for help?

Yep....sometimes. I try to help where I can.

I see that some Masters have taken one or two skinners under their wing. Is there anyone you are guiding or assisting?

Yep sometimes I help Karen (k10w3) sometimes... she's so cool, I luv her to death.

What is you favorite skin that you have made?

my RockGod wallpaper.

What is your favorite skin by another artist?

Heir of Slytherins harry potty wb's.

In only six words-

Your memoir –  she almost out smoked Bette Davis.

Advice to a new skinner-   learn  color wheel......don't over bevel.

Why does Jack hate me so much?-    you are so handsome and fair...*giggles*

Anyone who isn’t a Master yet or is just starting out that has caught your eye?

k10w3 always catches my eye.

What advice would you give them?

Patience my pretty.......patience........muahahhah!!!

What do you think is the most important attribute a person should have if they want to become a Master?

Stick-to-it-iveness

What for you is the greatest reward about being a Master?

Sometimes people come to me for help.

What do you think is the most important part about being a Master?

Setting a good example for others and not letting power go to your head.

How important is the community aspect of skinning and Wincustomize to you?

Its very important to me, its like a second home.

Outside of Wincustomize, what gives you the greatest pleasure?

The love of my life Wolfee, and chatting to my daughter on the phone.

What does Wolfee think of your skinning?

He loves and appreciates what I do, he is always interested in how I make things, and just finds the whole skinning thing very fascinating.

What does your daughter think of it?

My daughter thinks its cool, but she's more into her own stuff, she loves rockgod though. heheh

What do you do to relax?

I like to curl up on the couch with a good ciggie and diet cola and watch black and white movies. I also play chess and or have a good laugh with Wolfe...(that happens a lot)

What would surprise everyone the most about you?

I love antiques.

 I’m an antique nut myself. What kind of antiques?

Cameras, phones, binoculars, jewelry, lounges, lamps, the works.

What’s your greatest find?

probably my 1940's soda siphon with the duffle cap at a rubbish tip shop.

Finally…

Bryce or Photoshop??

Photoshop

Starker's backyard grill or Outback Steakhouse (and is Outback really as Australian as they want us to think it is here in the U.S.)?

Starker's backyard grill for sure, and the outback probably isn't anything like aussie food...

Lestat de Lioncourt or Edward (I sparkle in the sun) Cullen?

Cary Grant, Peter Steele, Arnold Vosloo(aka imhotep the mummy), or Joe Kucan (aka c&c Kane..yum!!!)

Helen Bonham Carter or Fairuza Balk?

Norman Bates

Gronk, derick, grommit, or bugger?

bloody hell

Goth, Emo, or Freak?

Gothika

Multiple Choice:

a. The Hello Kitty seat covers were all a scam to get in ‘starker's’ good graces. I am actually plotting against him.

b. I stole that car, but don’t tell anybody.

c. That wasn’t me. I had been abducted by aliens the night before and was still deep inside the Blue Mountains.

d. Po’ suspects something. Change name back to Kitty Malone and go to plan ‘B’.

LMAO i select "a"

How was meeting Mr. and Mrs. Starkers?

It was surreal, but an experience I will treasure. Im a bit of an eccentric loner, so I don't meet a lot of people.

Have you met anyone else from the site? Who would you most like to meet?

Oh man so many people...but if i could only pick perhaps 2, i would definitely pick k10w3 and Boxxi because i have spent a lot of time with them and feel comfortable in their presence. But to be honest, I wish there was a way were I could meet everyone...it would be really really cool.

INXS or Men At Work?

Manowar

What do you listen to when you skin?

Nox Arcana,

Type O Negative

Disco Tex and the sexolettes

Boney M (much to boxxis displeasure lol)

Dun Li Jun (my favorite Chinese artist)

The Sims music.

Enomine

Manowar

Are you:

a. Computer on, Photoshop running, and TV blasting in the background.

b. Computer on, Photoshop running, TV blasting in the background, and 8 people on messenger

c. Computer on, Photoshop running, leave me the fuck alone and stop making so much noise

d. Other

“d “ sounds like me.  I’d be smoking, but you wouldn't hear music cause I wear headphones and keep my music to myself and in my own world kinda thing.

Did YOU expect the Spanish Inquisition?

I was prepared, I had my cigs and diet cola, I would have even passed a lie detector test if you sent one.

*any final words?

Yeah Id like to thank my sponsors, diet coke, champion ruby tobacco, discotex and the sexolettes for their never ending entertainment, daihatsu for providing my transport, felix the cat for always being there for me. Id like to personally thank Mr Hyde for always whispering strange things in my ear, and last but not least Id like to thank Wolfee.....i luv you baby........kisssss kisss kisss xxxxxxxx love you to my death gorgeous sexy delicous baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* As the newest Master on WIncustomize, I wish Vampothika well and look forward to her future contributions as even Masters continue to grow and perfect their skill.

“None of us really changes over time. We only become more fully what we are."  ~ The Vampire Lestat ~ Ann Rice ~ Author

Previous Interviews

Ask A Master : Jafo Of All Trades

Ask A Master: Out Of The Boxxi