Every work I produce has a piece of my inner-self
I’m self-taught artist and never had any formal education in art. I’ve always been drawing and painting since childhood. I started working in early 2000 in a small studio, producing storyboards and layouts for advertisements. Besides that, I keep creating my personal works, and some arts for gig posters, metal/ horror zines. In 2005 I was invited to do a cover art for a split album Ophiolatry/Abhorrence, two amazing brazilian death metal acts! After that a number of other bands started to get in touch with me to work for them. I have an interest in ancient myths and religions, it certainly affect my creative process, but I must say that some of my major inspirations come from classic horror cinema and horror literature (HP Lovecraft, Clive Barker).
In heavy metal, music and imagery are bound intimately. It’s impossible to think of the classic metal albums without relating them to the cover art. When I think of the early King Diamond, Iron Maiden, Megadeth albums and, when talking about extreme music, Cannibal Corpse, Death, as many others… the visuals have tremendous impact and so is the music.
I always keep an eye on art being made nowadays, in any form, there are a lot of creative minds working all around. And also revisiting the classic references. I’m a big enthusiast of 80’s and early 90’s metal album covers, and also on fantasy art that was being produced at this time, it influenced me a lot to do what I’m doing today.
Since late 2015 I started working some days a week in a Tattoo shop, so I’m in apprenticeship, but It’s being an amazing experience. The guys from Bold Line Tattoo are superb artists, and I’m learning a lot there. This is a new path that I’m focusing right now, besides of the cover artworks and paintings. Soon I might be able to create some sick stuff on also on people’s skin.
There is a project called Arts in the Shadows (Arte nas Sombras, in portuguese) that was created by the tattoo artist Edu Nascimento to gather obscure artists. The first edition was in January 2016 in RJ-Brazil, with guests Marcelo Vasco, Raphael Gabrio and myself. At first it was intended to be an small exhibition to be set on a tattoo convention, but it grew a lot and artists like Soulfly, Napalm Death, Kreator, etc. started mentioning it on their social profiles. Overall it was a big surprise and a great experience. People can expect much more in further editions.
www.facebook.com/rafaeltavares.artworks
Interview by Alex Milazzo – Copyright 2016 © Heavy Music Artwork. All rights reserved.
