Cheryl Austin's Beefcake Central
Recently whilst researching an RE4 story, I was looking for good picture of Leon Kennedy to post with my article. Toots ran across this amazing portrait, which interestingly popped up third in the Google image search. I was not only mesmerized by his bare chest area, but I was amazed at the detail and care put into this portrait. So, after a little investigating, I ran into Beefcake Central run by artist Cheryl Austin. At Beefcake Central there are 2 sections, a Board and a Gallery for people to submit their own “Beef” plus all of Cheryl’s original work and focuses on the “beautiful men of video games”. Cheryl puts the same amount of loving care into every picture she does and you can tell she loves her models. I contacted her and was lucky enough to get an email interview with her. Make the jump to read the interview with this great artist.
I have posted a small gallery of some of Cheryl’s work here.
For a more complete array, visit Beefcake Central. (requires sign up..trust me it’s worth it)
Fruit Brute: What is your name?
Cheryl Austin: Cheryl Austin
FB: Do you have day job, or do you make money from your paintings?
CA: I do have a day job and make money from my art skills as I am a video game Artist. I do 2D as well as 3D art.
FB: Can you share with us where you work in the industry
CA: I work for Crystal Dynamics, the same people that re-vamped Tomb Raider 7, I just started here in March but I’m working on an up coming title that I am not allowed to say as of yet.
FB: What games have you worked on that we can see
CA: Most recent was James Bond “From Russia with Love” and a couple of “Lord of the Rings” titles, “Return of the King” and “Third Age”.
FB: Wow, impressive list! What mediums do you work in?
CA: For work I use a software program called Maya and I also use Photoshop, at home I use mechanical pencils and different sorts of tablets, then I scan in my work and color them using Photoshop. Most of the time I draw directly onto the computer using a Wacom Tablet.
FB: What made you decide to create these saucy paintings? And why video game characters?
CA: Well, I love video game men, I think men are beautiful and needed to be shown that as all we ever see are women and not these gorgeous guys.
FB: I wholeheartedly agree! Who do you think is the hottest video game character guy?
CA: Hmmm, that’s a tough one as there are soooo many, for me personally I would have to say Zhao Yun and Zhou Tai from “Dynasty Warriors” as well as Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil 4, Dante from “Devil May Cry” and last but certainly not least is Kilik from the “Soul Calibur” series.
FB: Did you realize that your artwork would appeal to gay men as well as women?
CA: Not at first but I opened “Beefcake Central” where I have a message board and noticed a couple of guys joining! I think it’s awesome :D
FB: What game systems do you own?
CA: I used to own an Arcade cabinet with Soul Calibur and Street Fighter Alpha 2 but now I own a couple of PS2’s one Japanese one American, a Gamecube, X-Box, 360, Gameboy SP, DS, and a Dreamcast O_O I think that’s it.
FB: Impressive! What games are you currently playing?
CA: Well, Dynasty Warriors is always a must but I just finished “Suikoden” II and V and “Tenchu 3” for the 3rd time :D I was going to start playing “Chrono Cross”.
FB: Can your works be purchased?
CA: Yes, on any of the games I worked on and I hope to soon be selling some of my prints on “Deviant Art” as soon I as get off my lazy butt >_<
FB: Do you take requests?
CA: No, not anymore, I was for awhile because I wanted to get better rapidly and I was really motivated back then, perhaps someday I will again, I mostly just draw for friends now :D
Fruit Brute
Posted to Fan Art Gallery on 2 August 2006
