Cyril Rolando, also widely recognized by his artistic pseudonym AquaSixio, has captivated audiences with a unique blend of surrealism and fantasy in digital art. Combining his background as a psychologist with an innate artistic intuition, Rolando’s illustrations transcend the ordinary, crafting a vibrant tapestry of emotion and color. His pieces seem to be alive, whispering tales of unseen worlds where reality blurs into imagination. Despite his modest self-assessment and lack of formal training in art, Rolando’s work stands as a demonstration of the power of intuition and creativity, highlighting complex human emotions while resonating with a universal audience. His choice of digital tools — namely Photoshop CS2 and a Wacom tablet — showcases how modern technology can be harnessed to forge an evocative, otherworldly realm that lingers in the observer’s mind long after the initial gaze.
Rolando’s self-proclaimed mission is not merely to create visually pleasing images but to delve into the psyche, exploring emotional crescendos and intricate narratives with each stroke. By relying heavily on intuition, he compensates for his humble skills in anatomy and perspective, crafting scenes that dance between dreams and waking life. Each piece seems frozen in time yet brimming with story, inviting the audience to embark on their journey of interpretation and connection. This emotional depth is what sets Rolando apart, marking him as not just a digital illustrator but a storyteller who captures the pulse of humanity within the confines of the digital medium. Through his art, Rolando invites us into his world of unexpected beauty where color, emotion, and imagination collide.
My artistic approach is set between surreal and fantasy style… in one word: Otherworldly. I never took art course that’s why I have few anatomy/perspective notions. I work with intuition to compensate for this lack of knowledge and venture into colors. I use only Photoshop CS2 and a Wacom tablet. I don’t know how to draw on paper support. (…) I’m aware my works don’t come within the scope of a high artistic richness. I don’t want to do beautiful things, but bringing out the difficulty to catch the emotional aspect in tiny, frozen, flat colored rectangles. Overall, I want to “tell something”, not only “show pixels”.
Cyril Rolando
More info: Behance, DeviantArt, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube.
