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Simon Rudd Putrefying flesh, distorted bodies, vile tongues and mouths like gaping sores are pretty much the stock in trade of digital artist Simon Rudd, who also goes by the name of Rev Jesse Custer. His darkly disturbing and surreal images look like fragments from your worst nightmares, but it's all created from photographs of friends and found images using Photoshop. We wondered if he ate cheese before going to sleep or spent his time kidnapping virgins and drinking their blood, so we caught up with Simon to find out what makes him tick...
 PIXELSURGEON: Why the use the name Rev Jesse Custer?
SIMON: I took the name Rev Jesse Custer (usually just Rev) from a comic called Preacher. In retrospect I wish I had chosen a different name...
How so?
Well, the name isn't that useable as it's from a comic: it's like calling myself Bruce Wayne or Superman.
Ever consider changing your name or has it kind of stuck?
Yeah, I have considered changing it, but a lot of people know me now as Rev Jesse Custer, maybe "The Rev" or possibly "Hey, you with the sick and twisted mind...!"
Where are you based?
Well, originally I come from a small town in Cambridge called St. Neots and I moved from there down to Portsmouth about eight years ago to go to university. After graduating I found that—financially speaking—I'd made a mistake by not moving back to Cambridge: I managed to get a job programming for an insurance company, but they went and made 90% of their staff redundant after I had worked there for only 8 months. Since then I've not been able to find a job. But it's given me lots of time to learn other things and play with my camera.
What about moving to London?
Definitely a good idea. I have also thought of emigrating. What I'd ideally like to do is work on, and sell, my art for a living.
How did you become interested in Photography?
I've always been interested in photography: my parents are both keen photographers so it was just a natural progression for me to continue with it. Digital has made it easier to take lots of different pictures in order to get the right textures or stock shots I need.
How did the interest in your nightmarish horror imagery evolve?
My interest in horror started when I was a teenager while watching movies like Fright Night and The Lost Boys. I like the idea that art can be anything you wish it to be, and—with a few changes—you can manipulate a photo from an everyday portrait shot into something that can take your breath away.
I get a lot of emails from people saying how they feel about different pictures and what it means to them; not to mention the people who use them to shock their friends and family. I'm also interested in fantasy and like to work on lighter images.
Are you influenced by the work of Chris Cunningham? Who else influences you with your horror series of images?
I've been told that some of my pictures do look like things from the Aphex Twin's videos, and I was recently shown the video of Rubber Johnny. But before this, I hadn't actually seen any of his work; although I will make sure I do in the future. I'm influenced by many people and aspire to be better by them. Some of my favourite artists are Chad Ward and Martin Cook.
Do you have a plan in mind of how the finished image should look when you take the photographs?
Sometimes the picture evolves from what I originally planned into something completely different, but mostly I have an idea of how I want the image to look. I often sketch the image down first for visual reference.
Where do the ideas come from, because let's face it, some of the images are pretty disturbing!
[Laughs] Yes, some are pretty horrid. I get some of my ideas from dreams, I also take inspiration from things and people around me. A lot of times I look through stock sites like DeviantArt or Stock Xchange and just look for a picture that speaks to me.
What hardware and software do you use?
I use Photoshop for my manipulations on a basic PC that's about three years old.
What would be the dream set-up to create the kind of images you like?
I'd like to have my own studio, a nice new computer and a powerful SLR camera. I'd like to be able to make better use of models and costumes/backdrops.
What's the process you use to get the finished results?
I use a lot of different processes: transforming and textures are the basic bones of it.
Do you get asked to create tutorials for people who want to make their mum look like she's been discovered a week after being hit in the head with a shovel and kept at the bottom of a lake?
People often ask me to write tutorials. Most people want to zombify their friends or family. I have considered writing some: I'd love to write a book on how to create my style of dark/fantasy art.
Where do you find all the creepy locations for your photographs?
I use stock from wonderful photographers on sites like DeviantArt and the Stock Xchange. Locations are as important to me as the person who I'm manipulating. I try to avoid things like graveyards as I think they're a little clichéd—although I have used them once or twice—I like urban decay and forests probably the best.
People can buy t-shirts of your work, why not make prints available?
As you say I do have a selection of T-shirts available and have thought about making prints available through my website, but my local photo shop are a little funny about printing my pictures. I would like to find a printer who could produce prints for me. Something I will hopefully be doing in the near future.
Do you have a favourite image you've created?
I have many pictures that I'm very proud of, my top five probably are:
• Unwanted II
• Wired Up
• Hungry Belly
• Butt Teeth
• Swamp Witch
although I'm sure there are others that people like more.
How do your subjects feel about the finished images?
Some people don't like the pictures I've made using their photos. If this is the case I don't publish them, but either keep them for reference of delete them. Most people who give feedback like the things I do to them, and I often get requests from people to make pictures for them.
What's the strangest request you've had?
I dont really think I've had any strange requests; most are just for zombies.
Do people think that you're pretty weird?
I'd guess that most people think I'm a bit of a nut job, although I can reasure you that I am pretty normal. Okay I enjoy collecting sausages - but that's normal, isnt it?
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