Sofie Skein is a the creative mind and artistic hand behind the heart-warming polymer clay figurines known as Poupettes. Outside of her artistic career she lives a very quiet life with her partner, who is also an artist, and her cat. She has recently left the city of Portland to live on the northern coast of Oregon.

Her world is full of books, art supplies, musical instruments and great home cooking. Both her and her partner are content to spend most of their time focused on their work or watching the storms roll in.

Toonari Post (TP): How and when did you first start practicing your art (are you traditionally trained or self-taught)?

Sofie Skein (SS): My mother used to draw pictures and sculpt miniatures with my sister and I when we were very young. I think it set in motion an intimate relationship with my hands and sense of confidence about what I could create with them. I am always making something and cannot resist exploring every medium that I can get my hands on.

I would have loved to study art but my formal education was in landscape architecture, which seemed to be a sensible compromise between a creative and practical education at the time. I am mostly self-taught in the arts, although I have taken a variety of classes over the years in whatever has interested me. My current focus on miniature polymer sculpture is entirely self-taught.

TP: What made you decide to work with polymer clay instead of another medium?

SS: These particular figurines would be impossible to make without the polymer modeling compounds. I’ve worked with nearly every modeling medium available and nothing compares with the level of plasticity and detail possible with polymer.

These qualities support the expressive silhouettes of my figurines and allow for the details that make them what they are. I build each one along a spiral axis which makes them difficult to re-create and virtually impossible to create molds for reproduction.

I also enjoy the synthetic beauty of the material itself. Some polymer compounds are blended with pigment and mica, which creates a subtle marbling and sparkle with a satin finish. Others are blended with pigment and kaolin clay, which creates a pristine matte texture.

There is a remarkable variety of polymer compounds available commercially and I use them like a painter uses a palette; custom blending various compounds to create new colors and textures. Although polymer can be painted, I prefer the challenge of creating color variations through meticulous layering and blending of the material itself.

TP: When you first started making your Poupettes did you ever think they would make it to homes around the world?

SS: I actually had no intention of making a living from the Poupettes and started the shop on a dare. I was one of the millions laid off in 2009. Before that I had been working full-time and spent every free moment pursuing freelance illustration gigs as well as my own private art practice.

After I was laid off I knew it was time to start an online shop for my artwork but the learning curve seemed overwhelming and I kept avoiding it. In the meantime, I’d begun making these little animal people, which I called Poupettes, just for fun. They made me smile and were good company at a time when I was feeling pretty isolated.

Finally, after many months of watching me procrastinate, my boyfriend dared me to set up a shop for the Poupettes on Etsy. It seemed like it could be a good way to practice for when I opened my ‘real’ shop and somehow it was less scary because it was just ‘practice’. I was totally shocked when I sold five figurines within the first week.

That is how it all began and it’s continued to evolve from there. I had no idea who, if anyone, would appreciate these figurines. It turns out that there are quite a few who do, and over a third of my sales are to addresses outside the U.S.

TP: Do you have any art projects outside of your adorable Poupettes?

SS: Honestly, in the past year, I haven’t had time for any other art projects besides the Poupettes. I did have one show of encaustic paintings last year and I would like to get back to painting in the future but for now I’m really enjoying my work.

TP: Can you tell me the story behind the Poupettes name?

SS: I never planned to make the first one. I was just playing around and all of a sudden it seemed to be forming itself in my hands. When it was complete I looked at it and asked, “What are you?” and the word that came to me was ‘Poupette’. I said, “Poo-PET?” and it sounded right, but I had no idea what it meant.

Was it sort of like a puppet or a poppet? Maybe, but it definitely sounded French. Finally, I did some research and found out that ‘poupette’ is a diminutive form of ‘poupée’, which translates to ‘doll’. A ‘poupette’ is a ‘little doll’, which is how I see all of my figurines. When I needed to choose a name for my shop, my boyfriend suggested ‘Bonjour Poupette’ and it was so much fun to say that I couldn’t resist it!

TP: What of your designs is your favorite and why? Which one are you most proud of and why?

SS: One of my favorite figurines is the siamese twins because of the play on words as well as the sense of drama between the two cats. When I was growing up we had a Janus cat (a cat born with two faces) for a short time. He was a magical creature to behold and made quite an impression on me.

The figurine that I’m most proud of is a custom cat portrait of an Egyptian Mau named Alice. When I saw photos of the cat, it seemed to be an impossible task to recreate the complexity of her stripes with polymer.

After many discouraging attempts, I used a Millefiori glass work technique to create a patchwork ‘skin’ for the figurine. It was painstaking work but I learned so much in the process and was thrilled with the final effect.

The article Artist Spotlight: Sofie Skein, Interview Part 1 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Anika is an art student in Warsaw, Poland who has a knack for drawing beautiful ladies in even more gorgeous dress. She also has a sweet tooth as can be seen through the titles of her various sites (Chocolaterie and Chocoraspberries), as well in her art work. You can see her more of her pictures in her DeviantART gallery.

ToonariPost: How and when did you first start practicing your art (are you traditionally trained or self-taught)?

Anika: I have been drawing since I can remember and when kids usually stopped drawing pictures I did not. At the beginning of 2005 I found the world of computer graphics and their communities. I realized that I was not as good as I thought (what with your family telling you how awesome you are at it? bunch of liars). Anyway, at that point, instead of simply drawing, I decided to get better at it. I also started using color then. I think this was somehow my “second start” with drawing.

I think I’m self-taught. I observe a lot (reality and art) and try to learn from it rather than listen to opinions of others. My mum is an artist and people often tend to think I got my skills with blood or something, but the main thing I’ve been told is that “I should draw it myself” when I wanted some help. Not much of a theoretical knowledge.

Right now I’m a new media art student and I’ve learned a lot in my school, but it hardly has anything to do with my anime styled illustrations.

TP: What mediums do you use for your art work? Which is your favorite and why?

A: I usually do a pencil sketch and then color it in Adobe Photoshop. I’ve also used OpenCanvas and sometimes SAI, but I always get back to my favorite, Photoshop. I don’t really use traditional media because there’s too much preparation before you can actually start creating things… and cleaning after… I’m a lazy person. But still, I’m not comfortable with sketching on the computer so mechanical pencil is still in my favor.

TP:  What piece of your work is your favorite and why? Which one are you most proud of?

A: Hard question. Many of my pictures have something I like about them and something I don’t. But my latest favorite is probably this because it depicts a different feeling than most of my pictures and is something I’ve worked hard on.

TP:  When you first started did you ever hit any bumps in your artprocess. What were they and how did you overcome them?

A: I had an art block for the entire second half of 2007. I was drawing pictures, but I was never happy about them. And for many years later (until 2011) I felt like I was staying in the same place or even going backwards. I was too preoccupied with worrying about anatomy and other technical aspects of a picture and forgot that it’s about picturing ideas and making things interesting rather than making it technically flawless. Once I remembered this again I had fun drawing and realized I can progress technically without actually worrying about it.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

A: I’m inspired by many things. My main inspiration are all those little things you can notice in your daily life, like color combination, or one object or whatever. That’s why I always try to “have a  life” and get out of my room, meet people, travel and such. I’m also inspired by people who progress quickly. It  motivates me to try harder, too. As for inspiration from other artists in terms of what they draw it’s definitely Korean artists. I love how they combine simplified lines of anime style and deep, more realistic shading.

TP: Have you ever had to deal with a situation where someone else took credit for your work? If so, what did you do to resolve it? How did this art theft make you feel?

A: I never had any problem with some kind of severe art theft but I must admit I really don’t like when my pictures A: are used as representation of some RP character. I usually draw my own characters that I’m quite emotionally attached to, so it’s sad to see how they become some kind of a Mary Sue.

TP:  What is your favorite subject to draw and why?

A: Desserts and girls in pretty clothes. I wish I could learn how to draw proper cyberpunk though. Haha, on one side I like things sweet and pretty and on the other dark and gloomy.

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

A: I wish creating 3D wasn’t so annoying so I could learn how to make movie-like special effects, abstract animations and such.

TP: Outside of art what is your life like?

A: Anything that doesn’t sound mundane? Well, I started to learn Japanese when I became art student. It was hard to learn languages when I had to learn biology, chemistry and other complicated, not useful for my carrier, things but now I take memorizing kanji as a hobby. I’m amazed that after 3 years I’m still into it. And it’s nice when you realize you understand more and more of these weird symbols.

I also love travelling whenever I can even if it’s not far. I guess I simply like the idea of “moving” and seeing new things. I can’t imagine not visiting other cities or countries. Though I’m not much of a fan of sightseeing touristic places. There’s too many people and seeing one more European church, no matter how well known,  is not really appealing to me anymore since most of them look similar. I prefer blending in with local people and observing how the whole city differs from others.

TP: What are your goals in life? Do you plan to continue art as a hobby or make it a career?

A: The truth is, I haven’t considered it as a hobby for a long time now.  I may not earn money with it at the moment but it’s more like practicing for the future. And I’m an art student. So yes, I’m definitely planning to make a carrier out of it, though I’m still not sure whether I would like to go for something like game art or typography and design.

TP: Do you feel that your culture has influenced you in some way that makes you different than other artists?

A: In the age of globalization I don’t think so. Especially when my style has more to do with Japanese culture and I’m not even Asian. But in this drawing genre, I never try to differentiate from other artists because I think this will come out naturally based on how every person is different. It’s for others to decide whether I’m different or not.

Image Courtesy of   http://anikakinka.deviantart.com/gallery/

The article Artist Spotlight: Anika Interview appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Andrea Masse-Tognetti is the talented enchantress behind Merimask Designs. This New York native has been making elaborate and beautiful masks with leather for over twenty years and her masks have been used throughout the world, even by Cirque Du Soleil.

Toonari Post (TP): How and when did you first start practicing your art?

Andrea Masse-Tognetti (AMT): I started carving leather as a hobby over twenty years ago and eventually became quite good at just that aspect, but it was your normal run-of-the-mill leather carving technique that anyone can easily teach themselves with the right tools. The masks happened by accident; I discovered one night that wet leather can be shaped, and if you dry it with heat it retains that shape. I’ve always loved sculpting… this is a very clean medium (leather) that not a lot of people use (I like it because it’s so unique).

TP: What mediums do you use for your artwork? Which is your favorite and why?

AMT: Initially, I loved painting with watercolors because it’s very exacting, and you need a good working knowledge of how the paper will react to the water and how your paint will behave, and I like that. I like media that tests your artisan skills as well as your artistic ability. I’m a throwback, that way. I like leather for the same reason; it’s tactile and cantankerous and requires you to experiment and develop a way of handling it that, incidentally, nurtures your own unique “technique.”

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why? Which one are you most proud of?

AMT: My favorite piece ever is “Fighting Bettas“. I came up with the design while sketching (doodling really), waiting for a flight out of Narita, Japan. It’s obviously influenced by all the beautiful art I saw while on my trip; it has a compact economy of design similar to Japanese Mon, but also a swirly grace.

I’m always most proud of whatever I did most recently. Right now, I’m very pleased with my new “Industrial Anubis” design. It came out of my head and onto the leather with no trouble, exactly as I envisioned, and that’s a very satisfying feeling when a design is “easy” like that.

TP: Your masks are quite elaborate, how long on average does it take you to complete one from start to finish?

AMT: Oh, it depends if I’m starting from scratch or modifying a design I already have (like a new version of a wolf or a lion, where I can base the design off something I’ve already worked out). I’d say that a really elaborate mask like “Medusa” can take 6 to 8 hours, but that’s because I already know what I’m doing, and I’ve had practice.

TP: I noticed that some of your masks have been used by Cirque Du Soleil, a production of Magicarade in Japan, and have even been featured in window displays such as Ralph Lauren. Can you tell me more about these experiences? What is it like to have your masks recognized on an international level?

AMT: Seeing my work being used in visual media or the performing arts is always a big thrill, but the opportunities that led me to see my masks featured as the centerpiece of a stage show in Japan were definitely the highlight of my career so far. When the performers first came out on stage wearing my masks (over fifty unique designs), I actually cried.

The attention, though, can be a little daunting. I do get these glamorous opportunities, but in real life I’m pretty shy, and so these occasional thrusts into the spotlight are wonderful and terrifying at the same time. Being on TV scares the heck out of me (though I do manage to rise to the occasion when that happens, because I know it’s important for my art that I “get it together”). But I’m no celebrity; I think of myself more as an anachronistic tinkerer.

TP: When you first started, did you ever hit any bumps in your art process? What were they, and how did you overcome them?

AMT: Oh, goodness, yes. The worst part about being an artist that uses leather as her sculpting medium is that people hear the word “leather” and always, always assume the wrong thing. I had to fight against stereotypes that leather is “utilitarian” or “craft”, constantly.

I was excluded from a few major art festivals (and not a few galleries!) because once the jury saw the word “leather”, it was assumed I was a “crafter”, and I was out. I often lied/generalized and called my work “fiber art” just to get past the gauntlet of people who could not wrap their heads around the concept of leather as art.

Getting online changed that, pretty quickly. Online media is all visual…100%. So, as long as my images were stunning, the materials I used became entirely secondary. Now, I always list my materials when I showcase a new design and I –still– am constantly asked, “What did you use to make this?” because no one even bothers to read the details; they just get blown away by the visuals.

Check out the rest of Andrea’s interview here.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Merimask/103347893037722

The article Artist Spotlight: Andrea Masse-Tognetti Interview, Part 1 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

NekoKirara is a full time graphic designer of Malaysian origin and you can find your artwork in her various galleries on Deviantart and on Tumblr. The first piece of her work that I was exposed to was “Koibito,” which means lover and was inspired by koi fish.

The resemblance is in the color palate, but the posture of the characters and the look of their eyes struck me and caused me to wander through her other galleries and become enraptured with some of her more macabre art. To find out more about the artist behind these pieces of art, I requested an interview and was allowed to ask a few questions.

Toonari Post (TP): How and when did you first start practicing your art (are you traditionally trained or self-taught)?

NekoKirara (NK): I started to draw in 2005 and am self-taught. I mostly learned to draw by observing and constantly practicing.

TP: What mediums do you use for your artwork? Which is your favorite and why?

NK: I do my work mostly through digital media, such as Paint Tool SAI and Adobe Photoshop. I used to do my work using traditional media (e.g. markers and color pencils), but I like doing my work through digital media nowadays because it’s really convenient.

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why? Which one are you most proud of?

NK: Ah, I don’t have a set one, it usually changes, depending on what I would make in the future, but this is my current favorite for now. I like it because I’ve always loved surreal elements that are out of the ordinary. The artwork I’m most proud of has to be this.

TP: When you first started did you ever hit any bumps in your art process. What were they and how did you overcome them?

NK: Not really, well, I have to be honest, I neglected my studies during school and put all the time I had on drawing because I knew it was what I wanted to do when I grew up.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

NK: My main inspiration for now is my favorite band, Goo Goo Dolls. Their music is the biggest inspiration to me. I have done quite a lot of work that is inspired by their writings.

TP:  Have you ever had to deal with a situation where someone else took credit for your work? If so, what did you do to resolve it? How did this art theft make you feel?

NK: Oh, a lot of times, it is no stranger to me. Usually, someone would inform me about thieves who are claiming my artworks as theirs, and I would, firstly, ask them to remove my work. If they refused to do so, I would just contact the administration or anyone in charge of the sites where my work is stolen to have them removed. It has worked very well so far.

TP:  What is your favorite subject to draw and why?

NK: As for now, I’m really enjoying drawing object heads. I have a fondness of doing dark macabre art.

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

NK: For painting, I would like watercolors. I have always admired the skills and patience needed to use that medium. I really like the smooth blending on textured paper. Other than that, I really would like the ability to play musical instruments, like piano, violin or guitar.

TP:  Outside of art what is your life like?

NK: Of course, but I’m afraid it’s nothing amazing. I just feel very blessed to have the ability to transfer what’s on my mind to a blank canvas, so I’m just drawing all the time.

TP:  What are your goals in life? Do you plan to continue art as a hobby or make it a career?

NK: I want to be inspired and to inspire people. It is my biggest wish! I want to send messages through my work. It would be the greatest compliment to me if I could do that. Art is already both a hobby and career to me. I’m really grateful to be able to make it.

TP: Do you feel that your culture has influenced you in some way that makes you different than other artists?

NK: I’m not sure what to say about this. Maybe, a little? I try to stand out from the ordinary through concepts, I’m always thinking of new ideas to win the hearts of my audience.

Image Courtesy of    http://nekokirara.deviantart.com/

The article Artist Spotlight: NekoKirara Interview appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Natasha Ringor is a talented artist that primarily practices digital art, but would also like to dabble in painting when she has the time.   She is known on Deviantart (an online artist community) as Muse33, and she also has a Tumblr account where you can find more of her artwork with her musings attached as well as pictures from some of her favorite artists and inspirations.  Ms. Ringor agreed to do an interview to allow her fans to see more clearly into the mind of an artist at work and also to find out who her muses are.

TP: How and when did you first start practicing your art (are you traditionally trained or self-taught)?

NR: I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. I used to draw a lot of Disney princesses and Archie characters, but it was actually anime that encouraged me to draw more. I loved the character designs and the aesthetic so much that I would try to draw them. I’m mostly self-taught, but I also attended some painting and basic art workshops when I was younger. Not going to a real art school didn’t discourage me from trying to learn new skills by myself.

TP: What mediums do you use for your artwork?  Which is your favorite and why?

NR: Mostly digital, but I also use watercolor, colored pencils, and alcohol markers. I love the efficiency of digital media, and the fact that I can make my art look like it was done traditionally when it’s actually digital, but I also like using alcohol markers. If I had more time, I’d probably use that more often too.

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why?  Of which are you the most proud?

NR: “Power in Grace”  and “Everything is Still” (the titles are different on my Deviantart page), but these are the original titles.  I really liked drawing “Power in Grace”, because it was a challenge for me to draw muscle-y men (haha).  I also love portraying the blending of masculine and feminine roles, so even if the two acrobats appear well-built, their clothing, expression, and posture show a feminine delicacy.

“Everything is Still”, on the other hand, is something I’m really proud of because it was a very personal piece that challenged me to draw something I’m not too fond of, mainly backgrounds.

TP: When you first started, did you ever hit any bumps in your art process?  What were they, and how did you overcome them?

NR: I was very insecure about my art style since it’s heavily influenced by anime and manga.  I knew that it was a style that some people saw as a lower form of art because of how mainstream it was. Despite this, I learned not to focus too much on style, but the story my art tells. No matter how unique or beautiful an art style is, it only becomes ornamental if it stops at that. Rather than struggling to find a unique art style, I’m more focused on making illustrations with a strong concept behind it.

TP:Who or what are your inspirations and why?

NR: A lot of artists from Deviantart like Kidchan, Bloodypepper, and Bluevenom. What I love about following artists on Deviantart is how I’m able to watch them grow as well, and it just inspires me to improve and try new things. I’m also attracted to the soft delicate style of ’70s shoujo manga and the vibrant colors and fluid strokes of impressionist paintings.

TP: What is your favorite subject to draw and why?

NR: People. I enjoy portraying human emotion and all its subtleties.

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

NR: Painting. I used to paint before, but it was more of my mom forcing me to do it. I never really enjoyed using acrylics and oils, but now I wish I did use them more. I don’t want to be too reliant on digital media for my art.

TP: Outside of art, what is your life like?

NR: I love vintage and retro things, particularly the glam and glitter of the ’70s and the excess of the ’80s. I also enjoy baking and cooking.

TP: Do you plan to continue art as a hobby or make it a career?

NR: I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet, but I do plan on turning my love for illustration into a career. I’d like to work as a concept artist and character designer for a gaming company. I also want to publish my own comic.

TP: Do you feel that your culture has influenced you in some way that makes you different than other artists?

NR: It’s sad to think, but no. I’ve been too influenced by foreign artists. I’m not too familiar with my own country’s art scene.

Image Courtesy of   http://muse33.deviantart.com/

The article Artist Spotlight: Natasha Ringor Interview appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Victoria “xXMioXx” Aubry is a 21-year-old French artist who has had a fondness for art since she was a child, but began taking it seriously when she was 12. Her first inspirations were visual stories with shocking images. She wanted to be able to make others feel this way with her art and started to experiment. Until two years ago, she was self taught. Since then, she has attended a Japanese-media oriented art school.

The following is an interview with this talented artist.

Toonari Post (TP): What mediums do you use for your art work? Which is your favorite and why?

xXMioXx (M): I like to try a bit of everything! After years of using both digital and traditional media, that last one still stays my favorite. There’s a physical dimension in it that remains unequaled and asks for the artist’s hands to struggle with in order to achieve a piece. One is never too old for finger-painting! Digital has that interesting capacity in evolving quickly; we don’t really know how it is going to be in the future, and we could be greatly surprised.

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why? Which one are you most proud of?

M: This one is my favorite. I spent quite some time on it, working with strong and saturated colors, but it left me unsatisfied. One
day I just got rid of all the colors on it, instead of trying to refine them, and took a fresh start! It was a great relief to finish it that way. (Here you can see how it evolved ). The one I’m the most proud of is this two years old illustration. It comes with a 10 page story that I would like to re-work soon.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

M: My main and general inspiration comes from Japanese manga artists. It’s still the case, but lots of internet artists are just as inspirational! My all times favorites are still the Japanese game-designers Shigenori Soejima (Persona 3 and 4…) and Akihiko Yoshida (Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre), amongst others.

TP: Have you ever had to deal with a situation where someone else took credit for your work? If so, what did you do to resolve it? How did this art theft make you feel?

M: No, I happily have not had to face any major case of art theft! Most of the time it’s just un-credited use of artworks. But real art-thief can make you fell pretty helpless, especially when you try to discuss with the art or idea thief and you only face a wall.

TP: What is your favorite subject to draw and why?

M: I love to draw characters that are heavily influenced by all the recent Japanese anime and manga cultures. The manga style is something I’ve loved for years, and as I still see many of the young artists I met during my teenage years “growing out of it”, I’m trying to  hold onto that style, in particular.

This is not something people should be ashamed to do because it does not mean being a copy-cat or “not evolving”, it’s a style that stands by itself, as valuable as western comics, classical art, or any other imaginable style. With the actual way art is shared throughout the world with the internet, styles are not bound anymore to specific countries and I’m always glad to see an artist from outside of Japan that successfully assimilated the manga style, took liberties with it and made it his own to convey ideas.

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

M: Oil painting would be the medium I would like the most to master one day. Classical paintings fascinate me with their soft and unique texture that is created using particular kinds of paints. Still, it is a bit too expensive for me to use now! Maybe in a few years I’ll be able to afford it.

TP: Outside of Deviantart, what is your life like?

M: Sometimes I’m a student and somtimes I’m a hobby artist. I love to see as much visual material as my brain can absorb, and visiting museums. Collecting things is also my other passion! My room is my own little museum full of not-really-valuable toys, books, dolls, video games, and art prints.

TP: What is it like to be able to be part of a community (Deviantart) that allows you to share your artwork with artists from all over the globe?

M: The community part is the best thing it has to offer! I can’t count how many nice (and talented!) artists I’ve met there that led to some great art collaborations. Also, they are from locations I probably would not have been able to reach through, for example, a blog, or a forum, that are often made around a single language and country.

TP: What are your goals in life? Do you plan to continue art as a hobby or make it a career?

M: I would really like to make a living from art! I’ve tried some other disciplines like Art-History and Language, but I can’t focus on them completely; art is always in the way in my mind. So I’ll try in the near future to work it more and more and I hope things will come out as nice as possible.

If you would like to see any of xXMioXx’s artwork, check out her Deviantart page.

Image Courtesy of   http://xxmioxx.deviantart.com/gallery/

The article Artist Spotlight: Victoria “xXMioXx” Aubry Interview appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Griffsnuff is a 22-year-old artist from Norway, whose mom got her into art at a very young age.  She spent a lot of time drawing with her daughter by holding her hand and starting out with simple subjects to draw.  This special bond between Griffsnuff and her mother allowed her affection to grow towards drawing and kept her at it.

She did not have any help with her art until she joined an art school in 2005, where she learned art basics.  She also joined the digital art community that same year and associates this with her improvement skyrocketing from thereon out. Griffsnuff agreed to do an interview, and her responses appear below.  Toonaripost will appear as ‘TP’ and Griffsnuff as ‘G’.

TP: What mediums do you use for your art work?  Which is your favorite and why?

G: I would call myself a digital artist by now.  I do some traditional works as well, but most of the time I draw digitally. My favorite medium has to be Photoshop. There’s just so much you can do there, even if I might not use many tools, it’s good to be able to have them. I also love using Flash just as much, its great to draw quick, simple drawings and to animate them, which I also love doing.

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why?  Which one are you most proud of?

G: My favorite artwork that I’m most proud of is Deathfight.  It may not be the most detailed, rendered, or most cleaned-up scene I’ve done, but I was able to portray exactly what I wanted. This made me very proud!

TP: When you first started, did you ever hit any bumps in your art process? What were they, and how did you overcome them?

G: Ever since I can remember there have always been bumps and blocks, sometimes they were hard, sometimes they were easy. But they are important! Because each time I improve by learning how to fix them.  So you could say anything has been a bump sometime in life. Humans were a big one of them early on and during art school. I love drawing cartoon-y, so when we had to draw realistic ones, I struggled a lot.

TP: Who, or what, are your inspirations and why?

G: Everything is my inspiration. I can be inspired by mostly anything. I think it’s important to be open to where inspiration can come from and not just stay inspired with one thing or just a few things.

TP: Have you ever had to deal with a situation where someone else took credit for your work?  If so, what did you do to resolve it?  How did this art theft make you feel?

G: I’ve dealt with all kinds of scenarios where people stole or heavily copied my art. At first, this pissed me off so much, and it hurt me and my pride. This is a fairly normal response when something personal has been taken. But now I’m very open, having a huge following, there are many people who are inspired by what I make.

I no longer see a problem with people copying me, there will always be those who never give credit, and it’s not that big of a deal to me anymore. I am glad that I make things that others want to make too.  But there have been times when people have actually taken what I’ve made and claimed it to be theirs.

When this happens, I just try to talk to them, there’s no reason to create a huge angry storm over it.  I have the proof that I made most of my things, anyway, so it usually gets resolved nicely.

TP: What is your favorite subject to draw and why?

G: I love to design things, whether it be creatures, landscapes, characters, and so on. I love to try new things and draw in several different ways. This is why my gallery has such a variety. I would get bored drawing the same thing over and over.

TP:   If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

G: Traditional watercolors! Oh, I would so much love to do that. It’s just so beautiful and delicate! I love art that’s been made with watercolors so much. I guess I am too impatient to do much of it at the moment, though.

TP: Outside of Deviantart, what is your life like?

G: Outside of Deviantart,  I am a concept artist at a newly started game company in Norway called Krillbite. I started working there this January, and it’s what most of my time goes to. Other than that, I live in a tiny apartment with my pets.

TP: What is it like to be able to be part of a community (Deviantart) that allows you to share your artwork with artists from all over the globe?

G: Its great! It’s the main reason why I’ve improved so greatly, having so many different inputs and comments on what I create. It has also let me inspire and help so many others, which is the best feeling in the world.

TP: What are your goals in life?  Do you plan to continue art as a hobby, or make it a career?

G: My goals in life are to help others and inspire others as much as I can, and create things. I will keep doing art as a hobby and as a career like I am doing now. I love drawing, and I don’t think I will ever stop.

Image Courtesy of   http://griffsnuff.deviantart.com/

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