Illustrator and animator Hannah Ayoubi combines her quirky style with her passion for character design, her adorable dog, and her favorite veggies in each of her works. Take a deeper look into her world by visiting her blog and perusing her illustrations and award winning animations.

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

Hannah Ayoubi (HA): I can’t remember a time I wasn’t drawing. Ever since I could hold a crayon I was spending hours and hours in front of the TV watching cartoons and tearing through stacks of copy paper with drawings. I copied a LOT of stuff: cartoons, illustrations from books, comic books, advertisements in magazines…I also took lessons in an art school when I was a kid, which was great for learning how to handle different tools and mediums properly and learning things like proportion and value. When I was a teenager I took a class that taught Photoshop, which was REALLY valuable.

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

HA: I love the aesthetic of watercolor, it’s definitely my favorite…but I actually don’t use it that much! I think it’s just because these days I’m just too lazy to get out paints and bother with cleaning them up and stuff, so I just use Photoshop and have some brushes and techniques to make drawings look like watercolor. I wish I used real watercolor and Prismacolor pencils and markers though…nothing ever beats the real thing! Most of the time these days I sketch in moleskins with whatever black pen I have on hand. Now that I think about it, I haven’t drawn with a pencil in a long time!

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

HA: I don’t know if it’s my favorite or not, but I really enjoyed drawing the “Chicken Farmers” I designed. I love farmers, I love families, and I love chickens!

What I’m most proud of is the animation I made at my second year at CalArts, “Vampire Gastelbrau“. It was super, super fun to make, because I was really attached and excited about the world and its characters. Everything about it was inspired by a trip I had the summer before to Romania–it was a 10 day missionary trip with my church. I absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere and the people. Gabi (the little girl) is inspired by a real little girl I met there with that cute haircut.

And Gerta (the grandma) was inspired by the MILLIONS of adorable old babushka women that were everywhere you went. I wanted to feature a vampire because Dracula is from Romania, and my mom came up with the name “Gastelbrau” (she was talking about our last name, Ayoubi: “I don’t understand why people can’t pronounce it! It’s not like….uh….Gastelbrau or something!”) and I loved it.

I also had the best tasting tomatoes of my life in Romania. So I just kind of combined all of these inspirational ingredients in a pot and made this short. The animation itself is pretty sloppy and full of cheating (not my strong suit!) but I’m pretty pleased with how it came out.

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

HA: Oh, yeah. When I was in elementary school and junior high, especially. I remember getting really frustrated a lot when drawing, like it was so hard to translate what was in my head on paper, and nothing ever came out right. Like, I’d try to draw a character and I’d end up drawing the foot over and over and over a thousand times and never get it how I wanted it, things like that.

The only way to get past that blockage is just to push through and keep drawing. Also, copying is important! Draw everything. It’s how you study and grow. The more you draw things you see and observe the more you’re building your artistic arsenal, if that makes sense.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

HA: As far as other artists’ work I really love Jill Thompson‘s work, especially “Scary Godmother” and “Magic Trixie“. Her pen work is really fun and her full watercolor comics are so gorgeous, on top of the fact all of her characters are just super lovable. I adore Milt Kahl‘s animation, also all the old UPA cartoons. I love John Bauer‘s illustrations, too. There are tons of artists that inspire me all the time, I wish I could list ‘em off more easily! Oh, and Sailor Moon was definitely my first huge inspiration–need you ask why? She is awesome.

TP: Have you ever had to deal with a situation where someone else took credit for your work? How did this art theft make you feel?

HA: Someone once took one of my drawings and was trying to sell it on a t-shirt on ebay. I was flattered that someone thought my work was good enough to make money, but also annoyed that they didn’t ask my permission or anything like that.

TP: You do graphic novels and animations in addition to your other art works. Is there one of these formats that you prefer over the others?

HA: I think graphic novel is my favorite. I love animation, but the actual process of animating is a struggle for me. I prefer capturing moments in a single story-telling drawing. It’d be a dream for me to make a living doing graphic novels and illustrated books. I need more practice though; it’s very time consuming!

TP: Can you tell me a little more about the work and process that goes into making your animations?

HA: The first thing that happens is a whole lot of thinking. Lots of thinking, lots of brainstorming, then sketching ideas out into little vignettes. Then writing out a really rough script, if you even want to call it that, just to organize sequences of a story to tell. Then storyboard, try to get it reviewed by teachers and classmates and make adjustments to shoots and ways scenes can be made funnier or more effective.

Then pop it into after effects and time it out to make an animatic…then animate! I use a combination of flash, after effects and Photoshop to animate.The way I animate is really weird and not practical or professional at all (seriously, like I said, not my strong suit) so I won’t even get into that!

TP: Outside of a class assignments, would you consider drawing your own comics? What ideas do you have for them?

HA: Yes!!! Like I said before, I really love making sequential art. Honestly, I’d love to continue the “Gastelbrau” story through comic form. I have a lot of ideas for those characters, including more vampires, some of Gerta’s back story, and even a werewolf (of course!). I actually have a lot of ideas floating around in my head to make comics out of…I also have an idea about a family of kappa (Japanese water spirits) but we’ll see if that ever gets anywhere.

The article Artist Spotlight: Illustrator and Animator Hannah Ayoubi, Part 1 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Apofiss is an artist from Latvia that is known for his dreamy pictures of adorable dinosaurs and mischievous cats. He is also the creator of “Boggart,” a humorous comic that centers around a somewhat egotistic fairy-cat. Apofiss also makes live wallpapers (images that move even when set as a background on a phone or computer), which you can find videos of on his Youtube account, along with videos of how he speed paints some of his images.

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

Apofiss (A): I would say I returned to drawing back in 2008 and not long after that I got my first and current tablet. I’m fully self-trained; learning and creating new things is always rather exciting and nowadays with such a huge resource as the internet it is quite handy to do!

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

A: I tend to work with digital mediums such as Photoshop or Paint Tool SAI, both great software to work with. As for the traditional approach, it’s mostly a sheet of paper and a mechanical pencil.

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why?

A: The is the hardest question. I like most of my works, really… yet if I have to pick only one then “mutual thing” is the one because, basically, it’s where it all started. Also the concept itself turned out quite original and visually eye-catching.

TP: When you first started did you ever hit any bumps in your art process? How did you overcome them?

A: Of course, there are always times when I get frustrated with something and can’t get it to look the way I want, but this is just a part of learning and growing up art-wise. How do I overcome such moments? Well, I think I overcome these moments rather naturally and easily, as the learning part is something I really enjoy!

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

A: To put it shortly, the internet. Artists, movies, anime and what not… it’s a great daily dose of inspiration! I also have an influence map in my DeviantART gallery.

TP: What artists would you consider working with to do a piece?

A: So far I prefer to work alone, because I don’t think I have what it takes to work together with artists I like or actually to create a piece I would be super proud of… but we’ll see!

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

A: Traditional oil painting! I definitely love the traditional approach and the results you get… such work has a bit more value to it, you can actually touch it!

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

A: Personally I don’t really like the word “career”, at least not in its usual meaning. I want to keep my art as a hobby, a serious hobby because of the healthy conditions it provides to create original and hopefully amazing art for myself to enjoy and for others to appreciate.

TP: What is it about “career” that you don’t like?

A: Career in its classic meaning ( or understanding? ) usually includes a lot of work done for the sake of money. I like to put the enjoyment of the work as the primary matter and financial matter as the secondary one… it doesn’t always work out like that, of course. In other words, the enjoyment of creating something is what keeps me doing what I do.

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

A: I think it has an impact to some degree. In my opinion most artists have something specific about them, it’s like a signature of life experience that shows in every brush stroke. We each see our world a bit differently. The environment and overall life experience is what makes us different, yet amazing when it comes to art.

TP: Can you tell me more about your background?  What experiences brought you to be the person you are today?

A: I think I have creating something for ever, beginning with sand towns, papercraft, even chemistry and experimental “inventions”, haha, back in my childhood that is. Back in 1991, I think, Disney’s “Duck Tales” was the first one to steer me back to drawing while it wasn’t anything that serious.

Later animation movie The Lion King or the movie The Fifth Element had a HUGE impact on me, it’s was like a whole new world! Also,the gaming world has had a big part in everything, still has, it kind of kept me on the creative side.

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Stephanie Cox, an artist of a variety of mediums, has always been a very inquisitive person. She has also spent a great deal of time by herself because she was a fearfully anxious kid.

During this time alone, she started to internalize and think about the human condition, as well as to record the reactions and experiences of her life in journals. Art became her best outlet, so she focused on merging it with her thought process. The end result was an interesting mixture of reaction art, art for stress relief, studies from life, experiments, and problem-solving illustrations.

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

Stephanie Cox (SC): I loved doing all kinds of creative things when I was young. Back then, I loved writing more than anything, and I wanted to be able to draw pictures for my stories, just in like my favorite books and cartoons. I pursued art (and writing to a lesser extent) all through high school and was lucky enough to pursue illustration through university.

I still write, but now I have much more fun doing drawings. School was great in giving me a more structured environment to learn from and helping me meet other talented artists, and I continue to try and learn everything I can now that I’m out of school. So a little of both!

TP: What are your main resources for learning more about your art now that you are out of school?

SC: I keep tabs on a lot of different communities via RSS feeds. I follow hundreds of artists’ blogs, illustration communities, and design blogs, so I have a steady flow of inspirational sources.

When I see something I really like, I’ll research it in depth and try to learn the technique or the idea behind it. I’m always eager to learn about other people’s processes and about new ideas in the art world. I also hang out a lot lately on Tumblr, where it’s really easy for people to share resources, and in my spare time, I add to my growing collection of art books.

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

SC: I use pens, watercolor, markers, ink, and acrylic for traditional work, and I use Photoshop and Illustrator for digital work. Watercolor is my true favorite, though.

It produces this great soft and ethereal feeling that I can’t replicate any other way. It’s also great to experiment with because there is this great unpredictable quality that helps preserve that spontaneous feeling that you only get from a fresh sketch. I often enjoy sketches and rough experiments more than my finished work.

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

SC: I really don’t have a favorite piece. Every time I finish a piece, I’ll enjoy it until I want to do better, so it’s very short lived. The piece I’m proudest of right now, however, would have to be my “House Pattern”. I was really excited when I finished it because it was a new process for me, and I loved how it came out. Plus everyone else seems to really like it!

TP: How was the process for “House Pattern” different from your others pieces?

SC: Most of my work is very free-form and defined by mark making, focusing on emotion and color, so this piece was the complete opposite of how I usually work. It involved meticulous planning to make sure everything lined up correctly, and the end result is something very clean and well thought out. It’s more of a design-oriented piece, instead of an illustrative vignette.

TP: When you first started, did you ever hit any bumps in your art process? How did you overcome them?

SC: I’m always running into bumps! My biggest and most present hurdle is that I’m never truly satisfied with my work. The whole artist process is very tumultuous, or at least, it is for me. If I get too overwhelmed, I usually take a break and do something else to take my mind off it, or take a nap. It’s an exciting cycle of learning, failing, trying again, and succeeding, and it’s ultimately hard work that will get you out of a rut, always. Recharging is important, but so is putting in hours.

TP: Have you ever gotten any kind of negative feedback on your art? If so, how did you deal with it?

SC: I’ve gotten a couple of responses to the tune of “start this over” or “wow, this isn’t what I was expecting at all.” I know I can be sensitive, so I try extra hard to view everything objectively. Most of the time, it works out fine because they just care about the work. The work is what is important, not personal feelings. And I am always ready to hear if my work needs improvement, even if it’s personal work.

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

As a budding young graphic designer, Claudia van Rooijen continues to experiment with Photoshop to create beautifully colorful textures and collages. The subject of most of her collages are the singers that have inspired her throughout her life. She is still attending school in the Netherlands and prefers to practice her art as a hobby rather than making it into a career.

ToonariPost (TP): Who or what are your inspirations and why?

Claudia van Rooijen (CR): Let me start off by saying that I love listening to music whenever I am making something. I am a sensitive person and listening to music just puts me into a special place or makes me feel better whenever I’m having a bad day. Music is the most inspiring thing to me.

To be completely honest I don’t really have a person that inspires me, there are people out there that are really talented but I wouldn’t say that I get inspired by them. I also get inspired when I see good resources, when I see something that is great I imagine in my head what I could use it for. Seeing beautiful artwork also makes me excited to open up Photoshop and see what I can do.

TP: What sort of music to you listen to when you are getting creative in Photoshop?

CR: I listen to all kinds of music from Pop to R&B, Soul and even some Country. I am a huge fan of artists with beautiful voices so I listen to Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Leona Lewis, Melanie Fiona among others. It all depends though, currently I am going through my ‘Carrie Underwood’ phase. I have always loved her music and voice but at the moment she is pretty much all I listen to.

TP: How do different songs or types of music affect the artwork you are working on at the time?

CR: I wouldn’t know if it really affects my artwork to be honest. When I play music I just play an album and you know with albums, one song is going to be uptempo and the next one might be a ballad. I don’t have a playlist with all happy songs or all sad songs. It goes from happy to sad to being happy again.

Perhaps if I would listen to a lot of sad songs my artwork would be a little darker but usually I prefer to listen to uptempo songs when making something because sometimes I just don’t feel like listening to sad songs. I think the music might influence me in a certain way, but I wouldn’t really know how to explain it.

TP: What artists would you consider working with to do a piece? What type of work do you think would come from this partnership?

CR: I have never really thought about doing that, to be completely honest with you. There are a few people out there that I really enjoy watching. One of them is So-Ghislaine. I just love what she is doing, her resources are amazing and her collages are great too. If we were to do a piece together, it would probably be a collage because I think that would be the best type. I would assume that I could learn something from her and perhaps she could learn something from me. Another person I really enjoy watching is Photonica.

Her style just speaks to me, it’s very colorful and lately she has been doing a lot of typography and manipulation kind of things. I think her work is very original and creative as well. I would love to learn typography, I am absolutely terrible with text placement. I think typography is great. I am planning on following some tutorials on it in the near future.

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

CR: I’m not sure what your definition of ‘mastering’ an art medium may be, but I would have to say that I would love to master Photoshop CS5. I am pretty decent with it, but I know that there are a ton of features that I have yet to discover or put to good use. I think Photoshop is just such a versatile program that you can do whatever you want with it. If you have some sort of image in your head, you can probably create it in Photoshop, too. That’s how I see the program, it’s really amazing.

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

CR: My goal in life is to just find a job and perhaps start a family one day. I am planning on keeping this as a hobby because I don’t see how this possibly could be a career for me. On the other hand I like not feeling obligated to this. I think that if this would be some sort of ‘job’ for me, I wouldn’t enjoy it as much because it would mean that I still have to come up with something even if I really don’t feel like doing anything.

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

CR: I doubt it. I come from a western culture, if that is how you even say that and I do not believe that my culture has had anything to do with the kind of artist I am.

TP: Can you tell me more about your background?  What experiences brought you to be the person you are today?

CR: I had an unusual childhood, quite tough at times. I have an older brother and I come from divorced parents. My teen years were especially hard and I’ve been through a lot of stuff that I would love to put behind me one day. Today I see myself as a strong person that tries to stay positive no matter what. It’s a daily struggle, but I try to get there. Thankfully, I have a lot of things keeping me busy so I think I am going to be just fine.

The article Artist Spotlight: Claudia van Rooijen Interview, Part 2 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Claudia van Rooijen is a 19 year old artist from the Netherlands. She is currently a student and does art mainly as a hobby. Photoshop is her medium of choice. Aside from making colorful textures that lighten the mood of viewers, she also loves to create collages that incorporate her favorite singers.

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

Claudia van Rooijen (CR): I first started when I was about 12 years old. I am 19 now so I have been doing this for about 7 years. There have been times where I would just take a break, but I always came back to it. I am mostly self-taught. I learned the basics from my brother, but after that I just kind of tried new things on my own.

TP: What mediums do you use for your art work?

CR: For my artwork I only use Adobe Photoshop CS5. I guess it’s pretty much all I need for what I am doing at the moment.

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

CR: This is a really tough question for me to answer because I don’t see my work as art, to be honest. It’s just something that I really enjoy doing and I am still surprised that there are people out there who enjoy it as much as they do. My favorite piece of work I think is this one. It’s not my most popular one, but I just love how it turned out, I think the colors are pretty.

The piece I am most proud of is even harder to pick, but I am leaning towards this one because I tried something a little different for this one and people loved it. I believe it is my most favorited so far on DeviantART, so I guess that is enough reason for me to be proud of it.

TP: What makes your pieces unique?

CR: What makes my pieces unique is that I try to be as original as I possibly can while I am making them. Sure, you might pick up some ideas from other people, but in the end you always have to make it your own. Add your own style to it so people know that it’s you who made it. I think I have an eye for what will work in a piece and what will not work and having that is a big plus; knowing when something has to go or when there is something missing.

TP: How would you describe your artistic style?

CR: If there was one word I had to use to describe my artistic style it would be colorful. In most of my pieces I use a lot of different colors, but it is what I prefer. If my pieces were dark/black all the time I think that would be kind of depressing. At least for me, there are a lot of darker pieces out there that are absolutely stunning, but it’s just not who I am as an artist. I might try it sometime just to get out of my comfort zone and show some variety.

TP: When you first started, did you ever hit any bumps in your art process? How did you overcome them?

CR: Yes, I did. Like I mentioned in an earlier question I took a lot of breaks from Photoshop. Sometimes I would just feel like I had no clue what I wanted to do in the first place and it just ended up looking terrible. I am the type of person that is never quite satisfied with what I come up with, there is always room for improvement but at some point you just have to say to yourself, “Good is good enough” and just move on.

I think taking a break every now and then keeps things fresh. In the meantime I would check out other people’s work for inspiration and after a while I would just try again with a clear head. I don’t force myself do make anything, because this is just a hobby and I am only doing this because it’s fun and relaxing for me.

TP: If your artwork is just a hobby what are you doing now to support yourself (such as going to school or working part-time)?

CR: At the moment I am in school and I actually have exams in about a week, so I have to focus on that right now. It’s not that hard so I think I will do just fine, but I’m the type of person who isn’t satisfied with getting a C. I want to do the best I can but I’m not too worried about it. After that I am planning on getting a job, but it’s not that easy since I don’t have any experience, so we’ll see how that plays out.

I guess, if I really had to, I could do something with this and turn it into some kind of a job but I would rather just keep it as a hobby. Then again, don’t they say that it’s the best thing if you can turn your hobby into an actual living? I still live at home with my mother so it’s not like I have many expenses.

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

At only 16 years old, Michelle Ku has already taken a huge step into the art world. She has gotten an early start in her art career by taking lessons since she was 5 years old and making the decision to become a part of the International Baccalaureate program for Art. Michelle also has an online store, Tokushu, where she designs and paints custom shoes.

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

MK: My favorite always changes, sometimes I look at stuff I did a month ago and hate it, and then look back at it again in a year and think it is pretty good. Right now my favorite is an acrylic and watercolor painting I did two months ago. It’s my favorite because I worked really hard on coming up with how to draw the concept. I am most proud of my original and concept art, because they are the ones I spend the most time on and are always thinking about.

TP: When you first started did you ever hit any bumps in your art process. How did you overcome them?

MK: I hit bumps all the time, always so bumpy, haha. If something just isn’t working, I take a break from it, then come back in a couple hours and I can see it fresh again. It also helps to flip the image or look in a mirror, you can see if something looks weird way more easily.
Whenever I get art blocks, I go to my sketchbook. I have kept this over time and fill it with nice color schemes I come across, and sketch down ideas whenever I have them. I just put down anything that catches my eye or inspires me and come back to it later.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

MK: As cheesy as it sounds, I am inspired by everything. When something happens or someone says something that just stays in my mind, I usually want to paint it, or I keep thinking about the concept. I am mostly inspired by kids, such as my 5 year old brother and also the kids I work with when I volunteer at the art program at the Boys and Girls Club. Sometimes I’m pretty sure I’m still a kid too.

My favorite artists as of now are Hayao Miyazaki, Milton Glaser, Claude Monet, Eadweard Muybridge, and Dorothea Lange.

From DeviantART, I am always inspired by yuumei, alicexz, bobsmade, and Dannayy, as well as many others. I also keep a folder in my favorites, on DeviantART for artwork I am super inspired by.

And of course my art teacher, Dillon Huang. He has taught me to be inspired by beauty that often goes unnoticed by others.

TP: What artists would you consider working with to do a piece?

MK: I would be willing to work with anybody who has good ideas and is creative. I’d also be honored to work with any artist whose art I love. I am pretty laid back and I truly believe that I can learn from everyone.

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

MK: I would really like to master digital art because it is becoming more and more important in the graphic design/illustration industries now. But I mostly want to master it because I love painting digitally, and it gives freedoms that you don’t have in traditional painting, such as
ctrl-z, layers, and custom brushes, but there are many more. Here is some digital art I’ve done recently.

The painting of the sky was a speedpaint, the one of the girl was done in Photoshop, and the Nemo fan art was done on an iPad. The toaster robot is an original character.

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

MK: My plan is to continue my shoe business for income while I’m in university, so that I can have more flexibility in working hours. I am going to pursue graphic design, advertising, or visual communications in university, possibly with a minor in business communications. I’m not completely sure yet, but I cannot see myself in a job that has nothing to do with art. Art will always be a huge part of my life.

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

MK: Mostly,my Chinese culture has influenced me to be open to all types of food, HAHA. As for art, I have tried traditional Chinese painting a couple times, but I’d like to learn more.

The article Artist Spotlight: Michelle Ku Interview, Part 2 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Michelle Ku may only be a 16 year old high school student, but she has already nurtured her artistic talents in everything from painting shoes to taking nature photographs to creating environmentally friendly pieces out of recycled materials. She also grew up with a family quite different than those of her friends.

Her family supported her choice to go into the art field by making sure she started art lessons at the early age of 5 and also letting Michelle become a part of the International Baccalaureate Program for art. Michelle feels incredibly lucky to have such help from her family to allow her to do what she loves and wishes that other individuals with a love for art had the same support and freedom in their career choice.

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

Michelle Ku (MK): I drew a stick man upside down when I was three and I’ve been drawing ever since! But I started art classes at around age 5, with lessons outside of school. I took a 3 year break from lessons, then started with another teacher when I was around 14. Right now I’m 16 and in high school. I’m in the International Baccalaureate program for Art, where you keep an investigative sketchbook and finish a piece every two weeks.

As for self-taught, last year, I taught myself how to paint on canvas shoes and started a shoe painting business, Tokushu Shoes! I also bought a Canon Rebel T3 and started teaching myself photography. This year I am working hard on learning Photoshop and it is so challenging.Coffee helps!

Here are some recent photos I’ve taken. I love photographing wildlife the most.

TP: What sort of things were you learning while taking art lessons outside of school at such a young age?

MK: Each week our art teacher would go through how to do one drawing. Then, our homework would be to use the same sort of theme/idea but to make up our own picture. I remember one time we drew a snowman in class, and when I went home I drew a bunch of mice, some on helicopters and ladders, building a snowman together.

TP: How did you decide to become a part of the International Baccalaureate program for Art?

MK: I heard about Art IB in junior high, and I wanted to apply because it sounded super fun. There’s so much freedom because they basically let you do anything you want. You choose a theme, which can be changed throughout the year, and base your art around that. Right now, my theme is based on observations about the environment (how we interact with nature, making art from recycled/natural materials, and why we should be conserving the earth). Some examples of what I’ve done are: a recycled water bottle light fixture, a pop art painting of extinct animals, and a book sculpture.

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

MK: I can go through a pack of pencils a month, hehe. I absolutely love using acrylics, almost all my clothes are stained with paint at one point or another. I like acrylics because they are easy to use and very versatile.

Recently, I’ve fallen in love with digital painting in Photoshop and Sai as well. I also think that watercolor is a beautiful medium, and so fun to paint with. I’d say my favorite is traditional painting in general though, with any medium.

TP: Some of your artwork uses shoes for canvas. What made you decide to use shoes instead of another article of clothing for your work? What about this medium makes it difficult to use?

MK: It started when I saw a white, plain pair of shoes at the mall a long time ago, and was like “WANT TO DOODLE!”. So I’ve had this thought in my head ever since, and then I finally bought a cheap pair and experimented with them. Most of the challenge comes from getting the paint to last and stay on. But more experimenting and googling has helped fixed this problem.

I’ve never really been the type of girl to have a million pairs of shoes. I usually just have one or two pairs I wear everyday. That’s why I chose to paint on shoes instead of, for example, hats or shirts. Shoes are worn everyday (I believe most people do not go to school or work barefoot, haha) and a unique pair can express who you are.

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

Sionra is both an artist and bank employee who works in asset management along with a mathematics and psychology education. At one point in her life, Sionra wanted to become a cartoonist, but passed up the opportunity and has not regretted her decision because she cannot imagine drawing something she does not like for money.

Plus, if she had become a cartoonist the works she has now created would never have been thought of. This would have been a tremendous loss to the art community. Sionra is quite happy with how her life has turned out thus far and credits her family and close friends with making her the person she is today.

ToonariPost (TP): When and how did you first decide to commit yourself to art-related work?

Sionra (S): I will not be original in my answer that I draw from childhood like most people. It’s my main hobby, which allows me to express my thoughts and ideas on paper. Unfortunately, I don’t have any special art education, so I try my best to improve by myself.

TP: How would you describe your artistic style?

S: I think my main works belong to a mix of anime/cartoon style, sometimes I use a semi-realistic style for my works. I wish to grow in several directions.

TP: Can you tell me about the tools you use to create your pieces and the process behind them?

S: Sure. I’m still not brave enough to make fully digital works, so my main drawings always have a traditional beginning. I start from a rough sketch with my beloved red pencil; after correcting mistakes I make clear line art with mechanical pencil. I work a lot to make my lines smoother than they were before. After, I scan my drawing and color it in Photoshop or Paint tool SAI. I always work at standard resolution 300dpi because I do not need more to print it out later. I also use a Wacom tablet.

TP: When you get frustrated with a piece you are creating, how do you overcome this obstacle?

S: I was frustrated with my piece or process mostly in the past. Also, I was really annoyed by making very time-consuming works. I couldn’t spend more than 5 hours on one drawing, so I started to learn how to concentrate on a single work for more time and how to work on a few pieces at the same time. Now, I very rarely feel frustrated, even if I see mistakes in the finished work.

TP: I usually ask artists how they deal with art theft if it has happened to them, but I noticed that you have posted a journal that already addresses this issue. I have to say, your view on how to deal with it is a complete curve ball from some of the responses I have seen. What has made you take this particular stance on art theft?

S: I don’t support real “art thieves”, but I saw many times how people started bullying other people, harass them and saying cruel things. I’m old enough to see the big difference between a young artist who uses my work as a reference and a big print-shop that tries to sell my works without my permission. The first case is much more innocent than the second one. I understand that it’s much harder to try to resolve a situation peaceably than it is to start drama. Really, it’s harder. You need to be very calm and polite, but in the end you have resolved the situation without the drama. Double profit, as I say!

TP: I see that Japanese ball jointed dolls (BJD) are a hobby of yours. What made you decide to make them a hobby?

S: Oh, well, BJD is a really amazing hobby for people who want to create their characters in real life. For me, it’s an opportunity to make their designs and practice my photo-skills. It allows you to give your character a face.

TP: You say that you admire those who are able to catch the personality of the dolls in a photograph. What is it that makes these dolls’ personalities so elusive?

S: The love of the owner first of all. Joke. I think good makeup and outfits make your doll look pretty, but even a pretty doll could be photographed not very well. That’s why good photography adds more personality to a doll. You could do portraits or a big photo-story that allows the dolls’ personalities to show more clearly.

TP: Can you tell me more about the inspiration behind your comics (“Once Upon a Time”)?

S: I have been drawing comics since childhood and have many stories on my shelves. But in 2008 I started role-playing (RP) with my best friend Kimir-ra, we shared our worlds and our characters, and created a new story with them. RP is the biggest inspiration for our stories. Since it contains many thousand of pages of text we try to put the most interesting part of it in the comics. “Once Upon a Time” is a comic about our characters Sif and Yaroslav, a fantasy, romance and adventure story.

TP: Out of all the characters you have designed, which one is your favorite?

S: My oldest one, Eva Lambert. I think she was created in 1996. She is my biggest treasure. I think that’s the reason why I draw her rarely.

TP: If your characters were transported to modern day life, how do you think they would survive? What would their new roles be?

S: My characters are immortal or long-livers in 99% of cases. For now, my story takes place in 2024 and after. For the most part my characters conduct business or political activities. For example, Ms. Lambert owns an antique store.

TP:  Do you have any other comic or character ideas for the future?

S: Yes, too many to list them. I want to share my story with people who like it. I will work on the illustrations and comics about it. After finishing Chapter 1 of “Once Upon a Time” I plan to start working on the second chapter.

TP: Who are some of the artists and/or authors that have driven you to continue to grow in your artistic talents?

S: Alphonse Mucha, Charlie Bowater, Virginie Leonard and one singer named Sting.

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

Johnson Ting is a digital concept artist from Malaysia. Soon to be a graduate of the One Academy of Communication Design, Johnson is striving more and more to master the digital art medium. Taking a look through his gallery, shows that he is definitely on his way to achieving this goal.

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

Johnson Ting (JT): I started practicing art when I was really young. I didn’t like homework so I used to doodle a lot on textbooks and exercise books. I usually ended up being punished by both my parents and my teachers. I only started to practice seriously when I was 16, when I first got my tablet from my father.

It was the first time I started making digital art and everything  was really new and fresh to me. The potential of using it to create amazing stuff was just limitless. This was when I decided to really become what I’ve always wanted to be, an artist. And then I got into an art college when I was 19.

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

JT: I’ve tried different mediums, but not all; color pencils, gouache, acrylics, oils, charcoal, etc. But the one I frequently use and is also my favorite is the digital medium, Photoshop mostly. To me, digital art has endless possibilities. There are so many different ways to create art, and there are times where you need to come up with paintings/sketches quickly under a rather tight timeline, so doing it digitally could save some time and the errors can be corrected more conveniently.

But still, no matter how convenient it is, the importance of a strong foundation is always a top priority and we should always practice traditionally as well. A pen and a sketchbook are one of my best friends around.

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

JT: ‘First in, Last out‘: I’m quite a fan of science fiction films and games, mainly because of Star Wars. I started watching them when I was young and I liked the genre because of the many things you can come up with, gadgets, story, characters, basically anything. So when I did this piece it was also my first time trying to actually produce a fully painted sci-fi mecha. It was fresh and I’m quite satisfied with the outcome.

‘Binds‘: Modern contemporary artists are one of my favorites. I get inspired by a lot from them, like James Jean, Audrey Kawasaki, Eric Fortune, Jon Foster, etc. Their works have always been a source of inspiration to me. So I tried to tackle something I’ve never tried before. The technique and idea was quite new to me, so it was a great experience and I kinda like how the painting turned out. I had a lot of fun doing it.

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

JT: Yeah, a lot. There are always some hard times when you think of an idea, but you just don’t have the skills and techniques to execute them. Often, the art piece comes out nothing like you first wanted it to be like (in a bad way). This was always my main concern. Being able to think of an idea, but not being able to execute it is just torture.

It brings out a lot of frustrations. Then, through time and guidance by friends and masters, I have managed to balance the two things, technical skills and ideas. It really works well for me, not to push the balance on these two things, and always enjoy your work and the process of creating it.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

JT: My main inspirations are from games and movies. As a concept artist myself working on games and films, it’s important to explore and gain more knowledge from them. Artists like Danny Luvisi, Jeff Simpson, Dave Rapoza, Andree Wallin, etc, are also some of my inspirations. I just can’t stop being amazed by their works, especially my favorite sci-fi environment paintings.

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?

JT: Yes, a few times, but there’s one that was really ridiculous. A teenager stole a few of my works and sold them as prints and he also sold them to a t-shirt company, which is when I was informed that my works were on the t-shirt website as an advertisement. I was quite shocked and immediately contacted the company.

They said someone had sold them the rights to print them as t-shirts and they thought that I was the art thief instead of the teenager. After some clarification and proof that I was the original artist, they took down the prints and settled the problem with the teenager himself.

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

JT: Mechanical stuff usually, mostly armor. Incorporating armor designs on a human body is quite interesting to me. The process of coming up with it is just really enjoyable. When I get to think how thing works, how the joints connect, how the gadget functions and the uses for its bearer, it’s always the most exciting subject for me to paint. Oh, and I do a lot of environment paintings as well. Creating a world from scratch is just too satisfying!

TP: You sculpt as well as do digital works, do you prefer one over the other?

JT: During my free time yes. I don’t sculpt a lot, but being able to turn a painting into a 3D physical sculpture is really an advantage. I can’t say I prefer one over the other, but I definitely love both of them. Being able to hold and touch your own character is just great. One of my colleagues is an amazing sculptor and his determination is definitely my inspiration.

Image Courtesy of   rhinoting

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Ein Lee is a freelance artist currently studying Western Literature and foreign languages at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwain.  You can find her artwork on her DeviantART page, her various other art adventures on her personal site, and a publication her art has published in here

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

Ein Lee (EL): Like many people, I started drawing as a little kid. Thankfully the little artist inside stayed with me until now, allowing me to continue my childhood hobby. I’m mostly self-taught. The most advance class I’ve taken is high school art, which I credit with teaching me to stop fussing and just observe. It helped me slowly realize that everything I needed to know was right in front of my eyes. If you can see it, you can draw it.

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

EL: I work digital these days (in SAI and Photoshop), with a Wacom tablet. Not only does it yield the most superior results (for me, anyway), it’s also very economical. No need to use paper and art supplies!

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

EL: My favorite piece currently in my gallery would probably be “Sleepless Nights”, and the one I’m most proud of is “Back Alley Ballad.” They were both rather inspired. By inspired I mean more of the feeling and emotion that was present during the drawing process. It’s pretty much motivation in its purest form (like a high) that helps the piece get done quickly and smoothly. “Back Alley Ballad” was inspired by a physical object though, a figurine of a little vagabond violinist!

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

EL: To be honest, most of the time I’d been drawing I never took art all that seriously, so I was never critical and just drew for the heck of it. In recent years I’ve realized how important art is to me, so I’m much more careful when drawing. Whenever a “bump” comes up, I save and close the file and do something else. After a break I’ll come back and take another look at the drawing, and most times, whatever didn’t look right earlier will become glaringly obvious. Then I try to fix it. If it’s so bad that nothing I do can save it, I just dump it, or try the concept again differently.

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

EL: My main source of inspiration nowadays comes from books. I collect art books and any sort of book that has inspiring imagery, from pattern source books to interior decor guides to anime art books to landscape photography coffee table books…the list can go on.

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?

EL: Yeah it happens…most often petty things on DeviantArt, where people edit/repost the image. Usually the kind folks who notify me of the situation get more riled up than I do, and I’m really thankful for that, because most of the time I can’t really bring myself to spend time bothering with art thieves. If it’s something bigger, like unlicensed commercial distribution–which thankfully I haven’t dealt with yet–that can be a problem (understandably, for anyone).

TP: What is your favorite subject to draw and why?
I like to draw people, because people love people, right? It certainly is true for me. I also love to draw clothing, because fashion is endlessly entertaining.

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

EL: It’d have to be 3D art. Looking at all the amazing animated videos and games, you really have to admire the detail and work that goes into the process, and how everything (even videos with only animated text) can come alive once finished.

TP: Outside of art what is your life like?  

EL: Sometimes my family and I joke about how I practically lead two lives. I go to college and I major in western literature and foreign languages. Most of my friends there only know I draw for a hobby; nothing of my “career” (if you can even call it that). But I’m sure as art becomes more integrated into my life, my artist identity will meld smoothly with all the other facets.

TP: Why did you choose to go to college for western literature? Can you tell me more about this interest of yours as well as the languages you are learning?

EL: Studying western literature was a personal choice, and it’s kind of a long and boring story… but I suppose part of it is just sheer interest. For second languages, I’m currently attempting to further my rudimentary Japanese, and French soon.

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

EL: My only goals in life so far are to keep living contentedly, taking things as they come, and of course, keep on drawing. Maybe learn to draw comics decently too. I think art is a very likely career for me, though I have a lot of work to do before I can say that confidently.

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

EL: Not my culture per se, but maybe my background. I grew up in a lot of places, living for a year or three here and there, so I get a lot of weird concepts and outlooks and ideas that kind of integrate themselves into my art. That’s definitely a good thing, in retrospect. I grew up in the states (moved around a lot there) and spent some years in Thailand and Taiwan, so yes, I’d say they are quite different culturally.

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

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Josh “Briarthorn” is an artist from the United Kingdom who is a predominately self-taught artist who liked art in school, but found that he did not take direction well, so he stuck to teaching himself.  He has the ability to put a visual shape to the things in his mind, but since it is quite difficult to do this successfully, he has his fair number of tantrums.  Thankfully, his gallery has proven that he makes it through these difficulties and gives his audience pleasurable works to enjoy.

To get further into the mind of Briarthorn, an interview was acquired.  ToonariPost will be abbreviated ‘TP’ and Briarthorn as ‘B’ throughout the interview.

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

B: Usually a notebook and a ballpoint pen. All my notebooks are filled with doodles. When I think of something more interesting, I attempt to put it through Photoshop, and try to make it into something good.

I prefer using Photoshop for big and small pieces, mostly because it’s a smoother process, but also because of the minute adjustments you can make to patch over big mistakes (such as drawing out of proportion or rectifying the color palette, so the visual effect is blocked and registers well, as opposed to clashing, disgust, and eye-gouging.)

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

B: My favorites are my collaborations with my friend, Kimmy Baylor. It’s a very neat process, because we seem to have the same eye for the light touches (and shortcuts) in painting, and it always feels like a lesson learned when a new piece of art is complete. Of my own work, my favorite piece is “Sleep” – it’s the only picture I don’t want to re-work, or change in some way.

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

B: My first tries with Photoshop were pretty interesting – I was working with a mouse in Photoshop Elements.  But I’m still learning, obviously. I’ve noticed that I tend to reach for something I find easy rather than something that will really challenge me and make me a better artist.

I tend to skip backgrounds, and my range in face design and posture is very narrow, which is something I’m working on now. I try to collect tutorials or photographs that will help me broaden my understanding of facial expression and anatomy.

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

B: Primarily, books are what makes me want to draw. Films are great, too, but if someone’s already rendered the image, I don’t tend to want to mess around with it. I love all kinds of art though. I really liked Lois Van Baarle’s early work. I love anything with a lady with very long hair – the Pre-Raphaelites for instance or Art Nouveau – Alphonse Mucha, and Klimt. On Deviantart, itself, my favorites are Leela Wagner, Claire Hummel, Matt Rhodes, Phobs, Sanchin Teng, Heather “Makani”, and Katie.  Why? Take a look for yourself!

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?

B: I have once or twice had to call someone up on using my work – someone reblogging me on Tumblr without permission or similar. To be fair to those guys – it’s not like they claimed it was theirs; it’s just they didn’t really think about the fact that art demands acknowledgment. 

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

B: From the eve of my ability to draw, it’s been women. You know when they ask you to draw your family at school? I drew both my parents and myself as stick figures in skirts. I couldn’t conceive of anything I’d rather draw. I love the shape of women – in any size or contortion. I also love drawing hair in any shapes I can find, although curly is my favorite, in all likelihood because I have exceptionally tangly-curly hair.

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

B: Calligraphy and font design I think are utterly beautiful, and I’d love to be able to make art out of words. It’s a really underrated skill. If I had the time, I’d probably study font making more. Other than that, I’d like to be able to manipulate oil paint the way my sister can – her art is amazing.

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

B: My main ambition is to write novels  - good novels, if I can. If they’re successful, all the better. The compulsion to write goes deep, and I honestly couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do with my time. Art is a different, more instinctive thing for me, and by that, I mean it’s a different tool I use for the same thing (which is storytelling). I can see it working alongside my writing as easily as I can see myself combining the two.

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

B: Good question! Yeah, definitely, and not always positively. I think the internet has made such a wide range of art in so many mediums available to us that often we’re spoiled for choice or else have this strange idea that one type of art is “better” than another. Obviously, you’re going to have your personal taste as an individual, but what’s interesting is that even if you don’t like a certain type of art, you’ll find yourself trying to re-work it to suit you better.

For instance, my irritation at the over-sexualization of female superheroes makes me want to play around with the way they’re presented to an audience.

I want to see Wonder Woman in flat shoes (who in their right mind would try to fight bad guys in high-heels? I mean, I know she can fly, but seriously…) and wearing more than a spandex, one-piece, swimming costume. You might note that Superman, whatever his deal with the red undies is, gets to wear wrist to foot clothing. I don’t see why Wonder Woman should be any different.

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

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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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