Here is my personal F.A.Q with questions I have been asked over the years and I wanted to have it in one place. This is answered from a personal and honest standpoint. I am blunt. So if it hurts to hear it should at least be respected considering I do in fact have ownership of my work. If more questions arise and are duplicated over time. I will add them to my FAQ.
- Your personal art is very different than your commission work sometimes, some of it is very intense looking, why is that?
My personal and art in general is an extension of me, my experiences, and the emotions I am currently in. I draw a ton of vent work that honestly doesn't even come off as vent initially. What you're seeing is my raw emotions. I see my art as a form of communication without constantly talking. Sadly sometimes my emotions seep into my commission work which I try to avoid when I am in highly angered states because a lot of my commissions will always come out aggressive, angered, and even intimidating towards the viewer. Over the years I have learned to realize why hide that even if it slips into my paid work. Hey, others love it and I love being my authentic self.
- How do you draw/color the way you do?
- Are you traditional or digital media only?
- YOU HAVE AN APRENTICE??? WHY? How do I become one?
Why you ask? Because I always wanted one the older I became and tbh I don't do this for money, this is completely free to pass on my skills to someone I actually saw potential in. Not only do I have professional experience, taught education in the arts, as well as self-growth I wanted to make sure to pass on these skills to someone else who could use them. Lord knows I paid out the woodwork to obtain the not-so-self-taught skills.... Might as well give it to someone I can always have one on one critique sessions with.
While I'm honored to be asked this so many times, to be frank about how to become my apprentice, the simple answer is that you don't. Now I'm not saying this to be mean I'm saying that I can only ever handle one apprentice under my teachings at a time. I have my limits as a person not only with my personal life, my art life but my downtime away from art. I just don't ever see myself taking on multiple apprentices during my free time. I'll admit I'm a grump, and a stickler for perfection and not many can handle brute honesty with art for growth which is valid.
However, with an apprentice, I need someone who can listen and actually understand what I'm teaching when it comes to art. I do not have the patience for a lot of head spaces with art and I am pretty traditional in the artistic growth department. I know for a fact many can not handle it. So sadly, I deal better with just one at a time. Someone I know can take criticism and not baby-talking with art. So I'm not looking for any others at this time or for years actually.
- Do you do collaboration projects with other Artists/parties, clothing companies ect?
Why yes I do, but I'm extremely selective with whom I collaborate with. It's really case-by-case between me and the other artist. I prefer to collaborate locally with other artists in Philly. Yes, you guessed it more IRL than online. This can include designs for shirt companies, zines, flyers/posters for parties, and more. But Just because I prefer to work with locals more than online, doesn't mean I won't work with online folks. Shoot your shot and give me an inquiry via my contact page here. Once I read I'll see if it aligns with what I can do. Let's make it happen!
- Can you show/tell me how to draw/paint?
I can honestly say while even going to art high school and college, my growth came from me taking what I love to draw and DOING THE WORK to get better. I know it sounds so boring but you will actually be learning things that will better help you develop artistically in the long run. I definitely do not regret doing so when I was told this in blunt advice in my teen years and when I was in college. It truly is that simple!
- When did you start drawing?
- How do you get your ideas and inspiration? And why?
- What are your influences?
~ Old school 90's- early 2000's furry and were artists. Now I always drew creatures and animal-like people. When I found the fandom in 1998 I was shocked so many had the same interest and the creativity was absolutely booming with originality and skill. This era of anthro art I will never forget and growing up in it it bleeds into my work to stay true to my original roots with my own anthro/furry/were/ monster art.
~ Junji ito. Now this guy's work has had me in a headlock at a very young age. My first discovery of him was in the 90's when my uncle had a girlfriend at the time who had an entire collection .. I'm talking shelves of these books. When I picked one up when I was being babysat by them one day. I was shocked at what I saw and very horrified and never looked back until I was a teen. As I got into my 20's I realized how much cultural and political stuff he had that was very relatable even within Asian family structures that stuck with me.
I really love his display of capturing not only fear in something you wouldn't look twice to make soemthing scary and make you think and an internal self crisis but also how he makes mundane themes into something horrific and full of emotions. He emotionally inspires me to keep my work authentic, an really make my experiences and emotions talk in my art and that says so much to me
~ Louis William Wain- I am absolutely enamored with this man's work and his experimental phase in art. An artist who can retain balance in his work, in a semi-realistic, cartoony, and extreme experimental phase is truly inspiring to me. Inspiring to never see my work in one way and to really push and always experiment with each piece.
~ Ozuma Kaname - This man's work inspires me to continue my studies in the human figure. To progress my work further and further with anatomy and never to stay comfortable with where I am just to move forward with my work. He has such a way with the human female figure that will always leave me inspired and breathless. His work also inspires me to never lose touch with my culture in my work.
~ Sir Peter Paul Rubens - Now need I say more! An intense master artist whose work I have admired since I first found out about him when I was 14. A lot of my understanding of how to color came from how old artists would study color theory and Peter Paul was one of the first artists I saw to kick my ass into gear and take my coloring very seriously for my more painted works.
~ Francis Bacon - Now this is an artist I could relate to a ton in terms of displaying emotions in my work. Mainly my darker experiences and emotions and that would be anger. I truly admire this man's work for not hiding such emotions even with the violence that has happened to him. He confidently displays this as a muse in his work. That's something when I was younger was too shy to put it on paper but now after learning from him in high school. I truly do not hide anything with my emotions in my work.
~ Frans Floris - When I first saw his work in the museum I was floored at his composition, color theory and wide display of topics, his portraits and capturing a person's emotions will always be instilled in me to strive to capture emotions with simple portraits along with themes. While I enjoy all his works his portraits really spoke to me the instant I saw them.
~ Gōjin Ishihara - An all-time favorite artist who inspires me to not be afraid to put my culture and display its folklore into my work. He has an amazing masterwork of comic-like folklore tales that are sometimes comical down, an exploration into queer life as well as queer erotica, to outright sinister if you understand the nuances of his horror work.
~ Ayami Kojima - Neeed I say more,. This artist's work is truly inspiring to see. The fact they are strictly traditional media will always leave me starstruck. And it inspires me to never lose touch with my own traditional art style roots. Truly a wonder of an artist whose art I grew with through the video game artwork they have done back when SNES was hot.
- Is this website a professional one or a personal one?
- Will you do an art trade/request with/for me?
- Can you give me some critique on my art?
- How do you deal with art block?
I also do art history research during this time and learn about past master artists to really feel inspired. You learn a lot that art block is just your brain's way of telling you to cool down and let all you have learned actually sink in before you move on to get better. During this time I write my ideas down so when I feel to draw again I can better approach my subjects with confidence.
Also, it's good to keep the mantra" what's the damn rush" as an artist... you and your art aren't going anywhere... you will forever have time to draw up until your big dirt nap. Trust me take time to cool down, relax, and enjoy life beyond your art to get back into it.
- How do you motivate yourself to improve or draw in general?
- What is your personality like online? Is it the same as offline/IRL?
- Can I mimic/copy your work I really like your ideas, ocs and style?
However, I don't mind inspiring people. But I do feel a lot of people confuse inspiration for picking what they like in someone's work/style and then making a Frankenstein collage of art by eyeballing. Tis not the same as inspo in my books. So these are just my boundaries personally for my work which I am entitled to. If I can do the work from scratch, so can you.
- Can I use your art in any way?
- Why did you design your fursona the way you did?
- What art programs/traditional tools do you use?
~For traditional... wooof I have a ton of supplies on hand that I can just pick up at best to do as I please but my default go-to is colored pencils, markers, ink, 2B/B pencils, and paper of various sizes.
- What digital brushes do you use? Can you share them?
- What is the drawing tablet do you use?
- Do you accept commissions projects or singular commissions in general?
As for projects with companies, events locally or elsewhere yes. Feel free to contact me here to send me a message and we can talk about it. Keep in mind projects are not commissions. For commissions I offer please see my front page for my commission tab to enter my discord to keep up when I am open.
- What are your tips for improvement other than practice?
KNOW YOUR FUNDAMENTALS FIRST! Even when you do, keep relearning them to not get rusty. Always and I mean always learn from real life. Be it studies from photos or IRL subjects and learn color theory from the basics. I also suggest joining meet-up groups that specialize in figure drawing with live models. These are usually free or require PWYW donations, so they can pay the models for their time. Which has helped me so much over the years.
Most will say mimic other artists' work or mimic multiple different artists to find your way. I assure you the only thing you will learn is the artists' mistakes. While they advance you will be stuck with all the mistakes and bad habits you have learned. It's a nasty and hard lesson to actually run into. I say these are positive steps for improvement that have helped me take leaps and bounds with my work at fast rates to avoid gimic-looking work and to progress rather than fall into the trap of regression through style entrapment. Don't look back to the past you, other than to say wow I have progressed. Hold onto your idea of "your style" like a balloon be willing to let past art you go to give room to the new artist budding from your forever learning journey.
Do not worry about style. Your style will come and shine brightest when you follow the above advice. Most worry about style first but focusing on a style first and only will surely ruin your perception of art and hinder you. If not make you hate your progression, forever pining for a past you that has long gone.
You can easily search for beginner artist fundamentals nowadays online and on youtube from professional artists giving it out literally for free.
And lastly, Please please please be kind to yourself. As artists, we are our worst enemies and critics. You may hate something while others see its wonder. Keep that in mind when you share your work. Hell keep some of your work to yourself too this has also helped my growth what you see from me is literally 5% of my work the other 95% I don't scan and keep to myself and ist good to keep some stuff to yourself and grow. Better artist metal health dontchyuh know : P
Most will say mimic other artists' work or mimic multiple different artists to find your way. I assure you the only thing you will learn is the artists' mistakes. While they advance you will be stuck with all the mistakes and bad habits you have learned. It's a nasty and hard lesson to actually run into. I say these are positive steps for improvement that have helped me take leaps and bounds with my work at fast rates to avoid gimic-looking work and to progress rather than fall into the trap of regression through style entrapment. Don't look back to the past you, other than to say wow I have progressed. Hold onto your idea of "your style" like a balloon be willing to let past art you go to give room to the new artist budding from your forever learning journey.
Do not worry about style. Your style will come and shine brightest when you follow the above advice. Most worry about style first but focusing on a style first and only will surely ruin your perception of art and hinder you. If not make you hate your progression, forever pining for a past you that has long gone.
You can easily search for beginner artist fundamentals nowadays online and on youtube from professional artists giving it out literally for free.
And lastly, Please please please be kind to yourself. As artists, we are our worst enemies and critics. You may hate something while others see its wonder. Keep that in mind when you share your work. Hell keep some of your work to yourself too this has also helped my growth what you see from me is literally 5% of my work the other 95% I don't scan and keep to myself and ist good to keep some stuff to yourself and grow. Better artist metal health dontchyuh know : P
- How long does it take to do your full art process?
- What do you enjoy drawing the most?