Lynsley Brito

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Tell me a little bit about yourself, about your life? Where did you go to school, and what classes did you study? What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today? 

I started drawing shoujo-style when I was five or six years old, and did go through the Sailor Moon phase and CLAMP phase that most artists my age seem to have had. I did not take any manga-related classes; most of the techniques I now know was learned through application.

I went to Saint Jude Catholic School for first and secondary education; I went to Ateneo de Manila University for college education but filed for an honorable dismissal after my first semester. Right now, I am working as a full-time manga illustrator, and am absolutely in love with my job.

What inspired or convinced you to become an Artist?

I don't know. It just came naturally, like I always knew that I was born to do this.


What is a typical day for you, and who are the people you work with?

A typical day for me is wake up, draw, eat, draw, sleep. I rarely go out to hang because I find it hard to get back into "working mode" afterward, and when you have to produce pages continuously, you can't afford to lag behind your schedule. I'm also workaholic and a perfectionist, so I insist on finishing projects before doing anything else because I derive self-gratification from a job well done, and also hate being idle. I do find time to relax after every assignment, though.


What are some of the things that you have worked on?

» sequential art
» Previously
▫ Kali (pencils, inks & colors) - Mango JAM (Yonzon Entertainment Syndicate)
▫ Zodiacs: Hour Watchers (pencils & inks) - Otaku Mangazine (Otakuzine)
» Currently
▫ Venom Fang (story, pencils, inks & tones) – Rush Magazine (DramaQueen, L.L.C.)
» Pending
▫ Laps (pencils, inks & tones) - TOKYOPOP
▫ The Choice (pencils & inks) – Mangaholix (Groundbreakers)
▫ Kali gaiden (pencils & inks) - stand-alone comic book (Yonzon Entertainment Syndicate)
» freelance design
▫ Burlington Industries Phils.
▫ Islander Footwear Mfg. Corp.
▫ ChiaroScuro shirt designs
» freelance [commissioned] artwork

How do you go about illustration, what goes through your mind, from start to end?

I usually like to finish illustrations in one sitting. What goes through my mind -- just about anything. You can say that I don't close my mind to what I'm doing when drawing.


Could you talk about your process in coloring your art (if at all), as well as the types of tools or media that you use?

I use only Photoshop software (because I'm too lazy to familiarize myself with any other program) and my Wacom tablet in digital coloring.

What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself creative?

I read lots of manga and listen to good music. I don't watch anime often because I can't affored to hooked. X) I try to handle the ocassional art depression rationally.

What is your most favorite subject to draw, And why?
 

Bishounen! Ahaha. Uhm, because they're pretty! *w* I won't get bored looking at the same drawing when working on it for hours at a time.

Who are the top illustrators whose works excite you the most?

I personally admire Takashima Kazusa's and Yamane Ayano's art.

What are some of the neat things you have learned from other artists that you have worked with or seen?

A lot of things, mostly techniques.

What are some of your favorite websites that you go to?

deviantART, Comic Space, y!Gallery.

What wisdom could you give us, about being an Artist? Do you have any tips you could give?

Personally, I think aspiring artists should learn to hold back -- it does take time. Observe, and then try to recreate, until you get the "feel" of what you're doing. Don't expect to be a pro overnight (it will take years) because you'll only end up frustrating yourself to no end. Don't give up!

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?

You may e-mail me: lynsley [at] groundbreakers [dot] com [dot] ph

Finally, do you have any of your art work for sale (sketchbook, prints, or anything) for fans of your work can know where and when to buy it?

Still working on it. Give me a couple of years and I'll put up a store for you.

Thanks!

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How did you and your parents feel about your filing for honorary dismissal? And do you have plans to continue your studies?

What I filed for was actually a leave of absence for one year. My dad was as up for it as I was; he always supports me, almost to a fault! My mom was hesitant even after bouts of explanation, but because newer -- should I say bigger -- projects kept coming my way, she finally accepted the fact that I have no plans of going back to college for a while. In fact, save for just a handful of friends, everyone else was urging me to go back to college this June 2007. But, anyway, since I'm not going back, I guess that automatically makes it an honorable dismissal.

As for my studies, I don't think that'll be happening anytime soon! I've always wanted to be a manga-ka, and it is true that many of the most successful comic illustrators are self-taught.

So, first, I would need to find a well-balanced course loyal to the arts, and that would benefit me in terms of my skill improvement and job finding (isn't this what it all boils down to?). Of course, there will always be other conditions involved, but I need some reason to go to even consider going back to university to begin with. And then, I have to weigh that reason against the time I have to spend for it, the amount of expenses that come with it, how many of my current projects I will have to drop for it, etc. And if it is all worth it, then why not? ^___^