Itsura Manga: Marvin Maglaque

Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where did you go to school, and what extra-curricular activities did you take up? What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today?

I'm currently 23 years old and free-lancing as a graphic artist, although I am applying for a more stable job at the moment. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Visual Comm. from the UP College of Fine Arts back in 2005, and it was back in my college days I discovered anime and manga conventions, as well as video games which were largely influential in my present illustration style.

What inspired or convinced you to become an artist?

I've always been doodling and drawing from as far back as I could remember. An inborn thing, most likely

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

A typical day for me would be spent at home hunched over the computer or exposing myself to the TV's radiation while sprawled at the couch. Most of my usual projects are done at home anyway...

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

I had a stint as an animator in a film project back in college. Did posters and other collaterals for Pan de Manila some years ago... also executed a storyboard for a flash film for an American client in 2006. Besides those, mostly odds-and-ends...

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

I start out with a good image in my mind, but once i actually begin committing it to paper it begins to change a lot. I usually end up with something very different from what I had originally visualized... I think something's scrambled with my parietal lobe's neurotransmitters...

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 once experimented with using blue/green colored pencils and a fine-point gel pen to make my lineart but have now largely abandoned that method. These days I use a Pronto refillable pencil since I have taken up a sketchy lineart style in my attempt to adapt mangaka Hiroaki Samura's style. Besides, It's a hassle to erase pencil art ^_^

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

Watch as much anime as I can and browse books with avant-garde photographs...

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

None in particular. I draw as many different subjects as I can though I admit i have a fondness for drawing monsters...

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

Hiroaki Samura, Kosuke Fujishima, RENGA, and that guy who illustrated Death Note. Manga artists for the most part....

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

... Photoshop?

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

Deviantart, a couple of forums I'm a member of... also blambot.com for the free comic fonts.

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

keep practicing, otherwise you get rusty...

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

Have them send a message to me at my deviantart account www.marvindmartian.deviantart.com or my email address sophitia12[a]yahoo[dot]com

Do you have any of your art work for sale (comics, prints, or anything)? If so, for fans of your work can know where and when to buy it?

-none (as yet)