Ryuuen

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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?

Hi, I'm Ryuuen (not my real name, but most people know and call me by that name… even my professors!), born on the 21st of October and turning 22 this year of 2009. I took up BS Industrial Engineering in De La Salle University then shifted to AB Multi Media Arts in De La Salle College of St. Benilde. I dropped out just this December of 2008 for personal and health reasons. I studied a lot of things that includes designing, web, animation, video and audio, script and creative writing and also a bit of western comic illustration. I also had a lot of 'self motivation' and rivalry involved because I have this kind of personality that does not want to lose.

What inspired or convinced you to become an Artist?

I've been drawing since I was 10. Incredulously that time I drew nothing but realism with a blue ball-point pen on a composition notebook. But as I grew put, my granny ( who was staying in Japan with my cousins back then ) kept on sending us anime VHS tapes ( Anpanman, Doraemon, SailorMoon, etc. in Japanese dub ). I guess that was the start of it all.

I only started getting serious in drawing anime when I was 12-13, during 2nd year HighSchool when me and a friend decided to start our own novel. Sadly, my friend dropped the collab work. Haha xD I only started drawing comics on late of 2006. Got around it because of OCBC/OCTs (Original Character Tournaments) in DeviantART, and then improved on it quite a lot… not to mention I draw comics quite a lot as well during my free time.

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

I wake up at random times since my sleeping schedule is all wacked up. I do some household chores for a few hours, and then get in front of my computer for the rest of the day till who-knows-what-time working, drawing and chatting. Sometimes I go back to bed after 2-5 days of working or drawing (and eating). I usually work with people from the other side of the world ( commission clients) or the people from CreaM Creative Media company, which are mostly 2D animators―I'm just placed on the comicking department as a freelancer.

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

I've worked as a Scene/Event artist for a UK-based game company, Hanako Games, for the project Fatal Hearts (http://www.hanakogames.com/fatal.shtml).

Last November I worked on CreaM Studios' very first comic project FlyAswang (http://flyaswang.deviantart.com) as a comic penciller, inker and toner.

Currently working on 'Mother Hen', a comic project from a client in Chicago, USA.

I'm also waiting for the start of CreaM Studios' 2nd comic project "Pintakasi" which will be done in dirty western comic style. I've also made and sold my own self-published comic during the KOMIKON last 2007 entitled DUWP:Under the Rain ( can be read here: http://duwp-productions.deviantart.com/art/DUWP-Under-The-Rain-Cover-74005222) and is currently undergoing a story and comic revision for this year's KOMIKON and M3Con.

I also have other comic projects for the said events namely: The Puppet Master, Away From Fantasies, Soul Capture, MUNE and SDL : Seasons. Hopefully I can finish them before the said events. P:

How do you go about illustration, what goes through your mind, from start to end? First, I visualize everything in my brain, and when I get the general idea of what I want to draw, I start sketching it out. After that, I ink it or if I'm feeling a bit more enthusiastic about the work, and if I really like it, I'll just skip the inking process and just start colouring over it.

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 have.. I lot of colouring processes, it kind of depends on what kind of feel I want the picture to have, also what media, and if it is digital or traditional.

For the record this is one of the colouring process I use for coloured pencils http://ryuuen.deviantart.com/art/Coloured-Pencil-Tutorial-FCver-96492903 Digitally, I use programs like SAI and Photoshop for airbrushing and cel-shading. However, if I want a more painting or traditional feel on my art stuffs, I use Painter or OpenCanvas. If traditional, I vary from crayons, to coloured pencils, oil pastels, inks, watercolours, alcohol based markers to paints.

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

One thing I do to keep myself creative is sing to myself. ( LOL ) Other than that, I watch movies, cartoons and/or anime during drawing/working just to keep myself from getting bored on what I'm doing. I also chat/talk and ask other people for suggestions on what to do or draw.

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

Faces, hands and action/dynamic poses. I like drawing faces because they give you a wide variety on what to draw! Not only in form, also with what they can convey, which are also known as emotions. I like drawing hands coz they seem so delicate, even if… they are not sometimes… and that they are fun to draw as same goes for action and dynamic poses.

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

I don't really have any specific artist in mind… as long as I see good art, it excites me. Most specially if I can challenge that person into a comic showdown!

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

Digital Painting from Christina Chua, Toning basics from Pat Aguasin, Western Comicking basics from Sir Gerry Alanguilan, 2D Animation Basics and advance techniques from Sir Nelson
Caluigia, etc.

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

DeviantART, OneManga… there's not much websites I go to… > A>

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

Practice! You may have the talent to draw beautiful pictures but if you don't practice, you won't improve. Improvement has its own pace for everyone so don't feel badly if someone younger or older than you is better than you; think that you'll be there someday! It's just a matter of perseverance and determination! Don't let anyone put you down; else challenge yourself if they do! But also don't feel so proud of yourself that it may turn to conceit and false pride. Always take humility on what you do and what you can do.

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

People can contact me through my email: ryuuenoniichan[at]gmail[dot]com YM and Skype: ryuuen_oniichanMSNM : ryuuen_oniichan@hotmail.com AIM : ItamiJiko

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?

So far, I'm currently in production of 4 comics and 1 art book. Hopefully it would be out for sale soon :> (Though, they would be by order only)

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What is your favorite samurai show and why?

That would be Rurouni Kenshin (samurai X, english title). I don't really have much of a choice since it's the only samurai show I've watched other than Afro Samurai movie (which was senseless, but good animation and shots ). Though, I liked RK for it's stories and depiction of sword fights.