Thursday, November 15, 2012

Firecel






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?

First of all I want to introduce myself, I'm known as Firecel but others call me as Cel. I'm a normal employee here in Japan at first. I used to draw when I was a kid but stopped when I entered highschool. I decided to become an illustrator after seeing RJ's (Redjuice) work. I never thought that illustration can also be done in thay way. I was mesmerized. But as what they say "its not that easy". Compared to other artists, I didn't enter any artschool so I just manage to learn all of this thing through self-study. It took me half year to analyze on how to draw properly. But as what you can see in my gallery, I'm still changing styles to match my own taste. After few more weeks, I thought that my drawing is already fine but after seeing pixiv, I was shocked. Few days had passed that I started to feel that, if I want to become a top illustrator then I have to get a spot on pixiv. That was the real start of my changes and as what you can see in my illustration now. 

What inspired or convinced you to become an artist?

 Redjuice.. after seeing his work, that was the time that I decided to enter the illustration world.

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

Typical day huh.. I'm also work as vice-chief in our shop so I usually work everyday. My only break is to draw at home after work. Lets just say that I just get a little sleep enough to recover for a day xDD
I worked with "normal" people. They love art but not to the extent that they will draw. I usually talk to them to get ideas sometimes.

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

I actually work as private illustrator and assistant on several VN's. I just recently started working as illustrator.

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

Before I draw, I usually read first my client's condition/story/lyrics. Then visualize it in my head then draw some drafts. Usually 1 draft is enough but if the draft is missing something, I draw again till I get the draft that I want. Before I enter the inking phase, I make sure that the draft is properly designed so that my inking phase won't take much of my time. After the inking phase, I'm laying a toning layer for shadowing. Others might lay-out colors first but for me, I lay-out the shadow first to see if it matches the light source properly. The use several layers for colors. The usual working time mostly takes 8-16 hours but for special illustrations, I usually work for about 17-30 hours.

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?

First of all I'm using Easy Paint Tool SAI for most of my works. The coloring steps are mostly same with others but my specialty is the toning/shadowing part. I can't explain the other details since this is the style that I really searched for myself. But the basic thing for illustration to be outstanding is the proper usage of shadows. 

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

Watch anime, and play monster hunter xDD

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

GIRLS!! I love drawing girls. Compare to male figures, females have this curves that you need to perfect or else youll ruin their image >< my motive is to draw girls in their most beautiful pose.

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

Shirow Miwa, Redjuice, Vania600, Oogure Itou, Shamisen, Kisaragi Gunma, Kizuki Aruchu and some other artists too.

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

I can't elaborate them since its really too much, but I guess it's the line-art. Artists possess different line-art styles but most of the artist that I admire uses a really neat line-art which helps a lot in the coloring phase.

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

Deviantart, Pixiv and Piapro for art websites. Hobbysearch and figma for models.

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

 "Every artist have their own style and sticking to it won't be a bad thing, but studying other styles won't be a bad idea. There are other paths that you can only take once you learn them. Don't ever stop, and be content on what you can do now, since other artists are still progressing and seeking further development on their own. Illustration is the only world where satisfaction doesn't exist"

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

They can contact me through my email address or note me in my dA page.

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?

Since I worked a lot as private illustrator, I can't actually show it here due to the owner's agreement. I'm actually going to join the Comicmarket here in Japan so it will be my first time to sell my own prints and posters. I don't usually sell prints in DA. If your here in Japan then it would be a big pleasure if your going to visit my table this August at Tokyo Big Site. 



          


If you were given a chance to be a part of a Sentai group, which color would you pick and why? 

Didn't expected this question xD I think I would go with Black :] I really like black color xDD 

Monday, June 11, 2012

Nokomento






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 enrolled under FineArts, major in advertising in UST and joined the Illust guild to learn more about illustration. I met a lot of people who were as eager as I was when it came to comics and illustration.


Whether in High School or in College I always hung out with a group of like-minded individuals, during breaks we would come up with short stories and illustrate them, making amateur comics. They may be short and crude but we did them on a near daily basis that I believe helped us all improve.



What inspired or convinced you to become an artist?


As a child my parents would let me watch Disney cartoons and movies, over time I would watch anime' myself and I would draw down my favorite characters because I always wanted a picture of them with me. I guess it stemmed from that need to have them with me at all times that drawing them down myself was the best way achieve that. It was also fun to draw them in different poses and make up stories for them. 


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


A typical day would start by finishing illusts in the wee hours of the morning and finally turning in at just past dawn to waking up for lunch and resume working on more illusts till sunrise. rinse. wash.repeat. 


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


I've been commissioned to provide character illustrations for various indie comics and games. I have also created and sold my own indies during Komikon with my group, Inkjinks. 


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


Normally various ideas and layouts and filtered in my head, the ones I like most get hastily doodled onto whatever sheet of paper is nearest to me. (I also keep a mini sketchpad and 3 pens with me even when I go out.) I also tend to redraw or or position the layout of the image so the end product usually ends up slightly different from what i initially envisioned. 


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 various ways of coloring my art, I have tried cell shading, monochrome, and the latest being paint overs which use the lowest layer count (usually one to three layers ). I have actually uploaded one of my processes to youtube ([link]) and I've posted several .gif animations of the simpler ones. found here-->([link]) scroll down for the others. You may have to wait awhile for them to load.


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



I doodle a lot. Enough to fully stock a small bookstore with the amount of sketchpads I've ravished. Another thing i like to do is listen to music or play rhythm games. I also enjoy watching dance and choreography videos, be it real people or computer generated models. It helps me understand how people move around and the limits of anatomy. 


Lastly I like to browse art communities around the net. there is so much inspiration to keep one going. But on some days, creativity decides to take an impromptu vacation there really isn't anything you can do. and forcing yourself to continue would only hurt the quality of the work.



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


I love to draw the human body whether in various poses such forced perspective or just plain standing there to be models for my latest fashion diva moment. I notice that I usually have problems with just making a body stand still, I always have to make it move in some way.


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


Oh, there are just too many to mention. every single artist we come across will affect our works in some way. But I've always drawn inspiration from YiLee, Falcoon, and Daisuke Ishiwatari. 


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


I've learned and relearned everything from basics to the advanced techniques from being with some of the GunRev ([link]) members, rather, I am forced to learn more so that I may keep up with them OTL..


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


Normally DevArt, Tumblr, and manga reading and webcomic sites. If I want to feel inferior Pixiv or CGHUB is a good stop and lately I've been redirected to Weibo.


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


I always say to give your 300% in everything that you do. That, and never stop drawing. Best to draw new things too. Can't hurt to expand your artistic capabilities.


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


Uhm, peacefully? Haha, I always check my notes and messages on my DevArt site. [LINK]


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?


I always have stock on my indies during conventions. I also hold commissions when the workload is light.





         

          

         




If you were a pilot in a mecha story, would you rather go solo (like Gundam or Daimos), or be a part of a an assembling giant (Voltes 5 type, and if yes, which part) and why?



I'd rather ride my robot dragon like Van Fanel in Vision of Escaflowne.
It seems neater. 


That and I'm not really fond of mecha. Sorry.




Monday, February 20, 2012

Enjelia


Tell us 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?

Hi I’m Enjelia. I am taking B.S. Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas. I like Anime/Manga since Yu Yu Hakusho(a.k.a Ghost Fighter) and Sailor Moon, I’d say they were my influence for the anime/manga category. I love to make web comics when I have time. I also love to draw buildings and landscapes though I am not very confident making them, but I still do my best.

What inspired or convinced you to become an artist?

The buildings in Makati when I was little. I just sort of started to draw them. Ahaha.

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

Wake up, go to school during school days. In my free time, I just check my dA account for some client request (a.k.a commissions) or get in touch with Oh no! Manga team.

OTL

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

I do commissions in deviant Art. Some of my works are used for flash games, exhibit event stands (Anime conventions and Window Displays at SM) and Gaia online.
I am currently the web comic artist for a (short) comic (in Manga style) series in Alabama.
I am also a contributor/artist for Oh no! Manga and I’ll have my work “Better Boyfriend” and hopefully “Girl Gamer” too, to be published by them… /dies.

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

I usually draw the character I like the most during that time. I will first think of the character’s personality, sketch some pose based on it, or sometimes I will add a funny situation in the art.

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 Sai & Photoshop CS3. I work sketch directly on Sai, since I don’t have a scanner (define poor, yeah that’s me). I do digital coloring with many layers. I start of with the skin, the hair and then the clothes. And then, I’ll use Photoshop for finishing touches and effects.

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

Looking at the works of some great artists helps me.

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

The Face. It shows the emotions of the character.

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

Francisco MaƱosa (for Architecture) – National Artist. He gives this “Filipino touch” to every design he makes, that’s what I like about him.

Redjuice999(for Anime epicness) – I love his style. I don’t want to copy it though.

Tony Taka (for Manga/Anime) – Ecchi? That’s him. Haha.

Eiichiro Oda (for Manga/Anime) - This artist’s style seems so easy but it is not.

Hiro Mashima (for Manga/Anime) – He’s like Eiichiro Oda, in Bishounen/ Bishoujo style. :P

Hideaki Sorachi (for Manga/Anime and Comedy) -

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

99% Hard work, 1% Talent. Always do your best and have fun.
And to always be nice to people, because I hate rude artists.

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

Facebook. I talk to my friends and people who says they admire my works there. I try to respond any time I can.
Deviant Art. I post my works here and interact with fellow artist. I made lots of friends here (real life).
Smackjeeves. I post my webcomics here. Here’s my profile:

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

If you think you're good at something, there's always someone who does it better.
Don’t let too much praise get into you, or you might turn into someone else.
Be humble.

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

Through my deviant Art: www.enjelia.deviantart.com
They may note me. Or in my mail: enjelicious[at]gmail[dot]com
:D

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?

I sell stuffs & do on-the-spot commissions during anime conventions. And I have my web comic, “Looking for a better boyfriend” (Better Boyfriend) now published by Oh No! Manga, to be sold at some comic shops (for more details, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/ohnomanga).




If you were able to collect all 7 Dragonballs, which famous person would you want Shenlong to bring back to life, and why?

Son Goku.

“Everyone give me money with your aura!” *raises both hands*
…That’s wrong.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

KOI



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?

Hi!~ I’m Koi, I actually go by a lot of names, but I prefer to be called Koi.

I studied at University of the East, I took up Fine Arts. I majored in Advertising Arts.

Way back in high school, I used to draw a lot at the back of my lecture notebooks and books. But I never really took it seriously. I only did it to entertain myself from the boring lectures and the mundane life that is my high school life. I never joined school activities and contests because I disliked the idea of representing something that I actually didn’t believe in. I joined the science club, it was cool at first, and then got really boring really fast.

When I graduated I didn’t actually had a plan on what to do. I enrolled at Mapua and took Computer Science, I was actually doing ok, never failed a subject and met a lot of people but I somehow got drawn into the arts so midway through the second semester I dropped all my subjects and enrolled at an art workshop at U.P. and then I enrolled at U.E., I graduated and the rest is history.

What inspired or convinced you to become an artist?

I was never really convinced that I can be a good artist. I was really reluctant at first. I actually tried to quit, a lot of times now. But somehow, I always get drawn to it. I guess you could say that if you’re really meant to do it, the universe would mess you up just so you would end up doing it anyway.

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

Hmm, I wake up early around 6:00 am, go to work. Try my best to go
through the day without dying from boredom. Go home, check some mails and messages from clients, go to sleep for at least an hour, wake up then go to work on some freelance gigs, then at around 2:00am I go to sleep. Then the grueling cycle begins anew. Ugh.

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

A lot of layout gigs, but I could never mention it here because then
they’ll have to sue me. All I can say is try to look at some posters
at shops and maybe you’ll see some things that I did the layout on. I worked on some commissions for some international clients.
I worked on this independent comic, titled Marco’s Delivery Service. I also got this megaman work that was featured at Udon’s Megaman tribute book.

Now, I’m working on another independent comic with a really great
writer.

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

I usually research a lot about the subject first, usually stumbling on things not even related to it. I study the references given to me, or if none, then I try to find some related references for the subject.

Then I do roughs on my sketchpad try to give it as much energy as I
can. Scan it then if it’s approved I ink it. Then finally, color 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?

No! it’s a trade secret! :P
Kidding, I usually do flats first then work my way with the shadows
and highlights. But lately, I’ve been really interested on superflat
arts so I skip on the shadows and highlights.

For the colors I try to incorporate the color theories I learned from college. Usually the colors are important. It could make a good line work great, or it could ruin a great line work. Something like that. If I get really lazy, I skip the entire coloring process and scrap the whole thing.

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

I go for photo walks, I watch movies, tryout something new, go on an
adventure, drink lots of coffee. Usually, if I’m really on a rut, I
just go for a long walk outside. Take my mind off some things for a
while. Most of the time this is the moment that I would come up with
something interesting, I write it down immediately so that I would not forget it.

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

Faces, eyes, and clouds. I don’t really know why. It’s just something that I unconsciously do.

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

Eiichiro Oda of One Piece; that man is pure awesome, Yoshinori Kanada, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Takeshi Koike, Lesean, Takeshi Obata, Kizer, Riichiro Inagaki, the guys from Catfish Deluxe; Bill, Gobi and Fabien, right now I’m really interested on the works of Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Duncan Fegredo, Guy Davis and Sean Gordon Murphy.
For those not at the top but still excites me nonetheless, my awesome colleagues; Pol, Borg and Jules, oh and Henru.

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

Hard work usually pays off but only if you’re patient enough with the results. You might not see it now, but if you keep at it, the payoff will be great.

Don’t be afraid to take a break, it would do wonders.

Don’t be a jerk to people, no matter how dumb you think they are, try to be polite, most of the time they are the ones who would help you out when everything comes to full circle, and of course having who someone you can manipulate is not that bad haha.

Stop stressing over some things you completely can’t control. And
start paying attention to the things that you can control, like hard
work, effort and guts.

Don’t be afraid to mess up. If you mess up, things can only get better.

Put your best effort NOT into everything, but to the things that you love.

Be the flame that burns brighter than anyone. But don’t let the others get burned. And be ready to get burned and fade out yourself.
Nothing can happen till you swing the bat.
...And of course having someone who you could manipulate is not that bad haha.

There’s a lot more, but I think these are the most important ones that I can think of at the moment.

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

Hmm..Blogspot, tumblr, Wikipedia, wordpress, cgsociety, oh and deviant art.

Theres also this new site that has lots of great artworks; dropr.com
It's still on beta though.

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

Keep moving forward. Don’t dwell on mistakes and missed chances.
Be patient. If you’re not getting noticed, that means you just have
not found your audience yet.

Overnight success usually only happens in the movies. And you’re not
in a movie, so don’t stress about it.

Be ready to get disappointed a lot of times. Don’t try. You can only either do it or don’t do it.

Read a lot. It would keep your mind sharp. Whether it’s a comic book
or a novel or 9gag, just read, have fun and let your imagination do
the rest. I have no respect to people who do not read! Haha.

And lastly, be smart. You don’t need to be a genius to be smart.

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

They can send me an email at jml.carreon[at]gmail[dot]com
Or they can send me a note at my DA account at luckykoifish.deviantart.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?

For a while, Marco’s Delivery Service can be bought at Comic Odyssey, but I have yet to restock it. It usually cost a lot to print that’s why I haven’t been reprinting it.
Oh if they have the money they can buy Udon’s megaman tribute book. My work is featured there along with a lot of talented individuals around the world. I think it’s sold at comicbook shops. I think I saw one at Festival mall. Or they can just pre-order it at Udon.




If you had a chance to ask Miku (from Vocaloid) one question, what would it be?

uhh. Miku huh. uhh. Lets see.. Hmmm.. Hey Miku, teach me how to sing?

Got an Artist?

Do you know a Filipino artist who makes exceptional Japanese manga style illustrations? If so, leave his/her name and any other info about him/her on this post.