Photoshop – Asexual Artists

Interview: Naomi Clements Gettman

Posted on September 18, 2018September 11, 2018 by Lauren Jankowski

Today we’re joined by Naomi Clements Gettman. Naomi is a phenomenal visual artist and writer. The visual art is digital and mostly for fun. She does fanart, collages, and sometimes collaborates with her sister. When she’s not creating visual art, Naomi also writes a lot of poetry. It’s clear she’s a passionate artist who loves to create, as you’ll soon read. My thanks to her for taking the time to participate in this interview.

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WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

My art encompasses a few things. I dabble in Photoshop and making digital collaborations with my sister. Most of the time this means I will create a reference for her, she will draw line work, and then I will scan and color. Other times I make simple collages, fan-art for bands I love, or illustrate random jokes.

I also enjoy writing and have written lots of poetry, although none of it is published anywhere. I am currently in the process of collecting it all and will probably self-publish sometime soon, just to have a physical collection to share with whoever would like to read it. I am also in the process of writing a book, which is from an idea I developed in several of my screenwriting classes.

What inspires you?

I think for my graphic design things, there are certain things I create regularly, and other things I only create occasionally. For instance, I may decide I need a new Twitter or Facebook banner and I whip together a themed collage of things/characters I like. These are easy to do, and I don’t spend much time thinking about it. Other times a band may host a fan-art contest, or I may feel inspired by a line in a song, and I create a single piece I am proud of after a few weeks of mulling it over. Once I am finished with a bigger project like this, it takes a while to create something again.

For my poetry, I am inspired by the sound of things as much as the meaning. I enjoy rhyme and often write a whole poem around a single phrase that I think sounds good. Sometimes my poems are fictional stories, sometimes they are about self-doubt, sometimes they are about growing up. There really is no uniting theme, which is why I find it so hard to determine what is good and what is trash.

What got you interested in your field? Have you always wanted to be an artist?

To say “field” is probably a bit of a misdirection. I am currently in the awkward techinically-last-semester-but-done-with-credits-and-looking-for-anyone-who-will-hire-me phase of life. My chosen field of study is in film/media, and I have a few different experiences under my belt; from film digitization to advertising. However, whether it is in the form of an essay, a video, a PowerPoint, or whatever else, I love being creative and even enjoy working on a team to research and complete a project. I have never wanted to be an artist in any traditional sense of the word (like being an illustrator or a musician), but I do believe that creativity and fun can be a part of almost everything you do.

Do you have any kind of special or unique signature, symbol, or feature you include in your work that you’d be willing to reveal?

Nope! I suppose I should start signing things, but I haven’t yet.

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

My advice would be to just have fun with whatever you are doing. Lots of ‘serious’ jobs require creativity, and lots of ‘creative’ jobs require business skills like budgeting or scheduling. Your best bet is to approach whatever it is with a good attitude, and even if you don’t love the whole job or the assignment or whatever, you can at least find an aspect of it to enjoy.

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ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I have happily identified as aro/ace for about 5 years now (since I was 17). The aro part of my identity came a little later, but so far everything fits. I am fulfilled with the close friendships I’ve managed to maintain, although I think I would like a QPR.

Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field? If so, how do you handle it?

I have never encountered any type of prejudice in my workplace, but mostly I think that has to do with the fact that I have no idea how to be out at work. I never actively hide my aro/ace identity, but also it never actually comes up. Do people think I’m straight?? Maybe. Although it’s more likely they think I’m gay since I talk about going to pride and what not. However, whenever I do mention it, there is never any push-back from the person. Sure, there’s the usual “what is that?” if they don’t already know, but there is a never a follow-up “don’t worry, you’ll meet the right person.”

What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?

I have been very lucky to have an accepting family and friend group. My whole “coming out” experience is not typical, I think. I never tried to be anything I wasn’t or even realized there was something different about me. Even within the first years of knowing my sexuality I was on an NPR segment talking about my experience. (Check it out if you’d like, but be warned it is a few years old now https://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2016/08/11/51199/asexuality-and-the-internet-s-key-role-in-the-ace/)

However, one thing that breaks my heart (even though it isn’t a misconception per se) is when I tell someone I am aro/ace, and they say they have never met anyone else like me. It happens quite a lot, and it feels horribly isolating.

What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?

I wish I had novel advice that could be applicable to any type of person. Sometimes the “love yourself” mantra is easier said than done, especially when you battle with anxieties and insecurities that others do not. But I’m afraid I am not that person, and the only advice I can offer is to find the connections that allow you to love yourself. Put all your energy into cultivating a small network of love, and support will be there when you need it.

Finally, where can people find out more about your work?

If you would like to see my work or check out my socials, please go to https://sncgportfolio.weebly.com/

Thank you, Naomi, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.

Interview: Sweety Aurore Mutant

Posted on March 23, 2018March 16, 2018 by Lauren Jankowski

Today we’re joined by Sweety ‘Aurore’ Mutant. Aurore is a visual artist who does a bit of everything. They draw and paint, both digital and traditional. When they’re not drawing or painting, Aurore is writing and while they haven’t had anything published yet, they’re working on a number of stories. Aside from that, Aurore is also into crafting and writing fanfiction. It’s clear they’re a dedicated and passionate artist, as you’ll soon read. My thanks to them for taking the time to participate in this interview.

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

My art is quite diverse. I would say that my “main” medium, as in the one I spend the most time on, is writing. I am working on two novels and a short stories series right now (none are ready to be published yet because I am a perfectionist) and in the meantime I work on a lot of fanfictions (I have been writing a fanfiction about a 60s movie since July 2016, it’s about 75k words long now and not yet finished. Not yet published either, because it needs to be perfect, by that I mean good enough). I am also writing on a few Larp and video game projects right now. Yes, I multi-task. When I write, I am mostly obsessed with the concepts of subjectivity and points of view. How reality can change depending on who you are. (This must be why I love Larping so much)

I also draw/paint, both digitally and traditionally. Fanart and original art alike -plants, people, original characters, commissions…- I like pencil drawings and watercolour the most, even though I try my best to draw with ink, because it looks so gorgeous! Also Photoshop is my best friend, I spend several hours in a row often to paint on photoshop the details of something.

I also like to take pictures -mainly of plants and people, but sadly my old camera is dead and I haven’t yet found the money to buy a good one again. I have a few filming ideas too (mainly co-ops) but again, lack of material.

I also knit, crochet and sew, mainly costumes but also a few clothing items for myself or friends. I did cosplay long ago, but decided to leave the community,

Lastly, I also do happenings, of which there are rarely any picture. My next one with involve old domestic objects and plants, I will try to record its process.

What inspires you?

So many things! The people I see in the street, the world around me, my friends and their awesome ideas (I remember painting Henry David Thoreau as a hispter because of a university friend…), the Larps I play, the video games I play, the books I read, the shows and movies I watch… I have no shame about doing fanart and fanfiction, it is as worthy and honourable for me than any other form of “original” art. (Yes, I am a proud believer in the monomyth and the fact that there is no real “original” idea, and that the re-telling and the ways of representing is the only thing that matters, hence the important place of fan-work in my conception of art). Another source of inspiration for me is also the social and environmental context (I am working right now on an environmentalist happening).

What got you interested in your field? Have you always wanted to be an artist?

What got me interested? Oh what a difficult question! I began drawing and painting as soon as I could hold a pen, and writing once I knew how to. I was a very curious child/teen, so I learnt to knit, crochet, sew, embroider, and I soon made my own costumes and cosplays. Taking pictures and filming came later, when I was in High School because I studied cinema and arts then, and had access to good quality material. Writing for larps came also later, when I was more inside the community but I remember writing roleplaying games in middle school already.

I have always wanted to be an artist, yes. I tried to convince myself that I wanted to do other things as jobs to earn money, but yes, even studying for a Linguistics Masters like I do now, I know that in the end, I am meant for art.

Do you have any kind of special or unique signature, symbol, or feature you include in your work that you’d be willing to reveal?

I have a signature I have been using since I was 13 or so, and writing this I realise how long ago that was, oh my! It’s a “R” in the right corner of the drawing/painting/picture, and at first I decided to use it for three reasons: it is the only consonant of my first name, it is a homophone of “air” which is my element, and it is the first letter of the pseudo I was using back then. As time went on, I also realised it was the initial of the first name of my idol and the rébus of the fictional character I relate to the most (Grantaire in Les Misérables)… two things I had not thought about at all when I chose that signature, and because of that I like it even more!

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

Work, work, work. Fail, hate your work. Work again, be proud for a day or two, hate it a week after. It’s normal to be proud of something and then to hate it, it’s normal to be envious of other people’s work, it’s normal to be discouraged, and it does not mean that you are not good. There will always be people who are better than you, and people who will be worse and jealous of you. Just keep working, and work for yourself. Do it for the fun, for the art. No one will be mad at you if you can’t finish something, if you abandon a drawing or a draft. If they are, they did not deserve you in the first place. Your art should be made for your own enjoyment first. Be selfish.

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I identify as panromantic grey-asexual, or as I like to say it, I love everybody too bad I don’t like them. I really need to be in a very “special” relationship with the person to consider having sex with them, and I noticed that is had a lot to do with how much I find them interesting on the intellectual side of things.

Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field? If so, how do you handle it?

I have, mainly ignorance, incomprehension and the same old clichés than everywhere else. When I face an ignorant person in my field that is open-minded, I handle it by helping hem understand what asexuality is. If the person is, forgive my vocabulary, an imbecile that just want to cling to clichés and not learn, I handle it with a raised middle finger,

What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?

The old “you haven’t found the right person yet/it’s a phase” bullshit. What hurts the most for me is that I see such misconceptions about aces in communities like feminists or LGBT+ that, I hoped, should have been more open-minded than your usual human. I most of the time get this feeling that people just don’t try to understand aces.

What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?

I would say… labels don’t matter, as long as you feel good. You don’t have to fit into a category, what you feel and how you live it -alone or with how many partners you wish- is the only thing that matters in the end. Sexuality is fluid, don’t be afraid to change, as long as you feel right about yourself. Also, you’re the only one who know yourself, don’t let toxic people influence you towards anything you don’t feel comfortable with.

Finally, where can people find out more about your work?

Mainly my Tumblr for my drawings/paintings: The Artful DodgeR’s Tea Rooms (http://sweetymutant.tumblr.com/) because my DeviantArt has been dead for too long. I will probably create a YouTube and Twitch channel soon, but have not yet found the time to! To read me, there is my AO3, Sweety_Mutant: (https://archiveofourown.org/users/Sweety_Mutant/pseuds/Sweety_Mutant)

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Thank you, Aurore, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.

Interview: Wolf

Posted on January 20, 2016January 11, 2016 by Lauren Jankowski

Today we’re joined by Wolf. Wolf is a wonderful visual artist who specializes in digital artwork. They do a lot of photoshop and also draw comics. Wolf is also a talented fanartist. Wolf shows an incredible amount of enthusiasm in their work. My thanks to them for taking the time to participate in this interview.

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

I’ve sadly been digging myself deeper and deeper into the hole of digital art. I used draw traditionally up until I got my wacom tablet. After that, pencil and paper were out of the equation. But whenever I do draw digitally usually it results in a really weird photoshopped picture, fanart, something that’s really anime, etc. I draw whatever I’m feeling at the moment. So I’ll draw a silly short comic if I’m happy. Or I’ll draw a really serious picture that holds a lot of meaning to me when I’m sad. But I try to arrange it so that other people can understand it, so that they understand the feeling I’m trying to convey.

What inspires you?

I get inspired by a lot of things. (One time I got inspired by a Dorito chip) But most of the time I get inspired by music and people’s personalities. With music, I use it to enhance my emotions. (If that makes any sense) So when I’m drawing something that has a sad tone I’ll listen to a sad piano song on repeat. Now with people’s personalities, I think of it as if I’m a comedian on stage. And my audience is a canvas of personalities. I’m trying to entertain my crowd, make them feel the emotions I’m trying to get them to feel through jokes. Now trade comedian to artist and trade jokes with my art and you get a satisfying reward of making a connection to someone else. Whether that connection was big or small, short -lived or forever.

What got you interested in your field? Have you always wanted to be an artist?

I think I always had an interest in art ever since I was a kid. Stuck at home with only a box of crayons and an infinite stack of paper allowed me to draw out my imagination. So that started my love for drawing. Then at some point I experienced my first episode of an anime. I still remember the name of it to this day. But the fact that I could experience the world of someone else inspired me to draw more and come up with even more ideas to draw. But then I hit the point of time where I could draw digitally, and that was the real start of sharing my work with others. So I would receive more than just the reactions and opinions of my peers, but with random people from the internet. And that was the point of time where I began to enjoy seeing people’s reactions to the emotions I tried to convey in my pieces.

Do you have any kind of special or unique signature, symbol, or feature you include in your work that you’d be willing to reveal?

Well I’m still trying to find a signature to stick with. (I’ve already gone through four. Haha) But I would like to try incorporating something with my little imaginary companion, Derpy Wolf. Since they’re like a mascot of mine.

Huggies - Napstablook — *Huggies – Napstablook*

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

References are what they are REFERENCES. Use them. They are practically screaming you to use them. Now when people say it’s bad to use references, they’re wrong. We all have to use references. How are you going to learn to draw the human body without looking at it? You can’t. Unless you have photographic memory, but even with that ability it takes a lot time to learn how to draw anything.

Draw a lot. It can’t hurt. Even if it’s really bad. (I photoshop the most stupidest things sometimes) In fact draw silly things to take a break sometimes. Late on looking back at your old work you can laugh at it.

Try out different styles/ brushes/ tools. Explore a little. It helps you in finding your style.

Now we all do this as artist. We all look at someone else’s work and compare ourselves to it. Instead of telling yourself, “Man I’ll never be as good,” Or, “Man this person isn’t that great.” Instead of doing all of that tell yourself, “What are some strong points they have that I can improve on?” Having that kind of mindset will help you take a step in improving your art.

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I identify as a triple AAA battery. Haha, as in I identify as a Aromantic Asexual Agender person. I’ve been aromantic, asexual, and agender for a long time. But only recently I’ve found those terms and community that I could relate myself to.

Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field? If so, how do you handle it?

Actually not really. But I do sympathize with those who do. (Because I’d totally be your weird friend.) I think from a young age when other kids began to ‘like’ other kids, I would find myself really confused. Since I would never look at anyone that way. Instead of liking someone as a ‘significant other’ I would like someone as a ‘friend’. But I never received any hate from anyone. Nowadays only a few people know I’m actually an asexual, but it’s not in an ignorant way. It’s because the information is irrelevant to them because I’m not considered as an ‘asexual’ friend, but just a ‘friend’. (If that makes any sense)

There was only one time when someone told me, “You just haven’t found the right person.”

And I responded with, “Oh I’ve found the right person for me alright. And that person is me!” Or something along the lines that asexuality doesn’t exist. But then I usually find myself joking about how their genitals don’t exist. Or joke about why they would be talking about asexuality if it didn’t exist. (It’s really fun)

Outertale - Asgore — *Outertale – Asgore*

What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?

Sometimes I get the occasional, “Asexuality is an excuse for not getting laid.” “Asexuals are just freaks.” “You can’t have a stable relationship without sex.”

I just laugh. (One, I would be a minor. Two, what’s the definition of normal nowadays? Three, yes you can. It’s called friends.)

What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?

You are you. No one on earth knows you better than yourself. Not even your parents. So YOU decide who you are. NOT others. But expressing yourself is another subject. You can express yourself openly if you choose to do so, but just know that sometimes there will be people who judge you. Just ignore them. Since honestly they are not worth your time. Spend your time with people you trust, who support and care for you. Now if you don’t have anyone like that, seek out maybe some clubs, maybe even adults you can trust, or even people that are safe to talk to online.

Just remember that there will come a time where you’ll meet someone who really cares for you. (Like me…)

Oh, and yes. Figuring out who you are and why takes time. There’s a reason why you are even trying to do so. It’s because biologically your brain is developing. You might not find the answers right now, and you don’t need to be in a rush to do so. Yes it will seem like a struggle but what can you do when all you can do is wait? Take your time. Everything takes time. If you pace yourself you’ll find an answer that is way more matured than a rushed one.

Finally, where can people find out more about your work?

This is my Tumblr. (Feel free to talk to me. Don’t worry I don’t bite.)
This is my Deviantart. (You can also contact me here, but I’m on Tumblr more these days.)

Thank you, Wolf, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.

Interview: Tonny

Posted on December 17, 2015December 1, 2015 by Lauren Jankowski

Today we’re joined by Tonny. Tonny is an amazing visual artist who works in both digital and traditional mediums. They draw a wide variety of things and have an incredible passion for their work. Their style is quite eye-catching and interesting to look at. This is definitely an artist to watch. My thanks to them for taking the time to participate in this interview.

alistair_ellyah_2_nov2015

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

My art is… a mix of “I draw what I feel” and “I draw what I want.” I work with both traditional and digital. For traditional I use watercolors and copics, in digital I use Photoshop, paint tool SAI and manga studio.

What I draw varies a lot, I either draw as-anatomically-correct as I can or I go wild with it.

What inspires you?

People. Real ones or fictional. It’s rare to not draw a human figure (or similar) in my art. I’m also very fond of the duality of things (life\death; control\chaos; good\evil).

Music, movies, games, feelings, moods, everything around me really, it’s complicated to make a list.

jules_oct2015

What got you interested in your field? Have you always wanted to be an artist?

One of my older sister’s is also an artist and I guess I followed her steps in a way. I saw her drawing and tried to do the same. I don’t really remember because it’s been so long, but I know I started taking my art more seriously when I was 14 (in 2004). At that time I was very into anime and manga, and I had just met a person that also drew so that pushed me forward into art.

Although I love drawing, I’d also like to study something in the medical field or astronomy haha but I never got to do it.

I’d love to be able to life off art, but where I live is very complicated so it’s some sort of plan b that I do at the same time as plan a (regular job somewhere).

Do you have any kind of special or unique signature, symbol, or feature you include in our work that you’d be willing to reveal?

Not that I can think of really, everything is pretty straight-forward when you look at what I draw. I do sign with my last name because it’s as gender neutral I can get, even though I’ve thought about using a pseudonym but it ended up not being me so I decided to just sign everything with my last name: it’s me and recognizable.

king_alistair_nov2015

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

Don’t give up. Don’t look up to others and think you won’t get there. Use it as inspiration, use it as stairs to reach your full potential!!

I remember when I was young and saw many amazing artists and couldn’t help but feel sad about what I drew and thought about how I’d never be good enough. Don’t do it! It’s a poison that won’t let you heal! Everyone has their own progress speed, some might be faster, others slower, but if you work hard and with passion, you’ll be who you want to be.

Draw, draw and draw again! Draw what you see, draw what you imagine, draw what you feel. Don’t feel bad for using references, use them as much as you can. Experiment with everything you can. Don’t be afraid to fail and fall: it’s part of the process. You get up and keep going.

me_ravenclaw_nov2015

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I’m panromantic asexual

Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field? If so, how do you handle it?

Most times it’s more ignorance, it’s hard for some to be in someone’s shoes, especially about a subject that for them feels weird. Most people that don’t understand asexual people are in fact who’s allosexual and I understand how weird it’s for them. Most times I’m calm about it and explain it as best as I can. Unless they’re being really idiots about it, then I can lose my temper.

suzy_nov2015

What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?

Either the “you haven’t found the right one”, “you don’t know until you’ve tried” and the best “you don’t love them that way, maybe you’re just good friends”

What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?

It gets better. Really, it does. I never realized I was ace until a couple of years ago before because, having a religious background, and lack or romantic partners until I reached my 20’s, I never thought about having sex? but now that I think about it, everyone around me is all about it and I’m just “oh well OK then.”

Don’t mind what others say, you are as “normal” as everyone else!

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Finally, where can people find out more about your work?

You can find me on Instagram -> https://instagram.com/king_of_space, Tumblr and sometimes I post doodles on my Twitter (but it’s most rambling and random Dragon Age stuff really) -> https://twitter.com/TonnyHranol/

commissionCaly_oct2015

Thank you, Tonny, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.