Today we’re joined by Heiden. Heiden is a young artist who loves to draw. They mostly draw fanart, though they’ve started branching out into realistic figures and forms. It’s very obvious they have a lot of enthusiasm for their work, 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.
I mainly draw anime figures and fanart but lately I’ve been experimenting with different body types, poses, and realistic faces. I also love to write/draw different fonts.
What inspires you?
Seeing other artwork that makes me think “I could do that!” and seeing/hearing people overcome obstacles in their lives and succeeding.
What got you interested in your field? Have you always wanted to be an artist?
I think I mainly got into drawing because my big sister was doing it, but other than that I’m not sure. I’ve been drawing for most of my life. I don’t want to be a professional artist, to be clear, but I have always had fun seeing what I could create on paper.
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 normally just sign my name on the front and write the date on the back. It’s a habit my parents got me into so I could see the progress I’d make.
What advice would you give young aspiring artists?
Practice what you want to, not what someone else thinks you should. If you are satisfied with how you draw something, stick to it. Also, I find Pinterest to be very helpful when looking up references.
ASEXUALITY
Where on the spectrum do you identify?
You could call me gray-asexual, but I think I’m attracted to feminine anime characters. I’m not really sure where I lie on the spectrum but I do not get aroused at anything else.
Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field? If so, how do you handle it?
I haven’t really encountered much, mainly because I don’t have a lot of people to be out to, and I think that my romantic intention over weighs my lack of sexual attraction, so I tend to tell people that I “like all genders” rather than “I’m asexual”, so they don’t think I’m also aromantic like many people do.
What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?
That asexual people all have the same opinion on sex.
What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?
You’re not broken, you’re different, unique. I find that a lot more interesting than being what the society calls “normal”. If you’re having a hard time finding acceptance in real life, turn to the internet. There are so many supportive people on there. It’s also likely that if you post issues about asexuality on occasion, your mutuals on Tumblr will know accept your sexuality.
Finally, where can people find out more about your work?
I have a Deviantart account called “gloomymercury” and my Tumblr username is “gloomymercury98”
Thank you, Heiden, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.
Asexual Artists 