Today we’re joined by Tikaka. Tikaka is an amazing comic artist who writes and publishes they’re own comics. Tikaka recently made a short comic about their own personal take on asexuality and they have this wonderful love of drawing. Their enthusiasm for their work shines through and their work is gorgeous. My thanks to them for taking the time to participate in this interview.
WORK
Please, tell us about your art.
I am a comic artist and an illustrator. Creating comics has been a passion of mine for 14 years now and I’ve made 11 self-published comics so far, and plan on making many more!
What inspires you?
Human interaction and feelings. What makes you feel certain things? How to make another person you’ve never seen before feel sympathy for a character they can never meet in real life? How do people get through with rough times, how do they act when they’re happy and how do they express anger and deal with it? I am endlessly fascinated by the variety human emotions can have, and the individual strength each and every one has. I want to create stories that’ll awaken all kinds of feelings, from all across the spectrum.
What got you interested in your field? Have you always wanted to be an artist?
I’ve always loved drawing! When I was a kid the best way to keep me amused was to give me paper and pens and I’d draw for hours straight. At younger age I wanted to be a writer, but later realized I could combine my love for drawing and telling stories by making comics!
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?
Just my signature, though in my comics I often hide people I know on the background if that counts.
What advice would you give young aspiring artists?
Do what you love, even if it’s hard. Especially if it’s hard. Draw that cool pose you think is too difficult for you. Write that story you’ve been rolling in your head for ages. You might fail spectacularly and you most likely will! But it’s better to try and fail, than not to try at all in fright of failing, and never getting closer to your goals. Embrace your mistakes, learn to laugh at the wonky hands you drew on that one character and the misplaced hip. Now you’ve done that and the next attempt will be better.
ASEXUALITY
Where on the spectrum do you identify?
Asexual and romantically I’m somewhere between panromantic and aromantic. What is love? No one knows! At least I don’t. Either I love everyone and am very good at containing myself or I don’t love anyone.
Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field? If so, how do you handle it?
Other artists I know have been very supportive! Also I don’t talk much about my sexuality to those who I think might object with it so I haven’t had any problems.
What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?
That it’d have anything to do with your current/potential partner. Most take it as a personal insult, “you don’t think I’m pretty/sexy/attractive? Are you calling me ugly then?” and so on. It’s been hard to try and explain someone that no, they’re not unattractive but also no, I feel no great pull towards their loins no matter how aesthetically pleasing they’d be.
What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?
It’s a wide spectrum, we got space for you. Also, sexuality can be fluid. There’s no reason to feel guilty if your sexuality has changed in the past or if it’ll change in the future. As long as it feels good right now, it’s OK.
Finally, where can people find out more about your work?
From my webpage http://notrollhere.com or my Tumblr http://notrollhere.tumblr.com (NSFW)!
Thank you, Tikaka, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.
Asexual Artists 