Interview: Ellen

Today we’re joined by Ellen. Ellen is a phenomenal freelance artist who does both traditional and digital art. She loves to draw and specializes in both cartoons and realism. Her work has an incredible vividness to it and demonstrates a masterful use of color. She’s a talented and passionate artist, as you’ll soon read. My thanks to her for taking the time to participate in this interview.

Pride

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

My art is a combination of cartoons and realism. I have been developing my art for 8 years. I love to draw humans, animals or mythical creatures. I use drawing as an escape from the hardships that I face, when the pencil touches the paper or when my stylus touches the tablet, I enter a world where I can express myself without being judged for who I am. In some ways art can be very therapeutic, whether it’s because of school or life in general, I pick up the pencil and doodle away……until the lead snaps or the battery dies on my stylus.

What inspires you?

My friends, they have inspired me and stood by my side through thick and thin. They have supported me for the longest time and they’re the reason I’m still drawing! My dad is also my biggest inspiration, he has supported and inspired for many years. I remember when he would put up my pictures on the fridge when I was in preschool.

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

I started drawing in 1st grade. I would just draw the usual stick figures with noodle hair. But, one specific person kick started my love for art. When I was in 4th grade, this one girl taught me how to draw humans in a way that looked like a human it didn’t have all those advanced features that an actual human had. Ever since then I started to develop that style into what it is today. I never thought that I would ever become an artist but, look at me now!

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?

Whenever I draw my main human character, I draw this little curl on the top of their head. This trait came from my love of anime as a child and it carried through my style for as long as I can remember. Also I draw the tips of shoes/feet very pointy.

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

Always take constructive criticism! It will help you in the future when you want to become professional!

Two Time

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

Biromantic Asexual 🙂 but I’m still contemplating if I really like boys or not

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

Unfortunately, yes. Sometimes I’m really scared to go to a pride event because I’m scared that I will receive backlash due to my orientation. And I have been told constantly that “It’s just a phase, you’ll grow out of it” or “You don’t belong here because you’re basically straight!” Every time I make something pride related and I don’t add the lesbian flag or if I add the ace flag, I will get attacked by other artists who will flood the comment section saying that I’m homophobic for not adding the lesbian flag or that asexuality doesn’t exist and that I should remove it, and that really hurts my self-esteem. I try to ignore it and move on.

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

That we’re all just whiny virgins who can’t get laid or that we are just “innocent space beans uwu.” another thing that I’ve encountered is that all asexuals are sex-repulsed, some asexuals can have dirty minds or they can view that kind of material, it’s all up to them what they do. If you’re sex-repulsed, that’s fine, but all of us are different.

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

You are not alone, trust me. I was having trouble with my orientation when I was figuring out where I belonged in this community. You are valid! Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not, you are a part of this community and you matter! We are one huge asexual family.

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

You can follow me on:

Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/datshinyzoroark
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datshinyzoroark/

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

Interview: Murkrowzy

Today we’re joined by Murkrowzy. Murkrowzy is a wonderful visual artist with a unique style. She does both cartoon-style with realistic proportions. Her work is fascinating, with a remarkable amount of detail. It’s clear she’s a talented and dedicated artist. My thanks to her for taking the time to participate in this interview.

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

Uhm, well, I wouldn’t know how to describe my art well! Alright, let’s see … I’d say it’s a mix of a few different styles of cartoons. I took inspiration from shows like Ed, Edd’n Eddy, Danny Phantom & some comics like Scott Pilgrim. It’s mostly “I’m gonna draw this & not care about how it looks” & then seeing where it goes. It’s mainly cartoony with some realistic proportions I guess.

I also make costumes & other little accessories sometimes! I work mainly in traditional art, sometimes digital.

What inspires you?

Other people’s art! Animation! Seeing other artists do the thing! Seeing creativity! Movies! Music! Really, just experiencing stuff other artists put out is what inspires me. Whimsy, never before imagined stuff!

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

I was drawing since I could remember. I don’t remember any specific movie or franchise or whatever that made me think “Shit, I wanna draw like that someday”. Maybe it was Disney or anime? I’ll say yes. I’m also autistic; I guess this was one of the many ways I would fidget creatively with. I just always had a pencil & paper in my hand during school. I never stopped drawing & that meant my grades suffered for it! No regrets. (Don’t be like me, alright?)

Have I always wanted to be an artist? Friend, all of us are artists. We take lines & force them into recognizable shapes. We are gods! Rulers of the pencil! Ancient deities of craft & world making! Without our god powers, our world would not be as bright as it is! Bow down to our unbelievable powe-… okay, I’ll stop.

Chester Cup Sleep

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 used to have a symbol, but it fell away into some deep space void. Now I don’t have a special symbol. I just use text & put in ways to find me.

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

(Can we curse here? I’m gonna do it.)

There will *ALWAYS* people out there who are going to think your art is absolute fucking garbage, that it’s the worst thing they ever saw. Those people will compare it to artists who had more time & experience, & then turn to you & tell you to stop drawing because “it looks like shit”. If you want to get better & for those comments to stop, you *have* to keep going. You will hit blocks, you will run into haters & you will run into people who will reject your art because “it’s not good enough”. That’s reality. You know what is also reality? Not giving up. You got 13 hateful comments? People are saying your art is shit? Here’s how to handle those comments; take them & use them to your advantage by not listening to those people & KEEP MAKING ART. I don’t care if it’s macaroni & cheese latte hearts at Starbucks. Your art will always improve & get better if you keep at it.

The reality is this: you will not understand anatomy, perspective & color theory in 5 minutes. Talent & skill isn’t something that is served onto a plate where you just eat it up & suddenly you get better. It’s years, YEARS, of hard work, trial & error to understand the art of art.

Here’s one more thing: try not comparing yourself to other artists. I find that’s very draining on one’s self-esteem, & that bottle is quite difficult to fill back up. You should: admire their art, use the “I WANNA BE THAT GOOD holy fuCK” feeling to propel yourself forward to get better in art.

So just fucking make ART! Don’t stop! Only stop for food along the way! & sleep. & maybe a shower.

Cupstress Mugstress

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

Gray ace! Gray aromantic as well. I pretty sure it’s fluid because it changes a lot. Somedays I’m like “hey, that person is really cute!” & other days it’s “you’re so goddamn aesthetically pleasing to my eye holy shit”. Many days it’s “CAN WE HANG OUT. PLZ”. It’s never been “omg hotness I wanna bang you”. I just don’t see how people are like that! How the hell are people attracted to genitalia anyways…

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

Many times. Sometimes, it’s best to ignore it. Although I believe it’s best to talk things out & educate people. I have a friend who thinks sex is the ultimate expression of love. Being ace, I disagreed & we discussed it. He didn’t understand how it was possible to be asexual & still date someone. I told him what I knew: sometimes people just want to cuddle & not have sex. Some people enjoy the act of sex while not being attracted to the person.

I love to explain it to people like this: Do you see a flower? Do you think it’s pretty? Do you want to fuck the flower?

To many people, they would answer: yes, yes, no. I then draw parallels to asexuality: we see a person, we think they’re pretty (aesthetically) & we don’t want to sex the person.

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

“ACE PEOPLE CAN’T/DON’T WANT SEX. ACE PEOPLE CAN’T/DON’T WANT LOVE.” That’s pure fucking bullshit & me & my ace friends will gladly give a fuck about that. I don’t blame a closed mindset; some people literally cannot fathom asexuality & what it’s like! It’s at that point in time we throw some education in their direction & try to get them to understand.

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

Ace people don’t give any fucks, that’s what I say! You aren’t broken, you don’t need fixing. Accepting yourself is hard as bricks … you can break through that wall. You will hear people who will say “Maybe you’ll find somebody. Maybe you’ll change your mind”. I once found those words troubling; I stopped once I gave them my own meaning. I realized that even though I am ace, I can still love someone! I can still have sex, have feelings & do the things. I just don’t experience them as often, nor do I want to.

Maybe I will find somebody who will love me for who I am. Maybe my mind will change; after all, sexuality is fluid. Like fluid, it changes. I’m going to be hitting my 30s soon & I haven’t had my first kiss or first sex. I don’t care if it never happens.

Don’t worry about “not being normal”. Your sexuality is your normal. Hug it, take it out to dinner. Don’t give any fucks. That’s one thing ace people are really good at.

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

Please send all the lovelies to:

Twitter: Murkrowzy
Tumblr: GlassesCatMurk/MetroCatStudios (for art!)
YouTube: SurvivorMurk

*PTERODACTYL SCREECH*

Murk Retail

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

Interview: Andi

Today we’re joined by Andi. Andi is a phenomenal visual artist who specializes in a cartoon style. They also do a bit of realism and do both original and fanart. Andi is inspired by many things and has a wonderful amount of enthusiasm, as you’ll soon read. My thanks to them for taking the time to participate in this interview.

Aang

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

I’m a cartoon style artist first and foremost! I love digital art and watercolor the most, but I’m well versed in graphite, acrylic, colored pencil, pastel, and most recently oil paints. I also have a touch of skill in realism! I do a lot of fan art, but I also make original art.

What inspires you?

Nature and animals most of all! I love plants and animals and natural things. I’ve also been heavily inspired by media about magical characters and fantasy worlds. I usually combine features from whatever I’ve most recently been obsessing over, and different aesthetics I enjoy. Video games and TV have had huge influences on my art.

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

Art has always been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I feel like Pokémon probably had the biggest impact on my early art direction and interest. Both the games and the anime drove me to create and helped fuel my love of art. Art is life.

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 like to include diverse features and shapes to my art to create variety! I love unique nose shapes a lot and different body types are lovely uwu

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

USE REFERENCES PLEASE! Honestly I’m still taking my own advice here. Learning from life and having patience to do so will take you far. You begin to develop your own shortcuts that you can translate into cartoon styles and simpler designs.

Also sketch! Build up shapes and lines before you solidify details!

Charconcept

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I am Panromantic Asexual! I experience no sexual attraction, though I’m not sex repulsed. I actually find it really fascinating? I have no interest in participating but I’m totally comfortable talking about it. I’m rather frank, actually.

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

Luckily I haven’t. Only people I’m friends with know I’m ace and they’re supportive. It’s pretty easy for me to avoid sharing with others. People I know are open to learning.

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

People thinking that I can’t/won’t/don’t have sex. I have and honestly, not impressed.

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

Please be patient with yourself. Don’t force yourself to do things you don’t want to. It’s hard to recognize a lack of something, and it’s confusing watching other people do and say things that you may not experience the same way, or at all. Be good to yourself!

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

My art Tumblr!
https://ag-art-things.tumblr.com/

My website!
http://andreargraham.wixsite.com/agart

My FB page!
https://www.facebook.com/ANDILION5356/

And my Twitter!
https://twitter.com/Andilion5356

Panther

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

Interview: Tabitha O’Connell

Today we’re joined by Tabitha O’Connell. Tabitha runs one of my absolute favorite asexual blogs: Asexual Representation. She also happens to be a phenomenal writer and has just sold her first short story (YAY!). Tabitha is a fellow ace feminist, which is always awesome to see. I could not be happier to feature her on Asexual Artists. My thanks to her for taking the time to participate in this interview.

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

I write nonfiction about asexuality and feminism, poetry (once in a while), and fiction of all lengths. My fiction is usually either fantasy or contemporary/realistic, and I like to explore interpersonal conflicts and complex relationships, awkward situations, and characters feeling alone and navigating social spheres where they don’t really fit.

I just recently had my first short story published; it’s a bit different from what I normally write in that it’s a light, happy fantasy story with a younger protagonist, but it was fun to write something different and I’m glad that it found a home!

What inspires you?

Sometimes it’s noticing a lack — I’m inspired to write certain kinds of characters or stories because I don’t see them in existing media. Otherwise, it’s usually just something random — a place, a dream, something someone says, an experience I had, an interesting fact.

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

I’ve been writing basically ever since I could; I’m not sure exactly what got me into it, but I know I always loved characters and stories, so I guess that naturally led to me creating my own. When I was younger I would carry a notebook around and write Star Wars fanfiction or original story fragments wherever I happened to be; when I was first learning to drive, I didn’t know how to get anywhere because I’d spent my whole life reading or writing in the car instead of paying attention to where we were going. I got a laptop when I was 15 and started writing more seriously then, although I’ve only recently started actually submitting anything for publication.

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?

One thing that reoccurs in almost all my fiction is ace characters! Before I knew the word “asexual” and knew that I wasn’t just weird, I didn’t realize it was an option to write characters like me; I thought I had to make them all “normal”. I wasn’t interested in writing about sex/sexual attraction, though, so I basically wrote ace characters without intending to. Even after finding the word it took me a while to realize that I could write explicitly asexual characters, but once I did I think my writing significantly improved because I stopped trying and failing at writing non-ace protagonists (and I got lots of new ideas too). So in all my longer works now the protagonist is ace, and several of my short stories feature ace characters as well.

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

It’s okay to take a break. You’ll hear that you need to practice every day, you need to keep going no matter what, but trying to do that can just lead to burnout and guilt. Last year I got discouraged about my writing, and at first I tried to force myself to keep it up anyway, but that made it even less fun. So eventually I accepted that I had lost my enjoyment and motivation for the time being and let myself temporarily give up and spend my time on things I did enjoy. I’ve since gotten re-inspired, and am now happily back to writing regularly again. So I just want other people to know that it’s okay to take a break and wait until inspiration strikes again; you don’t have to force yourself to be creative if you’re just not feeling it.

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

Sex-repulsed asexual.

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

No, not yet anyway; I’ve been looking for queer-friendly magazines and publishers to submit to so that I can hopefully avoid any negative reactions to my asexuality and my ace (and other queer) characters.

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

Probably just that it doesn’t exist. In the fairly conservative Christian environment I grew up in, there was no recognition that someone might not want to get married and have kids when they grew up. And on TV/in movies, every character always seemed to end up in a romantic/sexual relationship. Because I never saw any acknowledgment that some people might lack sexual attraction or interest, I never even thought to try to find out if there were other people like me. I had even heard the word “asexual” applied to a person before, but I didn’t really know what it meant, and didn’t find out that it was an orientation or something that could apply to me until I was 20. Even now, I rarely see asexuality mentioned or acknowledged outside of certain online communities. If the word ever is used on TV, it’s often as an insult (as if “sexless” is the worst thing you could say about someone), with no recognition that it’s an actual orientation, and we still have hardly any ace characters on TV or in film—even characters who at first seem like they could be ace usually end up in normative sexual relationships.

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

Not exactly advice, but I would just say, it’s okay to be this way. We get messages all our lives from all different sources that sex is super important, that we should desire other people (and be desirable), that romantic relationships require sex. But none of that is true; there is nothing wrong with not having sex or with not being attracted to other people. It doesn’t make you lesser or broken or unworthy of love.

Reading blogs written by other aces who critique sex-normativity and talk about their experiences and about navigating life as an ace has been really affirming and formative for me, so if you’re struggling, I would definitely recommend that. The Asexual Agenda is a great place to start.

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

My official writing blog is on WordPress, and I also have a Tumblr. (I also run another Tumblr dedicated to highlighting and discussing ace representation in books, TV, comics, etc.!)

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

Interview: Linsay Nichole

Today we’re joined by Linsay Nichole. Linsay is a wonderfully talented fanartist who enjoys drawing her own characters. She has a couple different styles she switches between. It’s obvious that she enjoys drawing quite a lot. My thanks to her for taking the time to participate in this interview.

Warning: some NSFW language in the 5th question.

Batty

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

I mostly do fanart but I also do draw my own characters with my own style(s). I have two types. I have a cartoony style that I took a while to develop and another style that is more realistic.

What inspires you?

Honestly, what inspires me is seeing my old work and seeing how much I’ve improved since then. I also take inspiration from seeing what other people do.

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

I’ve always loved art. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’ve always needed something to do when my mind wandered.

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?

Truth be told, I do sometimes sign my work with an XM and sometimes I will include an off-off version of some of my favorite characters in my drawings or references to things.

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

If you love drawing all the time, you’re doing it wrong. There will be days when you stare at a page for hours and not know what to do. Sometimes you’ll draw like ten things in five minutes. Don’t be ashamed of what you draw.  I have drawn penises in the same days I’ve drawn dragons. You will always feel like your drawings are never perfect. That’s normal.

First Garnet

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

Ace-Aro.

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

Yes. All the time actually. I bite my lip, roll my eyes and let it go.

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

That once I find the right dick I’ll change my mind (actual thing that was said to me)

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

People will always say that one day you’ll change your mind and they’ll say they don’t understand it but refuse to listen to you when you try to explain. But that’s fine. You’re valid. You are always valid. No matter what they say.

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

My Deviantart, Magmashift101.

I am the Anime

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

Interview: Neil

Today we’re joined by Neil.  Neil is a very talented visual artist.  He enjoys experimenting with various stylistic aspects like lighting.  As he mentions in his interview, he does both more cartoon-esque style and also realism.  The images he sent are really interesting to look at.  My thanks to him for taking the time to participate in this interview.

Carmilla Fanart Fin

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

My art is pretty versatile.  For the most part I work in a fairly cartoony style, but when I have the time I like to work on more detailed or realistic painting.  I do more digital work than traditional work these days, mostly because of the relative cost of materials.  I enjoy experimenting with lighting and color, and I really admire artists who are skillful in their use of contrast.  That’s something that I aspire to.  I like to try new things often because I’m always looking to improve, and I believe taking artistic “risks” is the fastest way to do that.  (Things may go wildly wrong!  But it’s still a learning experience.)

What inspires you?

The human body is really fascinating; I love figure drawing.  I also get inspired by natural images and enjoy painting landscapes.  If I see really striking imagery, anywhere, I always want to capture it.  Music also inspires me to create a lot of my work; I often get inspired by song lyrics, and a lot of my fanwork is related to musical theatre.  I’m sometimes inspired by current events or emotions in my own life.

Don’t Know What I’ve Done

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

I consider myself a hobbyist, and I’ve no desire to produce art professionally.  That being said, “artist” has always been a strong part of my identity, and I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember.  Being an artist of any kind, to me, is about developing the skill of interpreting things in a unique way.  Over the years I’ve learned how to observe and interpret things more skillfully.  Being able to share the way I see the world and the things that are important to me are the reasons I continue to purse 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 experiment a lot with different techniques, so while I do have a recognizable style, I wouldn’t say I have a signature element that I always include.

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

Draw from life, draw from life, draw from life.  When you’re trying to learn how to draw something, observe it in as much detail as you can.  Whether that involves using photos for reference, or life drawing in a studio, or painting a landscape out in nature, it will help you learn to observe and interpret things in your own way.  In the same vein, don’t be afraid to use references; it doesn’t make you less of an artist.  Sometimes imagination isn’t enough to get all the details right, and that’s okay.

Eddie Oscar

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I identify as asexual and aromantic (more specifically, I’m probably WTF/quoiromantic, but in general I shorten it to aro).  I first heard about asexuality several years ago, but only realized the label applied to me about one year ago, so to be honest I’m still working on the self-acceptance part.  It’s been difficult coming to terms with the fact that my life is probably not going to turn out the way I presumed it would, but I’m getting there.

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

As I mentioned above, “my field” isn’t actually art.  But yes, in the psychology/behavioral health field there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding asexuality.  I’ve overheard conversations at my workplace that made me wary of coming out even to my closest work friends.  I do try to inform people who I think will be receptive to new information, but even raising awareness can be an uphill battle.  It can be very stressful not being out to many people, and I’ve ended up in uncomfortable situations because of it.  I hope to find a workplace/location where I feel more comfortable being out as ace someday.

Jetlag

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

That it doesn’t exist.  I’ve run into more people who had trouble believing asexuality is an orientation than I have people with misconceptions about ace people.  (I should note that I’m including people who pathologize asexuality in this category, which is something I see a lot of in my field.)  My hope is that ace visibility and acceptance will continue to increase, and that won’t be the problem anymore.

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

Talk to other aces!  Being able to discuss shared experiences, and realizing that I’m far from the only person who has felt the things I feel, has helped me so much.  Hearing other aces’ stories and descriptions of their experiences has made me feel more validated about my feelings and identity than anything else has.  As I said, I’m still coming to terms with all of this myself, but that’s what I have found to be the most helpful.

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

My art blog can be found here: bootsssss.tumblr.com

Snowball

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