Interviews

Stacey Mah:

1.Tell me a little bit about where you were brought up
and the area you now reside at.

I was born in Canada but my family migrated to Hong
Kong shortly after. I am now a citizen there.

2. What are the basic steps to becoming such a
wonderful Artist?

Get inspired! Observe the world around you, be around
things you like and look at other people's artworks.
Practise drawing a lot and do not be afraid to make
mistakes.

3. If you were stranded on a desert Island, what
things would you want to have with you?

A laptop, battery pack and an internet access!

4. When did you develop the first piece of art that
you were truly proud of? What was it?

I think it might have been about 3 or 4 years back
when I started to take drawing seriously. I think it
was an original anime-style character.

5. What are your biggest inspirations? Which are your
favorite Artists?

My biggest inspirations come from the manga and anime
that I read and watch. However, I usually prefer to
attempt a 'darker' style for my art. My favorite
artists are Koge Donbo, Clamp, Yuu Watase and Hisaya
Nakajo but I do not try to adopt their style.

6. Do you listen to music when you paint? What kind?

Yes I do. I usually listen to rock music. My fave band
is Evanescene. Oh, that's probably why my art tends to
turn out to be quite 'dark'.

7. How many hours a week do you devote to Art?

It depends. If I'm on holidays, I might spend about 10
hours a week on art, mostly sketching and planning.

8. What are some do's and don'ts that you can give
to the up and coming young Artists out there?

Do be creative and imaginative.
Do seek and take constructive criticism.
Do practise a lot.
Don't let conventional mentalities and things hinder
you.
Don't give up easily.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
Don't draw for the sake of drawing. Draw for the sake
of yourself and your interest.
Don't be narrow-minded.

9. How do you see Art changing for the future?

There will be lots more new themes, styles and media
in the art scene in years to come. The art scene will
have many more budding talents experimenting with
creative new things!

10. What challenges do you have yet to fulfill in your
life?

They've got nothing to do with art, so I won't bore
you with them.

11. How would you describe your style of Art?

Dark, gothic, a bit sadistic some times lol but they
usually have a lot of meaning in them, compelling
people to think. (I hope)

12. Do you have a style that you like over your other
styles?

I usually adopt only 1 style, the one I described
above.

13. What other studies, hobbies, pursuits or learnings
have assisted you in portraying your Art? Cosplay?

Not studies, because I don't study in an art school.
cosplay would be right. Cosplay is a form of art too
where I need to plan, imagine, find inspiration and
create, just like in the case of art. Photography
helps too because it enables me to go all out to
capture beautiful things in life which inspires me for
my art.

14. Tell me the history behind Sisters, what I
consider your best piece of art.

There isn't much of a history actually. I usually just
draw what comes to my mind. I think family values are
very important and maintaining good relationship with
siblings is vital. I myself have a younger sister whom
I love and care for. I wanted to reflect that in that
artwork. As for the oriental designs for the clothes
and the lotus pond, well, I love oriental things since
I'm Asian, so I decided to instill that inside.

15. Tell me about the time you usually spend on
studying your subject matter.

I don't study any subject matter since I'm not a
portrait artist and I don't do still life either. I
just draw what comes to mind.

16. Do you feel as if you'll be leaving a legacy
behind for other Artists and Art lovers to cherish?

Haha no, there are many anime artists out there who
draw better than I do.

17. Where would you direct anyone if they wanted to
buy some of your works?

I don't think I can draw for commercial purposes, but
if anyone wants to see more of my art, please visit my
website http://tengoku.uni.cc

18. Anything that I may have missed that you'd care to
comment on?

I know that many artists and art lovers despise
digital media and anime art because they are not the
conventional art style, and because anime art is 'too
popular'. I cannot compel anyone to share my
interests, but all I can say that computers are media
which can be used to produce good quality art, and
anime is an art style which can be used to portray
beautiful characters and things with much creativity.
As artists and art lovers, we should be open-minded
and creative, and not condemn things which are not
practised in the 'good old days' of the art scene.
Society progresses everyday, so our mindsets should
progress too.

19. What's in the future for you?

I seriously have not thought of it.

Thank you and good luck !! I join so many others in

expressing how wonderful I / we think your work is.

Ken McCracken:

1.   Tell me a little bit about where you were brought up and the area you
>now reside at.

I grew up in Downers Grove Illinois, and now I live in Naperville Illinois -
two suburbs west of Chicago.

>2.   What are the basic steps to becoming such a wonderful Artist?

Step 1 - be born with natural talent. I believe that all the practice and
training in the world will get you nowhere without at least some natural
talent.

Step 2 - copy great artists' works, photos, and draw from life.

Step 3 - draw every day and work very very hard!

>3.   If you were stranded on a desert Island, what things would you want to
>have with you?

A computer with a satellite internet connection, and a gorgeous catgirl.

>4.   When did you develope the first piece of art that you were truely
>proud
>of? What was it?

My first piece I was really proud of is called 'A Private Place' and is
probably still in my epilogue gallery at http://mccracken.epilogue.net

>5.   What are your biggest inspirations?

Women, great artists, and a passion for living in this world.

>6.   Do you listen to music when you paint? What kind?

I have wide tastes, and listen to things based on how loud I want the music
and what type of pic I am working on. Lately I have been listening to
Handel, Bach, Charlie Parker and Iron Maiden.

>7.   How many hours a week do you devote to Art?

Anything from 50 - 80 hours.

>8.   What is some sound advice you'd give to the up and coming young
>Artists
>out there?

Work hard on drawing faces and anatomy. Your pic is only as strong as those
elements.

>9.   How do you see Art changing for the future?

I don't see it changing at all really, most everything has already been
done.

>10. Who are your favorite Artists?

Robh Ruppel, Alan Gutierrez, Gustave Dore, Gil Elvgren

>11. Anything that I may have missed that you'd care to comment on?

Thanks for inviting me here, I really appreciate it.

>12. What's in the future for you?

Paperback book covers, I hope!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jen Miller:

. Tell me a little bit about where you were brought up and the area you
now reside at.

I was born in, and lived in Western NY state for 19 years, a little place

south of Buffalo. I lived pratically out in the woods, and am very much at

home and at peace there. It was very hilly, with lots of trees, and snow in

the winter; a really beautiful area. I now reside in Houston, TX... I'm not

too fond of it here, but it'll do until I can move up north again.

2. What are the basic steps to becoming such a wonderful Artist?

Basic steps? I'm not sure if there are any real basic steps in my opinon.

Perhaps this question is better answered in question #8.

3. If you were stranded on a desert Island, what things would you want to

have with you?

I'd want my fiance, my birds... I'm not sure what else.

4. When did you develop the first piece of art that you were truly proud

of? What was it?

I'm not certain I can answer this one. I'm not truly proud of any of my

artworks! I can only hope they make others feel what they need to feel the

most.

5. What are your biggest inspirations?

Nature, the sky, clouds... light and the way it plays on things. Those that

support me (even if I can't figure out why they do). Everyday things that

most people see, but don't really truly SEE, that contain so much beauty.

6. Do you listen to music when you paint? What kind?

Oh, definately! Lots of genres- mostly I listen to moody musical pieces such

as soundtracks and even videogame music. I'm really fond of listening to

Balligomingo when working on uplifting pieces. Believe it or not, I'm also a

big fan of Our Lady peace and even NIN. I like most anything besides country

and rap.

7. You are one of the most prolific Artists ever. How many hours a week

do you devote to Art... to a typical art work?

Yikes, I am?! Um.. well. This is a tough question because of one factor- I

currently work full time in retail (for me this can mean 10-12 hours a day)

and as such don't have a whole lot of time to devote to artwork- not nearly

as much as I wish I could! However I can say this- for a finished, refined

artwork I usually spend anywhere from 25-50 hours.

8. What is some sound advice you'd give to the up and coming young Artists

out there?

This is a hard one to answer... it matters what you want to achieve with

your art. If you just do art for yourself, then great! Do what pleases you.

However, if you really want to work hard and do art to get recognized or

possibly do artwork as a career of some sort... draw as much as you can.

Vary your subjects (Ha! I need to practice what I preach here, hmm?! I'm not

one to gloss over my faults); draw everything you can, from animals to

people to cars.. whatever you can. Draw from life when possible, it'll help

you truly learn the shapes of t hings. Take at least one art class, even if

it's only grade/high school art, or pick up some books and read from them--

all of those basics about anatomy, dynamics, color theory, perspective,

coposition... all those boring things you think are stupid at the time, are

SOSO impoartant! Continually learn. You've never learned it all. In my case,

I've barely learned anything yet... and that's the exciting part! Knowing

that there's still so much out there to discover, artistically...

9. How do you see Art changing for the future?

As it always has. Completely... and not at all.

10. Who are your favorite Artists?

I have far too many to name!

11. Anything that I may have missed that you'd care to comment on?

I'd like to thank you for your invitation to be here, and also to all the

support and people that look at my work. It never ceases to amaze me that

people like my work!!

12. What's in the future for you?

Hard to say! I can only hope and try to make dreams come true. Someday when

I can afford to quit my retail job, I'd love to do artwork as a career,

either freelance, or otherwise.. we'll see!

13. How could I improve my web site for Artists links? What would you like

to see on my site? (Sorry, I had to ask...)

*laughs!* I think it's pretty nice! I'm not too hot at webdesign, so I'll

leave that for you and others to decide. I think a search option might be

neat, but I understand there's likely to be some difficult coding that I

understand nothing of to do that. ;}

Thank you!!

-Jennifer Miller (Nambroth)