My name is Terese Jauhiainen and I‘m in my mid-twenties. My mom is from Sweden and my dad is from Finland, but I’m born and raised in a small town close to Stockholm in Sweden. I also lived in Australia for a couple of months.

Tell us about your humble beginnings, When did you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?

I’ve always known I wanted to do something creative and I have been drawing as long as I can remember. Both my dad and grandfather painted so art has always been apart of my life. But the time I realized just how much art means to me was about a year ago. I got sick around 2 years ago, my left arm and leg stopped working and I was semi paralyzed. The doctors suspected it was some kind of brain disease . A year ago it had gotten so bad that I couldn’t move my left hand much and was pretty much bedridden. But since I’m left handed I knew I would go crazy if I couldn’t draw anymore, so I bought a wacom tablet and learned to draw digitally instead. Then I really knew that art would always play a huge part in my life.

I love traditional art. It’s just a special feeling I get with a blank paper and a pencil in my hand. Usually I mix a lot of different mediums, mostly watercolor, markers and ink. But as long as I can draw it doesn’t matter if it’s pencils, acrylics or digital painting. I love to try new things.

Who or what gives you inspiration on your art?

I get my inspiration from just about everything. A lot of the times I see some colors and an idea pops up in my head. So I would say colors are a huge inspiration. Also just everyday life, emotions can inspire me a lot.

Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?

I’m self-taught. But I plan to study art in the future.

What are some of your current projects?

The paintings I’m working on right now are of the zodiac. I’ve done Gemini and Leo, the concept is dark burlesque. And I’m planning on moving to Japan for a year in the spring to study and get some new inspiration. Also later in the summer I plan to open an online shop, selling some clothes and art.

Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?

I would say Oriental, I always think my latest painting is the best or the one I’m most attached to.

Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

I’ve tried a lot of things, but there is many areas I would like to practise and learn. Especially acrylics right now.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I’m lucky*knock on wood* I’ve never been burnt out. I think it’s because I don’t see art as a must. It’s more like therapy, it’s what makes me happy.

When you’re not in front of your canvas or monitor, how do you spend most of your free time?

Right now I spend all my spare time at the hospital doing physical therapy. But the doctors have said I’m well again and it’s just a lot of training learning the muscles to work normally.

and finally, What advices/tips can you give to the novice designers/ illustrators out there?

I can’t give any professional advice, but to love what you do and stay passionate has always been important to me. Have fun, experiment, paint, draw, sketch and doodle as much as you can.

(c) Terese Jauhiainen – reproduced with permission
Visit here site to see more of her works.
HollowPixie’s Site

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please tell us a brief info about yourself.

My name is Mary Graham. I was born in California, where I have lived my whole life. (Exciting… I know)
A lot of people ask “When did you know you wanted to be an artist?” and as corny as it sounds, I have to answer “always”. I asked my mom, since it has felt like forever, if she knew when I wanted to be an artist, and she told me ever since I could hold a pencil. Its just something I feel I need to do, and I enjoy doing. Wanting to become a professional artist is a little different. I had wanted to be an animator or puppeteer when I was younger (and if you offered me a puppet right now I’d probably make a grand fool of myself and not be able to help it XD) and actually went to school to become a traditional animator. I found out that unfortunately, that was not for me. I was truly more into the concept art aspect of animation, and should have went to school to be an illustrator. Oh well, live and learn, I don’t think I turned out too bad.

What are your tools of the trade: mouse, tablet, brush or pen and ink or pencil? and why?

I mess around but tend to stick to Pencils (mechanical and non) and Photoshop. It took me a while to get used to Wacom tablets, but I finally did and enjoy them. I’ve been working on a Cintiq tablet screen this last year and that has been fun too. Both have their up and down sides. But I always do my linework by hand with pencil on printer paper (which i go through a ton) then scan it in and do the coloring and touch up in Photoshop.

Who or what gives you inspiration?

Inspiration comes from a ton of places. Myself, not to sound like the biggest egotist, is actually a huge one. When an idea for a shape or movement of a creature pops to mind, I run with it. I think that is the biggest asset to most artist, their personal self. Nature is another huge one. Though it has done a great deal of the work, so its more of a puzzle and challenge of how to make something come across as ‘natural’ while still looking unique. I always love looking at other artists work as well, you never know what you will take away from it, and this includes more childlike art too. I’m always sad when someone won’t share their art because they are embarrassed or don’t think it is good enough for some reason. I would rather see someone’s scribble creation any day of the week over some traced fan art they thought looked better. A living artist I particularly enjoy is Yoshitaka Amano. I was fortunate enough to catch him at San Diego Comic-con a few years ago, and was pleasantly surprised to find out he was a rather nice fellow. Its so sad when you get to meet someone you admire from afar only to find out they are a jerk. I was glad that wasn’t the case. ^_^

Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?

I’m a mix of self taught and schooled artist. I went to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. However, that is very much one of those ‘You can lead a horse to water…” things. In that respect, what I know is what I practice and work on every day. You can be taught how other artists do things, but no one but yourself can teach you how you should do your own art. That is something you learn your whole life.

What are some of your current projects?

Current projects Im working on right now include a fantasy cat breeding sim (PocketPumaPets.com) where I’m working with some really great and wonderful nice people. We are currently in beta testing, so it isn’t open to the public for a wee bit longer, but there will be a waiting list you can sign up for. And if breeding sims are your type of thing, you will want to get on that list! XD I mean, why wouldn’t you want to look at my art every day? I’ve also been toying around with making a movie pitch involving my Falcon and Minotaur fellows from a well received illustration. While I seem to be focused on animal and animal people, my real passion is creatures and monsters. So I’m always trying to sneak those into my workload between that and private commissions.

Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?

Picking pieces of art to be most proud of is very difficult. I strive to make each piece I do important to me in one way or another.

This piece I’m proud of because it was a random commission at a convention, pretty much my first one, and the client loved it. It was such a thrilling feeling. I love when people are happy, and this gentleman was very polite and nice, which made it all the better. I always worry what I do won’t be good enough, and thats something I’m trying to break.

This piece I’m proud of because I drew it fairly quickly and was happy with the results. It also let me know personally I could draw animal people and not feel like I had given up on making more interesting creatures. It also helped teach me to have pride in my art. I had people say some very nice things about this piece at Wondercon last year, and its sadly very nice and validating feeling when a complete stranger looks at your work and genuinely smiles and just loves to see it.

This piece i’m proud of because I spent a long time coloring it and figuring things out. I had worked on it a little bit before sitting down a few days later and working 12 straight hours to finish it. I’m proud I was actually able to do that. I’m more into sketching and working with pencil. I’m also proud my eyes didn’t fall out.

Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

there are many mediums, techniques and projects I would love to try. I’d love to be patient and skilled enough to do watercolor as well as 3D. Unfortunately for creature and character design in video games, it seems you not only need to know how to design, but more importantly know how to work in 3D. I’d love to get better at sculpture. Its something i’ve always enjoyed but just never find the time to do. I’d love to work on a fantasy movie, which is why I thought I’d work on making one someday. I enjoy trying new things. … never tried acrylic ink either, that I hope to too…

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

Hmmm… way to avoid burning out. I wish I had mastered that. How I like to handle it is always keep a project that doesn’t matter on the back burner in my mind. I write stories and make up characters and the like just to fill that. That way if I’m getting frustrated or can’t focus, I just try focusing on them instead. Then i tend to come up with a scene or image i enjoy, and that makes me happy and remotivates me. Failing that, playing a video game and/or taking a nap helps. Sometimes working on completely different things helps… like if you are drawing some busty cute chick, drawing a horse monster pealing apart like an onion just seems to help. As for longer burn outs… I really don’t know. I just hope they pass fast.

When you’re not in front of your canvas, how do you spend most of your free time?

hen I’m not in front of my clipboard or monitor, they are usually beside me. How sad is that? So with my free time I’m usually playing a video game… things like Animal Crossing and the like (I enjoy tedious games), pestering friends, cooking, going to the gym (something i’m not super in to, but you know… should do XD) and just other little things. Occasionally I paint little tabletop miniatures… more just because they are something very different and fun to do. I don’t play. But really, all those things kind of blend together. I don’t really see it as ‘free’ time, so much as ‘in between’ time ^_^

and finally, What advices/tips can you give to the novice designers/ illustrators out there?

As for advice and tips to other artists, I’d say remember why you do what you do. Its so easy to get sucked into just doing what makes money, don’t forget to do what makes you happy as well. If you are lucky, they will become one and the same. ^_^ Also, don’t be a dramaqueen. Acting all proud that you couldn’t handle something, especially say… art school, is pathetic and sad. I don’t know how you think you can deal with an art director or commission from the internet. If you get upset or frustrated at school, understand thats normal and you should feel that way. Part of art is learning how to deal with yourself in those situations and learning when to pick your battles. There is also no shame in commercial art. None. If you think you are ‘better’ then anyone because you don’t sell your work outside a small circle, then you are missing out on so much. Selling is not the same as selling out. Always put pride and love into everything you draw… and… I shouldn’t even have to say it, draw all the time and try new stuff.

Oh, and lastly on advice, I have only ever truly met one person who cannot draw. Chances are… you CAN draw or color. And you know what? That person who couldn’t draw… does fantastic 3D work. So, if you feel like you can’t draw, remember, that doesn’t mean you can’t do art.

~Mary “Kipestshin” Graham

(c) Mary Graham – reproduced with permission

For other information, please contact her at:

website: Kipestshin.deviantart.com

Wanna be a featured artist and get your art some exposure?

email me at: mcedesigns@gmail.com
with the subject: interview request

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please tell us a brief info about yourself.

my name is Jaime Jasso, born in 1974 in Guadalajara Mexico , actually working and living in Los Angeles CA since 2007.

Tell us about your humble beginnings, When did you you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?

Since I was a child I always liked to be creative in so many different ways like, sculpting on clay, creating my own toys with paper and wood and eventually drawing and painting. As I was growing up and learning more, I found a fascination on comic books and sci fi, that’s when in the late 70′s I discovered Star Wars , Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers. When I saw them I started to wonder how did they do that? Why does it look so cool? Later, on high school I studied more about painting, drawing and more traditional art skills like color, perspective and composition. Thanks to the television some 15 years ago, I found the movie magic documentary and that’s when I decided that I wanted to do visual effects for film, tv or video games.

I went to industrial design university, bought a computer and learned by myself, just through tutorials and book, back then school learning on CG was almost impossible where I come from.

What are your tools of the trade: mouse, tablet, brush or pen and ink or pencil? and why?

A Wacom tablet is a must for anybody doing CG painting and photo manipulation, actually right now I use it to sculpt on Zbrush, I have a mac G5 for my photoshop, 2 pc’s for compositing and 3D and a belkin n42te speedpad for my photoshop shortcuts.

Who or what gives you inspiration?

When do personal art sometimes it comes easy but there are times that my brain is totally dry and nothing comes in for weeks and it is really frustrating. When that happens I just browse the internet for inspiration, like photo galleries, landscapes, cityscapes just to put in my brain lots of images that can ignite an idea spark, all of a sudden in I can mix and come up with one idea. But this process is not a one day thing generally I need days maybe even weeks, some other times I have plenty ideas at the same time. I guess this creative paradox happens to everybody,

Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?

As I mentioned before, I’m self taught in all CG matters, and for creative matters, I guess intuition since I was a little boy, some other skills I’ve learned with other people or schools.

What are some of your current projects?

I’m actually working for BLUR Studio in Venice CA, right now I’m working for some in house projects, mainly concepts and matte painting, and some other video games cinematics that will hit next year I work as well in my own personal cinematography project which you can see some works on my site, but I wish I could have more time for it.

Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?

Some of the images shown on ballistic publishing books , like old england, thekno city and some other are the kind of work I still see after I worked on them years ago and I still like them , I’m a perfectionist and after I finish one work I see errors on my own work that will not make again for my next project , it’s just a matter of learning with practice.

Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

I want to learn more Zbrush right now. I think it’s such a powerful tool not only for characters, and I will start using some for my foreground rocks and details on 3D, I want to do some cinematography as well, I have been directing some video clips and basic stuff and I think I’m ready for the big step now.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I always try to learn new software and techniques, I also try to search for other artist work for inspiration of any kind be it traditional or digital artist, challenges are the best way to learn because they will make you learn something you don’t know to achieve the last result.

When you’re not in front of your canvas, how do you spend most of your free time?

I love playing guitar, blues and rock, so sometimes I just practice for hours, I go out and practice photography as well, places mostly, in this way I keep my eyes trained.

and finally, What advices/tips can you give to the novice designers/ illustrators out there?

Practice and practice, even after practicing! It is the only way you can be better, always look for a challenge, always study another artist’s images, wonder how did they achieve that, analyze every pixel and your brain will figure it out, always keep up with the latest in software and techniques, spend a day in the CG industry to see what’s new in software and hardware, show your images to another artist and never be scared of bad critics, use them to grow in your artistic skills.

(c) Jaime Jasso – reproduced with permission

For other information, please contact him at:

website: jjassodigitalworks.com

Wanna be a featured artist and get your art some exposure?

email me at: mcedesigns@gmail.com
with the subject: interview request

Designer’s Depot: the best source for artists, designers and art lovers.