Hey, guys! This week we have something new, where we’re going to highlight some of our local artists and providers! We hope you enjoy and give us your feedback. Let us know if you have any suggestions on other artists we can emphasize.
This week we spoke to Amy Whitney, an artist in Quebec. Here’s your Etsy link:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ AreyaLine
I talked to Amy and sent her the following questions. The answer and information are interesting. Thanks for your time, Amy.
Can we learn a little about your background? Tell us about yourself!
AmyI grew up in Cote Saint-Luc with influence from American culture and French culture. My father lived with his family in Colorado, and my mother was in Quebec. So several times during the year I visited my grandfather living in Ontario. I really enjoyed going there and visiting because there were always many animals and birds to observe. Although, those visits also taught me that I was definitely a city girl! I prefer quiet suburbs to downtown. Some of the parks I used to visit to see wildlife and exercise, so I found it to be an ideal combination.
I’ve always been an animal lover, and I have a particular favorite for birds. I’m very fortunate to have guests in the backyard visiting both the feeder and my hand to enjoy special dishes, and I love to see them every day.
I’m also a big fan of video games. Since I was a kid, I was surrounded by video game culture, both my parents played different games, which was only a matter of time before I started playing them. The role of the game, the pocket monster game (as Poréon), and the adventure puzzle game was my absolute hobby.
I also like to bake in my spare time. I enjoyed making bread for my family and making it from the recipe I learned from my French grandmother when I was a child.
How did you start with this job? When did you start? How did you learn?
AmyI started painting as a kid. My mother still likes to joke that she remembers I colored the sheets so beautiful… but then half the road quickly ended the rest because I was bored with it. But when I was a kid, I loved painting. My passion for animals, legendary animals and birds was my inspiration to paint back then. I learned by studying art and other images in books and trying to draw them. Then I also went on to draw from my imagination. This kind of practice is a very important tool to learn about the subject you’re drawing. I also took some courses in nude models to help me learn more about the human body. Even so, I struggled with body painting. I think that’s what I have to keep working on to improve.
Today I draw both of my manuscripts with many reference pictures, and some drawings from the image I took of animals.
Me: What inspired your work?
Amy: Porén and video games are things that really inspire my art. I finally fell in love with the characters and then found myself really wanting to create their art.
Me: How do you create your work? What tools do you use?
Amy: I am currently using the production app for the iPad to draw/paint my design. Sometimes I sketched in the media sketches before I turned them into scans or images that I then used to start a digital file. I see more flexible digital files to turn my art into a key hook or sticker.
What other artists inspired you? Do you like it?
AmyI’m a huge Weishiart and Sakimi-chan fan. I met Sakimi-chan in Otakuthon a few years ago and since then I have been a fan of her. Her ingenuity about the human body, her dynamic, and the factual postures were the things that attracted me to her.
What is your plan for the future project?
AmyI plan to draw and design some cute bird labels of birds in my backyard regularly. I also had a goal to set up a counter at the next summer convention!