Hello Monica, nice to meet you here in Bali, could you introduce yourself?

Hello nice to meet you too, My name is Maya Monica, I am a hand embroidery Artist, I quit my architectural job in 2017 to focus on my brand Hoopies Art. I create unique designs with beautiful bits from nature, add happiness and give miraculous messages. I want my artworks to have meaning and inspire my peers.

What pushed you into the world of embroidery?

When I was a kid, I loved using my hands for artsy purposes, my art teacher taught me about embroidery, I was in love with this craft. I felt peaceful, calm, and could take control of my emotions. I kept at it until I became an architect, unfortunately my expectation about having a happy adult life were ruined. This led me into depression until my mama suggested me to make embroidery as my full-time job. In 2017, I resigned and focused on Hoopies Art.

Your pieces are very floral and full of life, what influences you? 

I love nature and I love flowers, this is why my pieces are very floral, my main focus are plants, fruits, and animals. I get my inspiration outside, I soak under the sun, enjoy my promenades, and fill my lungs with air and creativity, finally I apply my ideas on my sketchbook in my room. The most important things are to get out there and lay my sight on the elements around me, wild plants are my favorite.

Tell us about your process from conception to creation

Everything starts from a sketchbook, I first apply my ideas as light sketches for each conception, when I feel confident about my patterns, I pick the color palette for my embroidery, choosing the colors takes a very long time, I then choose the appropriate fabrics and apply my drawings on them, I am now ready to start stitching!

What do you think about the futur of embroidery?

It all started out 4 years ago, since then people still appreciate my work as it grows. I remember when Jack Ma, founder of Chinese e-commerce Alibaba, gave a speech on Ted Talks, his prevision is as the following, in the next 30 years, artificial intelligence will outpace human knowledge, leading to job loss.

We should teach our kids sport, music, painting - arts - to make sure to preserve our humanity. Everything we teach should make them different from machines. I believe automation cannot replicate creativity, history or feelings, which the artist pours into its work. You can spot machines from a distance and it might be beautiful, in the end, it will never trigger the same emotions as handmade crafts.

I love white roses because that's the first flower I got in my entire life, my papa gave it to me when I became the big sister, he took it from the hospital garden, and since then, I just wish to receive white roses.

I create unique designs with beautiful bits from nature, add happiness and give miraculous messages. I want my artworks to have meaning and inspire my peers.

The blossom of textile art with Maya Monica from Hoopies Art

Hi Sweeney, could you introduce yourself?

Hello! I’m Sweeney Boo! I’m a comic artist and illustrator living in Canada. I love drawing ladies, might they be from my own creation, or trying my own take at an already existing character. I’m inspired by fashion, witches, 19th-century art, and more.

Could you tell us about the process of working on “Marvel Action: Captain Marvel”, how did it come about?

Marvel Action: Captain Marvel was my very first time working on monthly comics. I had just quit my position at a mobile game company to start freelancing full time. Two months after, I got an offer to do a test for a new Captain Marvel series for IDW. I was lucky enough to get it, and it’s been an amazing adventure ever since! Sam Maggs writes really inventive issues, that really let me get wild with my pencil and inks, then it’s off to Britanny Peer to do apply her magic colors. It’s been a year that I have been working on this series, and I can’t wait for what’s to come.

As creators we are always grinding on releasing our next projects, what is the importance of taking breaks and how do you celebrate after achieving your deadlines?

I am not the best at taking breaks as I have a tendency to overwork but I am trying to do better. I cannot stress enough the importance of being organized and planning ahead without this, I’d never be able to achieve my deadlines. I usually know the amount of work that I can do every day and will plan my weeks/months of work accordingly. I’m always trying to leave nights and weekends off if I can (but that is still a work in progress...). I usually celebrate finishing a deadline by taking a night for myself, watching a movie, or enjoying a good book, some nice, quiet time.

Many artists seem to think they are defined by their likes rather than their values, how do you detach yourself from your numbers?

I do not take the numbers and the people who follow my work for granted. I cherish every comment and every like that I get. I am everyday feeling very lucky that people like what I do, but it can still be very surreal. I do work for myself, but most importantly for my readers and followers and I want to use the voice they give me in the right way.

As a professional what is your secret on growing your followers and how do you connect with your fanbase?

Time as been my best ally. I’ve started sharing my work online about 8 years ago and my work has changed and evolved since. I grew this online presence slowly but surely. I try to be the most acknowledgeable and thankful as I can be, and help anyone who comes my way with advice and questions even if I feel like I’m still very new at all of this!

What would you tell our readers about self-image?

Eat & Love Yourself comes from my own battle with self-image and an eating disorder. It’s not biographical but still very close to home. As much as I still struggle to love myself, I want to use my work to share body positivity, and self love.

Sabrina - The Teenage Witch by Sweeney Boo 

Discover Sweeney Boo's Artworks on Instagram!

Time as been my best ally. I’ve started sharing my work online about 8 years ago and my work has changed and evolved since. I grew this online presence slowly but surely.

How to build your name as an artist with Sweeney Boo

Hello Steph, could you tell us about yourself and how you started exploring calligraphy?

I have always been into drawing and creating stuff. I discovered Calligraphy and Lettering in 2016 thanks to Instagram. In January 2016, I posted my first calligraphy work, I've been exploring a lot since then. Since lettering is my passion, I spend hours practicing. It doesn't matter if it's on Instagram, for fun or commissioned works, I just love to create new letters. 

I am inspired by many talented people and I always search to create my own art using their technics. I think my style has evolved through the years, I am not sure I can define it or identify it but I love when people tell me about it, it means that I am recognizable, it's a really nice compliment. I aim to be as good as the ones I admire.

You use a variety of instruments to create a breath of lettering styles. What are the must-have materials in your tool case?


I love to use brush pens, depending on my mood, my favorites are Faber Castell PITT and Tombow Dual Tips. There are times when I also use felt tip pens like Ecoline, or Tombows. As for textures, I use synthetic hair brush pens like Pentel's, which are also awesome. 

HB pencil or any automatic pencil are very handy on my tool case, it helps me to sketch roughly ideas or grids to write on it. To add shadows or finalize a project, I use fineliners to ink some drawings. 

Besides all those, I work a lot on iPad Pro so I bring it everywhere I go.

What would you advise people starting out in the art of calligraphy?

I think, as creatives, we are not totally responsible for our ideas. I think it's all about feeding your brain and let it do the work. I watch a lot of stuff, it doesn't matter if it's in real life or on the Internet. The important thing is to be curious and give your brain the food he needs to create your own personal, original mixes. 

All I can tell is that Calligraphy requires practice, it's a long time process. Try every tool you can, find the one that you prefer to work with, and use it again and again and again because that's the only way to improve and be better.

How does your work relate to your everyday life?


Lettering made me believe more in myself. On Instagram, I always try to find nice quotes to spread positive messages. I think there is a community to encourage, I am talking to the younger me which was afraid to post an unfinished artwork. I want people to believe in themselves even more.

See more of Stephane's beautiful lettering on Instagram

Since lettering is my passion, I spend hours practicing. It doesn't matter if it's on Instagram, for fun or commissioned works, I just love to create new letters. 

How to become a lettering artist with Stephane Lopes

Hi Ricardo! Can you tell us about yourself, how would you describe your artworks? 

Hi! I'm Ricardo Ow, currently a JR Art Director working on children's 3D animation. I've been working as a professional artist for games and entertainment for over 12 years now and freelance as an illustrator when the right project comes along at the right time. 

I personally love the fantasy and sci-fi genre so having a creative career in games and animation has been pure joy for me.

How did you become a professional artist? Did you explore other forms of art before?

I've always loved to draw, and had a passion for video games, comics, and animation since I was young, so becoming a professional artist in entertainment has always been a dream of mine. I started my art career as a 3D character modeler working on sports titles at Electronic Arts for FIFA and NHL and then transitioned to concept and production art on mobile games and recently making the move into the animation industry.

Could you describe the production process of a piece, what goes into your mind before designing a character?

Depending on the intention behind the piece in question, the process for its creation and the workflow for it differs slightly. In general, though, I suppose the most important thing I consider based on your question is figuring out what the reason is for its creation in the first place and how it will be seen and consumed (3D? 2D? animation? illustration?). Once you have a good understanding of its purpose and its role, this will give you the beginnings of a road map to how to get there. 

To elaborate further, if its a character I need to design for a game or a show, I would first need to figure out what role this character needs to play before I can design it successfully. Is the character the hero or the villain? Is it a supporting character? What is the demographic of our audience? What kind of feeling or impression does this character need to convey and how does he support the narrative of the greater story or universe? etc. These questions all need to be considered before I can confidently create anything.

There are so many instruments to use as a game artist nowadays, what are the top tools you couldn't do without?

"Game artist" is a very broad term in itself, depending on what kind of game artist you are, the tools that you use will be quite different. For example, a Concept Artist or Designer will most likely need to be familiar with Photoshop as its the industry standard for image-making. If you are a 3d modeler/texture/surfacing artist you will need to be familiar with Substance Painter, Maya, Zbrush, etc. The tools and instruments you use really depends on your role and the type of game you are creating. 

For myself, there isn't a single day that I don't use Photoshop at work so I would say that is an invaluable tool, but besides stating the obvious, I would say Youtube and Pinterest are great for references and learning; truly amazing and convenient resources available to artists, and for free.

What do you predict for the future of digital art and where would you like to see it go?

Good question. I feel that creative careers whether it be digital art, writing, music are getting cheaper and more accessible than ever before with the emergence of online learning and training. Anybody with enough passion, determination, focus, and guidance can build a solid career in whatever they choose. With that said, there has never been so much competition, so you have to outwork and outlast many others to make it as a professional, this industry is truly a marathon and not a sprint. 

I would love to see a future with more stories and influences from voices that aren't often heard. I think this could really add variety and flavor to the stories of our world when it's not just dominated by the privileged or the mainstream perspective. We live in such a polarized world today that some empathy and understanding of other perspectives could go a long way in helping us heal the divide and I feel the stories we consume through multimedia will be an important place to start.

Creators are constantly looking for ideas, where do you nurture yours?

Ideas and stories don't just come to us out of the blue or from a vacuum, they come from living life and being open-minded to new experiences. Books, movies, music, song, poetry, comics, cartoons, plays, traveling, hiking, falling in love, getting your heartbroken, all of it; soak it all in and from the emotions and experiences and lessons you take in, reinterpret them through your unique perspective and express that through your art. Never stop learning and improving and you'll always have something to say and images to create.

What is the secret of good communication?

I think the secret to good communication is clarity and authenticity. What you leave out is just as important as what you leave in. To know what you need to leave out and what to leave is determined by the intention and honesty of your message or feeling you're trying to express, and this is much harder than it sounds.

See more of Ricardo's artworks on Artstation

I've been working as a professional artist for games and entertainment for over 12 years now and freelance as an illustrator when the right project comes along at the right time.

Shaping your artistic direction with Ricardo Ow

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Artists

The blossom of textile art with Maya Monica from Hoopies Art

How to build your name as an artist with Sweeney Boo

How to become a lettering artist with Stephane Lopes

Shaping your artistic direction with Ricardo Ow