May 15 2019

Graphic Designer Maria Spada #interview

Please give a warm welcome to graphic designer Maria Spada

Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi, my name is Maria, a 28-year-old graphic designer from the tropical island of Cebu, Philippines. I’m also a book and music collector, and a lover of green tea 🙂

Have you always wanted to become a designer/artist?

I knew I had it since I was a child. My father was a very good watercolor artist, and my mother is a grade school teacher, so I was lucky enough to have the resources and materials needed to develop my talent. I joined a lot of art competitions, until my interest in art just slowly disappeared. It wasn’t until 2005 when I discovered Photoshop by accident. I learned by myself, and then used the knowledge and skill to support my local arts and music scene, made invitation cards and posters and other stuff for friends and family. In other words I only considered it a hobby. After college (I took Political Science), I landed a part-time job at a publishing company where I learned a lot about book cover design. I found out that I could make a living with my skills so I decided to become a full-time book cover designer. 🙂

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Fantasy movies and TV shows, children’s books, folk and symphonic black metal music, and Asian myths/folklore

What are you working on now?

My website, and a couple of fantasy covers that has dragons in it 🙂

Do you have any quirks while working?

I don’t know if listening to metal while working counts. It gives me energy X)

Do you have any advice for new artists about the publishing world?

It takes a lot of effort and patience to develop a skill. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, to try new things–experiment, and don’t be afraid of failures. Learn from them instead. Also in the publishing world you must pay attention to details and be informed with the technicalities and legal stuff, including copyrights, etc. I know it’s boring, but it’s a must.

What are your hopes for the future?

A better world where there is equality, and love, and new inventions are more helpful than destructive.

Do you have anything to say to your fans?

I have fans? Hehe. Hi! I love you!

Buy links

Social media links

Apr 25 2019

Graphic Designer Imaginary Rosse #interview

Please give a warm welcome to digital artist Andreea Grigore

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Andreea, and I’m a digital artist based in Bucharest, Romania.

I’m a very melancholic person, daydreamer and I take my energy from the times I get to be alone with my thoughts. I’m a crazy cat lady, currently having 3 cats, but also happily married! *wink*

How did you become a digital artist:

My journey started back in 2004, when I first started playing around with Photoshop.

I found it fascinating to be able to blend together different images and create something that comes out of your imagination. It was like creating a different reality, in which I got to express my dreams, struggles, and so on. I’ve come a long way, but there’s still a lot left to learn.

What is your inspiration for your art?

I love princesses, witches, warriors, fairytales, mythology, glowing stuff, magic… So I take my inspiration from anything around me that has this elements. There’s a lot of talented photographers out there that are very inspirational, movies, stories. They blend in my imagination, and I create from the stories they blend into.

Do you sell your art?

I’m currently not selling prints, but my works are available for licensing.

Most of my work can be tweaked or sold as a whole to authors, artists, etc.

Contact links

Apr 2 2019

Artist Dani Smith #interview

Please give a warm welcome to my fabulous friend, artist and author Dani Smith

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m an illustrator and book cover designer focusing on fantasy, horror, and romance themes. I have been creating and publishing my own comics and novels through my boutique publishing and art business, QuickDraw Studios, since 2010. I have been on Top 100 Bestseller lists numerous times, outselling select issues of titles like Hellboy, The Walking Dead, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer in digital format.

I currently am at work with my husband and partner, Alex Julian, on numerous novel and comic projects that are projected for publication in the next year. We live in a little white cottage in San Diego, CA. with our boy Ryker, a terrier mix named Arrow, a fat guinea pig named Freckles, and a sassy black cat named Gabe the Prince of Darkness. Our house is full of murals, nude and pinup art, and rock n’ roll. We are the all-American family. 😉

Have you always wanted to become a designer/blogger?

I knew I was an artist from toddlerhood. I never questioned it, though that may not be the popular or “right” thing to do according to the society in which I live. Sometimes you are just born who you are meant to be in a straightforward fashion, no questions asked. I got into book cover illustration during my 2011 pregnancy with my son, and I have enjoyed it ever since.

My favorite book cover projects are illustrated, though I have also created covers using stock photos for authors, if this is requested. I also love doing interior illustration and character design for authors in the romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and horror genres.

What was your inspiration for your current work?

I have always been inspired by folklore, anthropology, fairy tales, film, and music. Lately I have been creating personal works for my Instagram, @daniquickdraw, that reflect my favorite popular characters or portray Instagram models that I find creatively alluring. These personal works have been immensely popular.

What are you working on now?

I am always working on the next comic book project, most recently the next issue of my bestselling Black Dog and Rebel Rose series, and two illustrated novels, ASYLUM and SHALE CITY. You can see examples of work done for these on my Instagram and Facebook pages fairly regularly.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I love to go “sideways”—that is, I drink strong coffee while also drinking a glass of wine or champagne. The alcohol relaxes me while the caffeine stimulates my creative brain and gets the juices flowing. It’s a really great combination. I love to listen to folklore, true crime, and anthropology podcasts while painting, as well as indie soundtracks on YouTube that fit whatever project I am working on at the moment.

What are your hopes for the future?

I currently have a live action film option on the table in Los Angeles for my most popular comic series, Black Dog and Rebel Rose. It has been a long time in the works, and we have had a few hurdles to jump over as time has gone by, which seems to be a fait accompli for indie films. But I remain hopeful that the project will pan out and be a success. Most recently, my producers are planning to film a teaser trailer featuring the five major characters that will be launched worldwide to promote the funding of the project.

Do you have any advice for new designers about the author world?

Make sure your work is top-notch in quality. Try to stand out from the crowd—discover what is unique about your work and focus on that. Let your light shine and the right folks will find you.