AOTW - Cimery

✧*̥˚    Hello Hello AAOC!       *̥˚✧

I'm SLK and I'm here to give you the Artist Of The Week, Cimery!

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Cimery describes themselves as technical and it shows in their art. Their style includes soft shading to match their soft and muted color palettes, changing shading textures from time to time. Not only do they create beautiful works of art, but also interesting and dynamic character designs! We are very excited to feature them as the Artist of the Week!

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✧*̥˚     How do I become an AOTW?     *̥˚✧

First, make an audition post with 7-20 pieces of yourart with the tag #aotwaudition

It is recommended that you update your audition post as time goes on (ex:every 2 months)!

If you have auditioned before, and you did not get AOTW, don’t worry, yourentry is still valid!

All artwork in the blog belongs to Cimery

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✧*̥˚    How did you first get      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚    into creating art?      *̥˚✧

I know there are many art forms, but please assume I’m talking about drawings if I mention “art”, unless otherwise stated.

My first fond memory of drawing was with my cousins, as wee kiddos. We’d draw mannequins and design simple clothes for them. Later in schooling days, my classmates circulated exercise books to doodle in. I was in charge of drawing cabbage (yes, very specific, but important task in running our doodle farm). This all made for real fun play time. =^=

A few years later, I got my first smart phone. I came across Paigeeworld (which was an online art community) and got introduced to the concept of OCs. It was there that I birthed my first few kiddos (ie. properly designed my first few OCs). The process dug up my love for dres mannequin drawings, but this time I had enough brain processing to actually write about them HAHAH-

So I did! I also shared art of the kiddos and ed various RP settings. Wanting to mingle with others of the same interest made me stay in the art community.

If I were to summarise, I started liking art because I like deg OCs.

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✧*̥˚     Where does you      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     inspiration come from?      *̥˚✧

I take inspiration from all experiences.

One way or another, my ideas are influenced by all sensory input processed in my (inefficient yet humble) brain. Real life is plenty detailed, so I’ve come to appreciate detailing in drawings. It’s also a bit random, so I have an OC’s hairstyle inspired by that one time a friend got stung to death by a scorpion in Hand Simulator.

More specific stylistic inspirations come from mobile RPGs. Gacha rolling, unit collecting types made the most impact. Examples include Divine Gate, Tower of Saviors and Road to Dragons. They appeal to me because of character design and interesting character art composition.

An illustrator I look up to as inspiration is huke (Black Rock Shooter, Steins;Gate). I get loads of ideas from my friends and their work. ^^ There’s also, of course this very community. Y’all’s feed are awesome so please keep the good content coming hahah-

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✧*̥˚     How would you describe      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     your art style?      *̥˚✧

Ever since I got my tablet last August, I’ve been developing this current semi-realism style. I like to describe it as a combination of phone finger art and traditional pencil art.

The brushes I use may vary (thus changing the texture of the final piece), but I think the overall shading style is consistent. Colours are muted or monotonous for a sombre mood. I also tend to focus on depicting character design in my drawings.

While not a separate style, some of my drawings have full bodies fit in landscape orientation. This composition is heavily influenced by the mobile games I named earlier. I enjoy planning character poses (especially foreshortened ones) for these, so they’re technically a favourite “style” of mine (compared to bust ups, static standing full bodies etc) =^=)b

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✧*̥˚     What does art mean to you?      *̥˚✧

Art means learning to me.

Similar to how I visit museums to peek into history, I look at art to understand the creators’ experiences. If I strike up a convo about art, it’s my chance to know more about someone else ufufu-

My art process often involves some form of research into the subject I draw. I can’t count the number of times I learn random facts from searching up references.

That’s it. It’s not the most emotional or personal-sounding answer, but I do enjoy learning and knowing more. Right now, art is the most fun way for me to learn. ^^

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✧*̥˚     What art mediums do      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     you prefer to work in?      *̥˚✧

When I first started posting artwork online, my medium-of-choice was colour pencils, so they hold a special place in my heart. =^= They simply have great texture and are more portable compared to other traditional medium like paints.

Even now, as a mainly digital artist, I find myself using pencil shading techniques and pencil brushes to emulate colour pencil art.

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✧*̥˚     What is your favorite      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     piece and why?      *̥˚✧

The commission piece for nealelephus last October is one of my proudest work.

It was my first completed art commission, first time fitting three characters in a single drawing, and first time trying a rotatable composition (though it didn’t really work out). I had fun detailing the charming characters and their props as well. I learnt loads from this drawing.

I was pleasantly surprised when Neal was pleased enough to keep the drawing as their desktop background.

I am happy if my art makes others happy. ^^

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✧*̥˚     What are some of your      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     art goals/aims?      *̥˚✧

I feel excited thinking about where art can take me next hehehe. I want to slowly expand the range of subjects I draw.

I’ll probably start practicing backgrounds first. I want to someday render complete backdrops, so I can illustrate scenarios for OC stories ahahahah XD

ALSO—MACHINES and CARS. I want to draw more of them and marvel in their engineering. =^=

It’ll be great if I can be familiar enough with them to draw them from scratch. Until then, I take my time and practice loads.

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✧*̥˚     Do you have any      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     Original Characters?      *̥˚✧

Question 10

I have too many kiddos (OCs) OTL and since I run a thousand parallel storylines, they all are equally (un)developed. I’ll talk about two worlds my OCs live in, Yggdrasil and Vista, instead of focussing on specific characters.

Yggdrasil is the newer world of the two. It’s adventurous, with an OC vs environment setup. Here, everyone lives on a gigantic tree, doing their share of monster slaying, research, exploration, etc. The canopy (light) storyline follows the scholar-adventurer duo, Angel and Devil, on their observational study of their magical squirrel, Pimple. The root abyss (dark) storyline has mercenary guild, Stigmata fending off monsters and finding a cure to the ’ inability to return to Yggdrasil’s canopy.

Vista has much more drama. Factions are in power struggles and conflicts of their own. A fae (fairy) kingdom is split into two in of either heir to the throne. To the south, cries to improve living conditions reach deaf ears. Organised crime runs rampant there. Eastern clanspeople tick each other off in scuffles over territory. A multinational organisation suppresses revenge plots but starts to doubt their true purpose. My kiddos are dispersed in this world, each with their set of experiences, beliefs and motives.

The grand vision for Vista is preventing one single faction from holding a moral high ground. I don’t have enough brains and narrative skill to show this at the moment, but I am in no rush.

I want to focus on character designs first, haha. I find it easier to come up with ideas when I draw my OCs, so my current plan is to give each kiddo a reference sheet. ^^ Many completed ones are already in my ToyHouse or blogs.

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✧*̥˚     How do you deal with art      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     block? Any tips?      *̥˚✧

I either try something new (change my playlist, sit somewhere different, draw things I haven’t drawn before) or take a break from drawing. I personally find the latter more effective.

I think art block is just our brains running out of power. =^= Sometimes it’s easier to hold stuff in.

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✧*̥˚     Do you have any advice or tips      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     you would like to share with      *̥˚✧

✧*̥˚     younger/beginner artists?      *̥˚✧

As with many other skills, build art on a basis of “understanding”, and you shall be taken very far.

You can be as spartan or chill as you want with your practice. We have different goals and priorities. Find something that works for you, and JUST DO IT.

Enjoy the arting and learning process as much as possible =^=)b

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✧*̥˚     Social Media      *̥˚✧

If you would like to follow Cimery then check her out either here on amino, or you can follow them on Instagram, and they're even ing art fight this year! Thank you Cimery for the interview and congratulations on getting AOTW!

Instagram

Art Fight

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