English below

Salut tout le monde, j'avais annoncé en janvier que je ferai le tri dans les notes et questions que je reçois et ferai une espèce de FAQ. C'est chose faite. Donc voici les réponses aux questions qui reviennent le plus souvent : la VF c'est là (faites pas gaffe, le site est encore en construction)

Au fait, je prends toujours des commissions, si des gens sont intéressés, n'hésitez pas !

Au fait, merci à tous ceux qui s'inquiètent pour ma famille. C'est gentil à vous , je suis assez optimiste même si nous sommes tous un peu sur les dents avec tous ces évènements.

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Hi guys, some time ago, I said that I would write a journal about the frequently asked questions that I receive so here it is, I finally answered.

For how long have you been drawing ?

Technically, I have always drawn (more or less) but it was nothing more doodles on the corner of my paper in class. I got my 1rst tablet in 2007 in my manga period but all I was doing with it was coloring manga pages. I learned the basis of photoshop thank to that.
I started to take it more seriously  and posted my 1rst drawing on deviantArt in 2009.... I'll keep 2009 as the real date.

  Do you have  any kind of artistic formation ?

I have never learned how to paint or draw. But I won't say that it is some kind of godly gift. I also trained/practiced a lot on my own, learning from various tutorials, studying other artists' style etc. ... And being a musician since I was 4/5 years old, I think I've always had an artistic sensibility.

Always digital art ?

Not always but mostly. Mainly because I like the way it looks... I know it sounds kind of stupid but I'm a digital art fan before being a digital artist. It's a question of taste (and habit).

  Is digital art easier than traditional ?

That's a stereotype that I hear a lot...the answer is NO.
I often talk to people who say that artists who do traditional art are fundamentally more skilled at drawing than digital artists or that we rely on modern day technology to do all the work ... But the computer or the software is nothing more than a tool.
Digital Painting is ultimately nothing more than the skills and knowledge of a traditional process applied with digital tools. Perspective, color effect, focus and composition, anatomy, etc.
Every digital artist is also able to do traditional art, he/she just needs to get used to the medium just how painting on a canvas is different than a charcoal drawing... The artistic skills are the same. And actually, digital art takes more time to do.
There's no secret brush that can make you finish a huge painting in 2 hrs nor a "make art" button... just sayin' ... (I admit that we have the UNDO button though ...)

Why is your style realistic ?

Again, a question of taste. When I was younger, I really was into anime style but I really love playing with colours so painting the way I do is really interesting because I get to the arrange colour schemes more precisely and  figure out the lighting and shading ... it's the funny part.


  What tools do you use ?

Tablet : WACOM Bamboo pen & touch, size : medium
Photoshop CS5 + SAI (from time to time)
...I'd like to buy a new tablet though. A more professional one (but it's kind of expensive).

  Do you have any tips to give for young digital artists ?

Don't despair if you see that your painting is going nowhere... When you're a beginner with digital medias, progress is very slow and it takes a long time before you're able to draw/paint something that  is approximately right. You just have to keep practicing and study other artists' technique.
The magic word is always the same: Tons of practice!

  Do you have any special tutorial ?

Not in particular but those are good [link] [link] even if it's a bit generic. If you want something more special about photoshop and brushes, google is your friend.

Do you have role models ?

TONS ! it is countless. But I really got into digital art with Kyle Anderson [link] and Raphaël Lacoste [link] ... I love concept art in general and their digital style. The way they play with the lighting effects. It's fascinating.
But in a larger artistic way I could also talk about John Howe, Alan Lee, Todd Lockwood, Miguel Coimbra, Nicolas Bouvier (aka Sparth), Paul Lasaine etc. ...


Any further questions ? write me !

Monia