Episode 3: Art Interview with Zolaida

The Art of Zolaida

We come back with a new interview from an amazing artist : Zolaida . Discover her epic world, the magic of her digital drawings and her beautiful characters. The digital artist shows us how to draw emotions with elegance and style, she brings some attention to details, which does not fail to lead to very well made creations.
Don't hesitate to visit her gallery and enter in her own universe.

I consider my art the result of my love for creating. I think it's wonderful that I can create something like a painting, and it makes me feel proud. It's like my own little way of leaving an impression on the world! I do my art in my free time, so it's the result of doing something you are willing to give time for.

I get inspired by lots of things! The reason I started drawing was because of a game series called Final Fantasy, especially number XIII. I was hugely impressed by how everything looked and how everything was designed, and I wanted to be able to do that too. So I took up drawing again! Until this day they are still a huge inspiration for me, along with other games like Zelda or the recently released Bravely Default.
Music is also a huge inspiration for me. Somehow I visualize while I hear music, and it greatly boosts the imagination. I listen to soundtracks especially, and I always have something on while I draw.
Other then that I get inspired by other artists too, naturally. Artists like Jason Chan, Bao Pham, Lisa Keene or Phoenix Lu; basically every picture I get attracted too. My folders are bulking out with inspirational art!

I didn't go to art school, nor did I did any online classes. Art is a (huge and out of control haha) hobby of mine, which I did next to college, and now, next to work. Because of the limited time I never took up to study art as well, but I hope I get to read more books soon that can help me. Right now I learn and I also try to learn so much with every picture I make, which makes the process of making a picture much harder and much longer. It's not an ideal process, and therefor my advice is; if you have time to do studies, do them!!

Yes, I noticed that too, haha. The answer is simple for me though; for one, I am a girl myself, and it's easy to draw what you can check in the mirror if you don't know anymore. I have more experience in drawing woman, and so most of my ideas involve the character to be female. Another reason is because it's harder for me to think up ideas to draw for men, then for woman. I hope I can change that soon though, and draw some drop-dead gorgeous males too.

Maybe! I think I have a long way to go before that though. ImagineFX magazine asked me to be in this month's issue in their FXposé section, and that was like a dream come true already. For the rest I want to improve myself a whole lot first, before I am ready to have and act on other dreams.

I could tell you to do studies or whatever, but I'm just going to say: enjoy what you draw. Simple as that. If you enjoy what you are doing, you are more open to learn something, and do your best to make it a creation you're proud of. You have to start somewhere, and why waste your time doing something you don't enjoy doing? You won't be happy that way, and you are less likely to draw and thus improve. So, do your best by having fun!

^{FAQ: How do we choose our interviewee? A a member, just be active in the group and post your artworks often.}