We interviewed shrimperini all about their work! Learn more about them HERE!
1. What inspires your work?
I would say my work is heavily inspired by anime since it’s the style I like the most. The first manga I’ve ever read was Sailor Moon and that definitely paved the way toward my love for shows with female-centered casts! Watching cartoons, animated movies and anime also helps me come up with new ideas for my own characters. The world of animation in general is so inspiring to me and I love looking at concept art and initial sketches of characters. Ein Lee, the character designer for RWBY, has been a huge inspiration for me recently and I hope I can reach her level of skill one day!
2. Tell us about your art?
I’ve been drawing since I was very young, at first traditionally with basic tools, then I started focusing on digital art as soon as I received a drawing tablet when I was barely a teenager. I’ve always loved to draw characters and designing new ones is one of my favorite activities. Drawing online with my friends has helped me so much in terms of improving my skills and developing my own artstyle. I think I’ve finally settled with a style I’m content with and I hope I can improve where I’m currently lacking.
3. What advice would you give new artists?
If you’re reading this and you’re fairly new to drawing, please keep going. Especially when you’re a beginner, don’t get discouraged if your art doesn’t look good to you, because it’s all part of a bigger process that will eventually lead to you noticing how far you’ve come. Some people take longer than others to improve and that’s okay! As long as drawing makes you happy, that’s what truly counts. You should take all the time you need to develop your own style and figure out what you want to do with it. I definitely suggest practicing regularly if you intend to reach a certain level. Studying anatomy, learning color theory and different techniques (traditional and/or digital) are important steps. But please don’t forget the most important thing: to have fun, and don’t overwork yourself!
4. Goals for this year?
I intend to improve my anatomy and also learn how to draw backgrounds, which is something I really struggle with. I want to make more photo studies this year so hopefully I can find better ways to render my work. Posting more fanart in the future is also one of my long term goals, since feedback from my followers truly helps me find the right motivation!
5. Where can people support your work?
You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr, with the same name @shrimperini!
6. Favorite RWBY Character?
The cast of RWBY is huge and it’s hard to tell which character is objectively the best. Maybe it’s obvious, seeing all the art I make of them, but I absolutely adore all members of team RWBY. Ruby, because of how she matured during the seasons and how she always aims to do what’s best. Weiss, who went from being a haughty, “mean” girl from one of the best characters in the show in terms of development. Blake, after dealing with so much pain and trauma, finally letting herself love and trust her teammates. Last but not least Yang because of her amazing strength, both physical and psychological. I admire these girls a lot.
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Tatiana Stec is the Co-Founder and Creative Director at All Ages of Geek. You can follow her on Substack.