Manga/Anime Spotlight is a weekly feature that highlights the different artists across the deviantART's Manga/Anime community, and is a portal to get to know a bit more about them and their works.

This week's feature is KikaiSaigono

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1.) To start off, what is your favorite medium and tools to use?

I love copics. I just absolutely love them. I use copics on bristol board for most of my illustrations, I find digital to be really disorienting for me, so I just stick to traditional.

2.) When you draw, do you plan everything out first, or do you just see where the drawing takes you?

Most of the time I have an image in my head, but it almost never turns out just like I imagined! So most of the time I just start drawing and see where my imagination takes me.

3.) On average, how long do you spend on a drawing?

For a fully colored, back-ground-and-all with copics, I usually spend about 15 to 20 hours on a piece. Sometimes less because I end up getting tired of the drawing and just let it be done.

4.) When did you first start drawing, and what made you start to draw in the manga/anime style?

I, like so many of my generation, was a Sailor Moon baby and that was what got a pencil in my hand. It also has heavily influenced me in what I draw to this day -- which is a LOT of shoujo style. I regret nothing though, I still love Sailor Moon!

5.) What are your inspirations for drawing?

Rhythmic dance and gymnastics never fail to get my creative juices flowing. I love watching how beautiful and flawlessly they move. I also find inspiration in Neo-Classical and Art Nouveau era paintings.

6.) Do you have any artists that you look up to?

Alphonse Mucha is my biggest inspiration. His paintings are just incredible and fill me with so much inspiration. I also am so incredibly in love with vmbui's work, her painting just seems so natural and colorful. I also look up to PinkParasol, her paintings have so much soul put in to them. Also, :dev-coey-: is just amazing, 'nuff said.

7.) Out of the works in your gallery, what are your five favorite pieces?

I have no idea! I keep meaning to upload new work to my gallery, so some the ones I pick might be old.
I like this one because I used my airbrush system for the first time, and it turn out great!

And these I love because they are very personal to me.




8.) Do you have any tips for young aspiring artists?

I just want to tell them that critique is not your enemy. Believe me, when someone gives you a critique (and I mean a well thought out honest but kind critique) they just want to help you. If they didn't want to help you and see you improve and be the best you can be, they wouldn't bother writing out a critique for you. It's hard at first when someone says they don't like something about your art -- but in time you will realize that it only makes you stronger as an artist AND as a person, even if you choose not to utilize it.
ALSO. DRAW WHAT YOU WANT. Don't let others tell you that you that you "don't have enough of this or that" or "all you draw is _____, you should widen your horizons". When you draw what you love, you improve more than if you're forced to paint still life that you hate. And when you improve and start to love what you draw more and more, you'll find yourself wanting to spread out and draw new things, but it will be something that you find out on your own and enjoy loads more!

9.) Are there any other types of art that enjoy?

I really love Neo-Classical art, and the beautiful female figures that came out of that era of art. I love the paintings that interpret Greek mythology. When I visit museums, I got straight to the old 1890s/1900s style art and stay far FAR away from contemporary. (I just don't like it! D: )

10.) Is there anything else that you would like to add?

As you can see, I'm actually rather boring. I hope you had as much fun reading as I had answering, haha! Thank you

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Some other works from KikaiSaigono

:thumb281893569:

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Previous Features

Miss-It-Girl | SenjoVal | aoi-hoshi | wbd | DiMoo | Tajii-Chan | GoddessOfCake | veroro | AmythestViolet | Gigicom | Barbicaty | izka197 | Awsumz | Russian-Lullaby | azarath | Lyricanna | touchedvenus | Jyinxe | juusan13 | TeamRAKENZAN |

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Until next week when we feature: defudefu