Who DAt? It's KovoWolf!

Have you ever seen a staff or volunteer symbol or ambassador badge and wondered "Who DAt?" Welcome to the interview series that's hittin' DA streets to find out more about these very deviants.

Featuring a Wild Card question which is selected at random from a pool of questions. If you have a suggested random/fun question to add to the list, please feel free to comment here.

In a remote arctic lodge, a conversation was had...

Ahoy! If you'd be so kind, what is your preferred name? Also, do tell, what is the delightfully devious story of your username?

@KovoWolf ("Kovo") has been my online handle since junior high. It was born from an interactive storytelling adventure my sister and I created together for a FFMMORPG on mIRC back in ye-old day, and it stuck around all these years. When I was choosing a name, I wanted something short and meaningful that reflected part of my Native American heritage. I loosely based it on "Kokomikiisom," a Blackfoot word meaning "moon/night," and swapped the second “k” for a “v” to make it a little more unique and short.

I never expected this username and character to follow me for so many years, but here we are! 

That said, I’ve been considering a change lately…something that reflects who I’ve become and how I’ve grown over the years. Hmmmmmm how much chaos would the world fall into if I did change it.

[Editor's Note: Noooooo D:]

PS: I had this username WELL before “Kovu” from Lion King.  !

How did you first discover DeviantArt and how did it connect to your heArt?

Cue the gentle plucking of a banjo and the slow creak of an old rocking chair, swaying on a weathered porch.

Why, gather 'round, young'uns, and let me spin ye a tale from the ancient days of the internet!

Back in my time, there existed a wondrous contraption known as WinAMP! A magical music box that lived upon thy computer and played all manner of tunes. Best of all, ye could adorn it with custom skins to thy heart’s content, and DeviantArt was positively overflowing with them! Then one faithful day, my good friend @wolfmoonie encouraged me to join the platform, so we can make art and collab together! 

Kicks off the quirky and funny narrator tone

Truth be told, I had been lurking about the site since 2000. However, it took a few years, and a fair bit of friendly arm-twisting before I finally planted my feet and joined proper. Concerning my art and its connection, well, it traces back to those early internet days / hours spent listening to music, wandering fantasy worlds in games, and getting lost in my own imagination and the amazing imaginations of so many great artists. I also loved hanging out in the shoutbox. If you know, you know.

Some folks outgrow their childhood fascinations; I simply turned mine into artwork. Second and most importantly was the community. I had never been around so many supportive users, ever, and it really fostered my inspiration further. 

So here I remain, many moons later, still wandering these artistic lands, creating fantastical creatures beneath starry skies, and causing the occasional bit of mischief.

As an admin of DA, what is your title and what are your responsibilities?

My title is Community Marketing Lead, which means I'm one of the faces behind many of the adventures, festivities, and shenanigans that take place across DeviantArt!

I’m mainly responsible for helping bring community campaigns to life, from snowball fest and tutorials to birthday celebrations, April Fools’ mischief, and more. On any given day, I can be found juggling various work quests, wrangling projects, plotting future events, and occasionally chasing runaway dragons (or deadlines).

I wear many hats in my role, but my favorite ones are definitely the festive ones! Especially when they help bring artists together and make the community more magical.

Generally, what does your day to day look like in regard to DA?

No two days are exactly the same, which is one of the things I love about my job! Most days are a mix of planning community campaigns, coordinating with different teams, supporting artists, gathering community feedback, and planning out ways to continue to make DeviantArt an amazing place for creators. I also spend a lot of time talking with artists, reading feedback, browsing artwork, and making sure community initiatives are running smoothly behind the scenes!  There’s a fair bit of project management involved, but at the heart of it, my goal is helping artists connect, create, have fun, and be inspired. 

So while my title is Community Marketing Lead, some days it feels more like community wizard, event planner, treasure hunter, and professional hat collector all rolled into one.

Was art an integral part of your childhood? If so, how?

It was and still is . My grandmother on my fathers side was an absolutely amazing painter. My grandfather on my mothers side was also an artist. He did everything. Painted, taxidermy, jewelry, lapidary, traditional drawings, and worked for Disney as an animator. One of my most cherished possessions is he handed down his anatomy books he used for Disney that I still use!

I started drawing comics when I was in junior high, then I received my first tablet in high school and started drawing in photoshop and haven’t looked back. My family was very supportive of my art and when I spent my summers with my grandparents, they would always give us pen/paper/pencils to draw with!

Who or what is your inspiration in life and/or art?

I've always found a lot of inspiration in the natural world and with my grandparents, sisters, and parents. Growing up with my grandparents (and David Attenborough documentaries) I spent a great deal of time outdoors, and they shared that love of nature with me from an early age. Whether it was exploring the mountains, watching wildlife, making crafts, camping under the stars, or simply appreciating the beauty of a quiet landscape, those experiences left a lasting impression on me.

That connection to nature continues to influence both my life and my art today. Many of the themes I gravitate towards is wolves ( growing up, I wanted to be a wolf biologist! ), forests, mountains, moonlit skies, galaxies, and fantasy creatures. Nature has a way of sparking my imagination, and many of my creative ideas begin with something I've seen, experienced, or felt while exploring the world around me. I’ve always been fascinated by how the natural world works, from the behavior of animals and ecosystems to the vast mysteries of space. Curiosity has been a constant companion throughout my life, and I love learning about the interconnectedness of things. Rather than diminishing the magic of the world, understanding it often makes it feel even more incredible, and that’s what I try to bring into my art.

I've also always loved the perspective that Carl Sagan shared that we’re all inhabitants of a tiny "pale blue dot" suspended in the vastness of the cosmos. There’s something both humbling and inspiring about realizing that, despite our differences, we’re all traveling together on this small world. That idea has shaped how I view creativity, community, and our connection to one another, and another piece I try to add into my work.

My Native American heritage has also influenced how I see the world as well. It has helped foster a deep respect for nature, wildlife, and the relationships between living things. Many of the themes that appear in my artwork reflect that appreciation for the land and the stories we tell about it.

Of your own work, which has the most meaning to you and why?

Ooo, this is a tough one. Every piece I create carries its own meaning and captures a particular moment, feeling, or story in my life, so choosing just one is difficult.

That said, one of my more recent pieces, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, has held a lot of meaning for me lately. Without diving too deeply into personal details, my family has been navigating a lot of health challenges and difficult circumstances, and the themes of that piece have resonated with me in a profound way recently.

The artwork is inspired by Dylan Thomas's famous poem, but I was especially moved by Anthony Hopkins’ reading of it. The poem's message about perseverance, resilience, and facing life's hardships with courage really struck a chord with me. There are moments in life when those words feel less like poetry and more like a reminder to keep moving forward, even when things are difficult. I think that's one of the reasons art is so meaningful to me, especially this piece. Sometimes a piece becomes more than an image; it becomes a way to process emotions, reflect on experiences, and hold onto ideas that matter. Right now, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night is one of those pieces for me.

The classic superpowers (flight, invisibility, super strength, etc.) are no longer available. What wildly random superpower would you choose and why?

To shapeshift into any animal, at any time. Why? Could you imagine.. 

Is there a movie/TV series/documentary that you just can't stop thinking about?

Studio Ghibli will always be in my heart as my favorite type of movies that I could watch over and over and never get bored! As far as a recent TV series, I've been enjoying 7 Dials inspired by Agatha Christie. TV series while growing up? Always Pokémon!

What music gets you into your groove? (Specific groups/artists?)

Oh boy, to many! Music is a huge inspiration for me when I'm creating, so I usually switch it up depending on the mood. Some favorites are movie Original Sound Tracks (lately Hail Mary), Wardruna, Heilung, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Gealdyr, Trevor Morris, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Howard shore, Frank Sinatra, AURORA, Joe Hisaishi, Metallica, Ozzy, etc.

A book that had a powerful impact on you?

Not to copy @moonbeam13, but Braiding Sweet Grass as well! It’s a beautiful book, by an amazing author. I got to hear Robin talk about her book and nature conservation and she was absolutely inspiring.

I'm also a huge fan of Tolkien and any books by John Muir!

What is a dish that when consumed always provides you with a sense of pure joy?

Ramen and ice cream (not together).

What question or topic do you wish you'd get to discuss more often? And, please, share a few highlights about it!

How is it the only movie that ever created the best and most stunningly realistic CGI werewolf was Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman?? Why aren't there more movies with anatomically correct werewolves!? Give them their tails!

Also.. anyone wanna chat about dinosaurs?

What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

One of the best pieces of advice I've received was from my grandfather:

"Don't wait for the perfect moment, start where you are with what you have and build. You are enough and worth everything, for all that your heart wants."

Life has a way of testing us. Plans change, challenges appear, and sometimes the road ahead isn't as clear as we'd like it to be, but they're worth it. My grandparents always encouraged us to follow our dreams, be true to ourself, and do what fulfills our hearts because this life is so precious, and we should savior and enjoy ever moment of it.

Following your heart isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting yourself enough to take the next step, even when you can't see the entire trail ahead.

Wild Card: If your creations had a theme song, what would it be?

I could no sooner pick a favorite theme song than I could find the answer to the meaning of life, so here's one I’ve been listening to quite often while painting!

Thank you for your devious time today! Do you have any final thoughts to share? 

Drink plenty of water, create, dream, inspire, and enjoy life !

Who DAt? She is Kovo. She is @KovoWolf!