DeviantArtist Questionnaire

1. How long have you been on DeviantArt?
Apparently it's been no less than eight years! That means that I joined when I was living in Japan, after my graduation from the University. Which is odd, because I was sure I'd joined before that time but there you go. It's not like I trust my memory that much anyways.
It's needless to say that this period of time has seen me grow from a hobbyist to a professional and DA has often been a medium of that evolution. Through my portfolio I've been found and asked to work by several companies, first illustrating roleplaying game manuals, and then comics. And I met so many people who changed my life and helped in the process.
Someone recently told me that Deviant Art is a community about growing as an artist, rather than a place to stick one's portfolio and find work. That is very true indeed. It's more of a community in the truest meaning than any other art place I've seen on the 'net.

2. What does your username mean?
It's my real name. I used to have a nickname back in the day, it was Sunamori. It's been my nickname for roughly a decade, and it means, in Japanese, "sand forest". It's an image I used to link with how I felt about myself. But now that I'm a professional and that feeling no longer applies, I chose to use my real name.

3. Describe yourself in three words.
Never Giving Up.

4. Are you left or right handed?
Right handed but left-eyed. Meaning my dominant eye is the left: I focus with it and use the right for depth of field. It actually only makes a difference when I practice archery, because I need to hold the bow with my right hand and the string with the left (the opposite is the norm). And of course my bow has its arrow rest on the right side as a consequence. This makes me practically left handed when shooting with a bow. Apparently it's quite rare.

5.What was your first deviation?
I'm afraid it has long been removed. I tend to keep a tidy gallery and only share the recent stuff, the one I'm proud of, as my gallery is in a way my portfolio and I'm afraid that people could get bored of browsing it if there was too much stuff. I can tell you what the oldest still remaining deviation is, which is:
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I'm still kinda fond of it. Considering it's done with a mouse, it was one of my very first attempts at doing digital art, and it's inspired by a beloved short tale by H.P. Lovecraft, there are some fond memories about it.

6. What is your favourite type of art to create?
Comic pages, pencils and inks. I love coloring my digital art too, but right now I'm enjoying my work as penciler and inker so much, I consider that to be my main thing.

7. If you could instantly master a different art style, what would it be?
Pottery. I never tried it, but I'm sure I'd absolutely love to be able to create chawan (japanese teacups). Especially in the Bizen style, I just adore that type of pottery and my most beloved chawans are Bizen except for the most precious one, an Irabo chawan given to me by my teacher of chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony for the layman).

8.What was your first favourite?
The same as 5. applies: I tend to keep the favourites to a minimum so that I can keep track of them easily. Also apparently the oldest I had has been stashed recently. The current oldest favorite I have is:

9.What type of art do you tend to favourite the most?
Digital paintings, it seems. They do tend to be the most spectacular images one can find on DA, when they're done right. But recently I'm shifting towards inked pages because I like to hoard references.

10. Who is your all-time favourite deviant artist?
I don't have one. There are many artists I admire equally but for different reasons. Some of them are in my Influence Map but many are simply people I follow. I can tell you for example that is an artist whose pencils and inks I admire greatly, as well as one of my oldest DA buddies and a true friend, and that is one of the most important people in my life as well as a bloody kickass colorist who taught me many things. Another artist I admire and look up to is who also taught me and helped me a lot in my journey to become a comic artist. is also a truly kind gentleman I pride myself in calling a friend whose tutorials made a huge difference in how I approach digital art.

11. If you could meet anyone on DeviantArt in person, who would it be?
I'm assuming this question means "meet face to face for the first time". Then it would be . After all these years, I want to bearhug my awesome uncle! (that's an injoke by the way) Also because I owe him more beers than I can count. And I owe much to so I'd like to be able to say thank you in person.
And there's someone I'm actually waiting to meet in person, who has been a great support in the time of need and always has a wise word or some joke to share and is a truly precious friend. I'm talking about you, !

12. How has a fellow deviant impacted your life?
WARNING!! CUDDLY CHEESY ROMANTIC TALK AHEAD!
Please check your blood sugar before proceeding.

There is a deviant who gave a meaning to my life I could never have imagined. She changed it, forever. She gave me more than anyone ever could, and always brings the best out of me, making me become less unforgiving towards myself and making me realize that I'm better than I thought I was. She is a person with whom I can share everything, and we care and worry for each other constantly.
She is always in my heart and in my thoughts and she inspires me to overcome my limits and do better and better, because she makes everything feel possible. And even more beautiful, our artistic lives are strongly connected. When I'm in her presence, art flows from my fingers effortlessly. When she's away for a long time, my pencils become heavy like lead. I like how that makes me feel strong and vulnerable at the same time, because I know I have nothing to fear. She's there for me just like I'm always there for her.
But I won't name her here.

13. What are your preferred tools to create art?
2B and H mechanical pencils, pigma micron markers, and my inseparable fudepen (also known as penbrush).

14. What is the most inspirational place for you to create art?
Well I tend to create most of my art in my room, but I don't consider it especially inspirational. Any place I can hold a paper sheet and a pencil is allright. I don't think I have a special place, unless my mind counts. And that is a place I can conveniently always bring with me.

15. What is your favourite DeviantArt memory?
Oh gods, memories... so many of them have become blurred and confused, and I'm not one who relies on the accuracy of his memories. Absolutely not. I mean, we're talking about eight years! How can I choose? It's obvious that I'd automatically go with recent things...
But I'm planning to do something that definitely will become one. So stay tuned!