Carmine Magazine

Carmine Magazine: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
Amanda Wong: The funny thing is that although other people consider me to be a creative person, for whatever reason, I never think of myself as one. I think a creative person is someone who is always generating ideas that are new or at least entertaining. Fortunately, the field that I am in - animation - is very commercially-oriented. *g* I am inspired by many things - Disney’s Nine Old Men, Hayao Miyazaki, Tim Burton, the people in my class, music that I like…

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
AW: I am currently enrolled in a Commercial Animation program at Capilano College in Vancouver but I’ve been mostly self taught. Prior to taking this program, I actually completed a Business degree which has nothing to do with art at all. I felt that my abilities were hitting a ceiling from learning on my own and this - as well as a myriad of other reasons - was what drove me to go back to school. I think going to school for art has certainly helped me, although not always in ways that I expected: there is something to be said about being in a creative environment surrounded by like-minded peers that is as instrumental to learning as formal training.

CM: What mediums do you work in the most? Do you have a particular brand that you love working with? Why do you use them?
AW: I usually work in pencil, either 2B or colerase. I also use inks and Tria markers quite a bit. A lot of my art is digitally painted in a program such as Photoshop or Corel Painter. Frankly, it’s easier and cheaper for me than buying a set of paints, especially because of the handy “undo” button. I would love to be good at watercolour.

CM: At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large part of your life?
AW: When I was younger, I was always creating things, whether it be through creating art, stories or crafts. I think most of us are like this.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
AW: Although going to school for animation has opened my eyes to a great wealth of wonderful artists from all periods, I still have a fondness for the Flight comics and would love to draw in the style of these artists.

CM: How do you deal with creator’s (or writer’s) block?
AW: Hahaha, I’m dealing with creator’s block right now. I would like to hear about how other artists deal with creator’s block because I’ve certainly never learned how. Usually I don’t fight it and do something else such as knitting or socializing until I feel like creating art again.

CM: How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
AW: I’ve yet to have an art show, so this question doesn’t apply to me.

CM: How do you define you style? Does it represent an inner you or something completely different?
AW: It’s hard to say.. the problem is that I feel that it’s rare that young artists develop their own personal styles; rather, style tends to be pretty derivative until an artist becomes confident enough to create with his or her own voice. Animation is especially bad for unoriginal, commercial work. I think I haven’t found my own voice in my art yet, but I’m getting there.

CM: What kind of environment do you need to create in?
AW: Could be anything, really.. I carry a small sketchbook anywhere I go just in case I feel the urge to draw the people around me during a long commute or something. Many people from my class enjoy drawing in groups in cafes but to be honest, I would much rather draw by myself.

CM: What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work for this one)
AW: Hahaha… clean. All I really need is my laptop or sketchbook.

CM: What was your worst experience with art? And the best?
AW: I think the worst experience with art is when I start to see it as work that I procrastinate from and begin to dread. That is actually something that has begun to happen more now that I’m in school for animation (No surprise there). I think drawing well is its own reward, but I’m rarely satisfied with what I do. I’m my own worst critic.

CM: What movies, books, music, etc get your creative juices flowing the most?
AW: Hmm, hard to say, because almost anything can inspire me. The movies that inspire me the most tend to be those with visual development that is carefully and well thought out. Music could be anything, I am embarrassingly non-discriminating in the music I listen to. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Bjork while I draw.

CM: Do you think the internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or destroying the art world?
AW: As young artists, I think we have a far greater advantage to learning than anyone else before us. We have access to tutorials, photo references and other artists. We can get instant feedback (Hopefully not the unhelpful sycophantic kind that you often find on deviantart ;) and build communities with other people. Many artists have published comic books that originated from a webcomic that grew popular.

CM: Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else that drives you or that you’re passionate about?
AW: I like learning new things. I traveled a tiny bit in the last two years (Japan, China, and the UK) and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even if it was just staying in a hostel and meeting the people there. I love meeting interesting people. Beyond that, I also like knitting and writing.

CM: Do you have any upcoming shows, events, releases, etc. you would like our readers to know about?
AW: No.

Find Amanda’s work at these places around the web:
windwoodrose on Blogspot
windwoodrose on Livejournal
nightblower338 on DeviantART

Some more artwork from Amanda Wong: