#the world always looks ten times more beautiful through his point of view 🥹

[hyunpic]

DAILY HYUNJIN GIFS UNTIL HIS BDAY: love you and all your little things - hyune adventure times 🖤

[blackmonitor]

You got your own fic. I’m jealous! But on the other hand, one cannot look at your wonderful art and not feel inspired.

For most of my life, stories have drifted through my consciousness, some of them given life - most of them disappearing into the ether-sphere. Lucky for me, I have enough ability to choose what comes to life and what lies dormant.

The same cannot be said about my artistic abilities, or lack of therein. Try as I might, I cannot bring to life those images that are inspired and then permanently trapped in some sort of art purgatory. Much like the unfinished Prisoners sculptures that one can view in Italy.

When @myevilmouse created your fic, I remember thinking of one of the famous lines about the Iliad, the face that launched a thousand ships, (loving how “ships” takes on a new meaning in fic). I got to thinking at this point that it goes both ways: fic can be inspired by art, and art can be inspired by fic.

You and Mouse have entered into a unique artistic relationship that demonstrates this two-sided approach to creativity. However, whilst most of your creative impetus seems to be inspired by by the @myevilmouse Thrawn-Pryce series, the recent Thrawn on vacation seemed to have a life all to its own…and what a life Mouse gave us!

I would like to take this time and ask a few questions (as I am want to do) and get more familiar with what inspired you down this road into the world of Thrawn and friends.

Pardon me if this is well trodden territory, but can you give me a little background on how you became a digital artist?

How did you swerve into the dense world of Star Wars - particularly Mouse fic?

Most importantly, the Bonus Question:

Must you read, see or watch something to inspire a creation, or does it just pop into your head? (Remember, my imagination has many prisoners in it that never see the light of day)

Your art makes me happy when I look at it. There is something light and uplifting about the style. I hope that you continue to gift us and grace us on a frequent basis for a very long time.

Be well

First of all, thank you for this beautiful ask! I enjoyed even reading it!

(And now, excuse my bad English 😅) 

I found it fascinating reading about the beginning of your ask. And I get what you described as art purgatory... 

"...Thrawn-Pryce series, the recent Thrawn on vacation seemed to have a life all to its own…and what a life Mouse gave us!"

I agreed. She is so talented at doing that!! And every single of her stories that I have read so far is perfect for my taste! I'm thrilled that I found her and her excellent fanfics and that she tolerated me so far and even encouraged me with her super nice words through a few hard days! 

Background of how I became a digital artist:

Oh, is this real life? Is someone interested in that? And someone like you called me an artist 🥹 Well, sorry, I have no short answer for this, it's a bit complicated. 

My father was a photographer, and he changed to digital photography in 2000. I was ten years old back then, but because I always had an affinity towards technology, I was super interested in that. He bought his first Photoshop and started to learn how to retouch. I spent a lot of time in my father's photography studio, and I began to help him out, learn how to be a retoucher, and use photoshop. I worked with him for long years. I loved the background works of photography. 

I enjoyed drawings but didn't feel that they were good or anything. I mostly just decorated my history books at the school and did some fanart for myself to decorate my wall. Then I attend a photography school after high school. I met a wonderful person, a painter, K. who was an art teacher there. We needed to make an art portfolio of our previous drawings, and everyone had a proper portfolio because they came from art schools - models with drapes, isometric studies, fruit-piece, beautiful works and all.

In contrast, I had only silly fanarts from World of Warcraft, a drawing about horses, and one lineart about a Xenomorph or Boba Fett; I don't even remember now, lol. But he became my mentor, grabbed me by my arm, looked at my silly little doodles, and said: Young lady, you need to work on this. You have potential!

It was flattering AF. There were students there who learned drawings for YEARS! They could draw anything way better than I. But he decided to help me out and gave me his attention. 

So he guided me, and with his help later, we figured out that I have a little talent for making sculptures, and he helped me get into a university, where I had the opportunity to meet a great sculptor and learn from him. I won't mention his name for a reason. But I went to this university, and finally, I could study drawing and sculpture, not just as side courses next to photography. A dream came true.

And I learned many things there. My style (heavy lineart, which was praised by  K. back then) is stupid, and I'm worthless and have no chance to become an artist. That a woman should not be a sculptor, and I'm not special, I have no talent, my art is boring and silly, and I should not be there. Most professors looked at me weirdly and tried to break my enthusiasm, and they didn't help me get better or give me any advice. Because of my "childish lineart," I was mocked for years. And this was more than enough to crush me. I quit after three years.

I started to draw digitally during those years to get positive feedback on what I desperately wanted. I got a few. But still, I stopped every form of art for years. 

Throughout my life, I got used to mocking what was towards me as a person. I have buckteeth, and people mocked that, freckles - that too, I'm a nerd with glasses - mocking, clothing (I dressed as a metalhead for a decade) - mocking, religious beliefs or because I played World of Warcraft as a woman... I met with a lot of negativity. 

But it's just words from other ordinary people. When someone who is supposed to guide you, their job is literally to make you better, teach you how to become an artist, says that you have no chance to achieve anything, that's another thing. Saying stuff like your personal style is valueless, and didn't even try to help me improve because I'm not worth it... my dream became a nightmare.

I was able to move on, and my life went in a better direction, just without any form of art. But with some professional help, I could rediscover that I want to create things again. But then I recognized that I lacked digital skills and knowledge, which I lost over the years. 

But now, as a stay home mother, I have the free time to reclaim those lost things and improve. My husband helps me a lot and provides me with everything I need to help me with my dreams. 

So I started to draw again on my iPad and discovered Tumblr. I'm practicing, improving, to be better. I try not to measure it by notes/likes, and I try to make stuff that I enjoy. So that's the story of my digital art. 

"How did you swerve into the dense world of Star Wars - particularly Mouse fic?"

I was always a Star Wars fan. I loved the OT and the Prequels (I know, I know, but I do!), and I love reading the books equally. I loved legend Thrawn and have a soft spot for Boba and Luke too. Then the new Thrawn and Eli Vanto joined to the party. 

And one night @foreverforty2 sent me a link with the Imitation first and the Interpreter shortly after. I read them. And it's started. 

I love the writing style of @myevilmouse. It's so mature, with lots of detail, and always feels real. Researched beautifully, and there was nothing that stopped me from jumping on the Thryce train. 🚂 Choo choo!

To answer the bonus question: BOTH. 

I have a list on my phone, so I collect ideas there. When the rare occasions happen when I have nothing to draw, I just look for inspiration there.

About my prisoners (or art purgatory): I have a few. I sometimes sent stuff like that to a few people, then sometimes mouse posted them like the Thrawnbine stuff 🤭 But I have no problem throwing away halfway done stuff to the trash, then starting from the beginning again. Of course, I have a few WIP, which I probably won't finish, but I still took them to a point where I found them enough to upload. 

Thank you for your thoughts, the praising, and of course, your questions! You provide the opportunity to share something about myself. Sorry for the long answer 🤭