♦ Art Appreciation Monday! ♦

Welcome to Art Appreciation Monday! 

If you missed last week's Art Appreciation Monday with Alexandra Marie you can view that post here.

I'm very excited for this Monday, we have an artist who not only draws and paints...but she also can bring art to life by sewing her elaborate and exquisite cosplay costumes!

 Please welcome.... *****Drum roll!!!!!***** Lyumos of Deviant Art! 

 Ion Fortuna Earl of Memphis

 Ion Fortuna is the Earl of Memphis (from the novels: Trinity Blood).  He is a Methuselah of a high-ranking Imperial noble family and a favorite of the Empress.* Lyumos has done an amazing job detailing her costume with embroidery and jewels, I am especially intrigued by the hat which is gorgeously designed to match!  

Ariana: What is your name?
Lada: My name: Lada.

Ariana: Are you human/boy/girl?

Lada: I am a girl. 

Ariana: What Country/Planet/State are you from?

Lada: I live in Russia. In the city of Veliky Novgorod, it is a small town, but it is very ancient and beautiful.

Ariana: Do you have brothers/sisters/only child?

Lada:  I am an only child. 

Ariana: Do you have any pets?

Lada:  Yes , I have a pet, it is a cat. His name is Maximilian, or simply Max.

Ariana: Birthday?

Lada: I was born on May 1.

Trinity Blood An Itinerant Priest

Lyumos has done an excellent job painting this priest from Trinity Blood. His face and eyes are absolutely astounding with details and lifelike tones. One of my favourite things about this picture in particular is the eyes, which are really beautiful almost like sapphires! :) 

Ariana: What inspires you most to paint/draw/make cosplay costumes?

Lada: I love to create costumes. Designing is my great passion. I am interested in working on the details and embroidery. I  also love to draw with crayons and watercolors. Most of all, I like to paint portraits. I find human faces very interesting.

Ariana: In your own words what exactly is cosplay?

Lada: My new hobby is cosplay. Cosplay is when people dress up as cartoon characters, computer games and comics. I like the feeling of playing different roles, sewing the costumes and being photographed in them.

I've been doing cosplay for almost two years . But this hobby has become a very important part of me.

Ariana: Why is cosplay important to you? And why do you like helping other people achieve their dream of a certain cosplay costume? 

Lada: Cosplay is very important for me because I'm happy when I make a new suit . It takes a lot of time and money, but I believe that someday my efforts will be rewarded . In the end, I would like to design fashion in the future. I like the costumes from films by type: " Game of Thrones " " Alice in Wonderland ," "Elizabeth " and more. =)

Ariana: So what are your plans for the future? 

Lada: I dream that my future will see me engaged in drawing. It will make me a happy person.

Ariana: What are your favourite fabrics and beads to work with on a costume? 

Lada: For the costumes , I like to use the church fabrics like velvet, silk... for the beads, Japanese pearls, rhinestones and various filigree details....

Ariana: When did you first decide you wanted to make cosplay costumes? 

Lada: The first time I took up cosplay was in the summer of 2012 .

Ariana: Do you have a favourite thing to paint/draw/make cosplay costumes from? 

Lada: I love to watch anime and read the books. My favorite anime series: " Trinity Blood ", " Hellsing " and " Gravity ". I prefer to work from books, mainly Rusko classical literature. I really love Dostoevsky and Bulgakov. I like poets like Blok, Yesenin, and Fet. Of foreign literature I like Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle. 

Ariana: Do you have any interests outside of painting/drawing/making cosplay costumes?

Lada: When I have no inspiration, I take a break from business and watch movies. Sometimes I want to walk around the city or go to bed.

Ariana: Do you have a favourite food/drink? 

Lada: I love pizza , sushi, dairy products, sweets and pastries =)

Ariana: How do you wind down after working on cosplay costumes or painting/drawing?

Lada: I basically just do what I do, I sew and paint. But as I said, I love to read. I also enjoy taking pictures, but it's not serious.

Ariana: What would your advice to other artists be? 

Lada: Other artists I would give simple advice: try to create the art they feel in their heart and do not be lazy . Love your business and find your unique style. If no one believes in you, do not dare to give up and keep going on! You are the master of your life and if your life is full of creativity, it's fine. ^_^

Embroidery For My New Suit

Here is a very detailed picture of  Lyumos's handiwork up-close! On church fabric is carefully placed Japanese pearls and Swarovski crystals. Not only are the colours truly beautiful together, the elaborate details on this are mind boggling! 

The final masterpiece I want to share with you from Lyumos, is her painting:

Imagination Doll Caren

I like this painting because it is so unique, the colours are so vibrant! The blue hues are intense alongside the orange and reds of the fish. I think one of the greatest things to find in an artist is a unique and colourful imagination that has endless ideas- this is certainly something that Lyumos has! 

Now, one final question for Lyumos.

Ariana: Do you take custom orders for cosplay costumes or artwork? 

Lada: I accept individual orders for tailoring cosplay and making jewelry and ornaments, as well as embroidery. 

If you like Lyumos's artwork or cosplay costumes you can contact her below for information about a custom order or a special commission! 

Contact her through:

Deviant Art

Twitter

Facebook

Or

vk.com

I am very happy that Lyumos was interested in taking part of Art Appreciation Monday! Not only has she brought a great new splash to Art Appreciation Monday, but she has also shared some great words of wisdom for new artists and even professional artists! 

*****All the artwork/pictures belongs to Lyumos!!!! 

There are links in blue which will direct you to 

the originals.**********

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE PICTURES/or/WRITTEN WORK 

POSTED HERE WITHOUT PERMISSION!!!!!!! 

If you want to use some of Lyumos's artwork or commission her for a costume, contact her here.

 Not to mention she very much deserves loads of followers... so go follow her here. 

Sources

*Ion Fortuna is the Earl of Memphis. He is a Methuselah of a high-ranking Imperial noble family and a favorite of the Empress. (Source: http://trinityblood.wikia.com/wiki/Ion_Fortuna)

♦ Art Appreciation Monday! ♦

Since last Monday, I have had the amazing opportunity to speak to an artist who I have adored because of her amazing comics, hilarious story-line and brilliant artistic abilities, I present to you....from Deviant Art....*Drumroll* VanHinck!

VanHinck's favorite art choice was Test Flight

I have to agree, VanHinck's skills of drawing a character in motion are chiefly and beautifully put to show here, in this astounding display of agility of the pen and the agility of the motion on the page!

Ariana: What's your name outside Deviant Art?
Clare: My name's Clare, despite the fact that my dA page says Sebastian (long story!)

Ariana: Are you human/boy/girl?
Clare: I am a girl, and have been reliably informed that I am human

Ariana: What Country/Planet/State are you from?
Clare: I'm from England, but now I live in Scotland

Ariana: Do you have brothers/sisters/only child?
Clare: I have one older brother, there's a sketch of him somewhere in the depths of my gallery

Ariana: Do you have any pets?
Clare: Sadly, I don't have any pets with me now- I used to keep rats, but I'm in a no-pets flat. But there's still the family cat back home

Ariana: Birthday?
Clare: Fifth of July... a few years ago. Let's just say I remember the 90's quite well.

One of my many favourites of  VanHinck's work is her Loki Dr. Selvig comics, this one in particular Loki and Selvig Coffee

 This just begins the series perfectly, Loki is portrayed perfectly by VanHinck, his facial expressions are always perfect, and he's always so innocently snide! Not only is the animation burdened with glorious purpose- the artist is too! 

Ariana: What inspires you most to paint/draw?
Clare: Mainly stories- myths and legends, of course, but various writers, like Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett-their slightly tongue in cheek take on fantasy and supernatural tropes. The important thing is to try and combine things from several areas you wouldn't normally stick together and see what you get!

Ariana: How do you cope with lack of inspiration?
Clare: I read the Internet, (which is very time consuming as someone keeps updating it); I doodle mindlessly until it turns into something, or I paint my nails in outlandish colours to try and get myself in the mood.


Ariana: Talking about munchies... do you have a favourite food/drink?
Clare: Chocolate orange muffins! Home made, of course :D
Also, tropical fruit juice, particularly pineapple and coconut.


Ariana: Do you have a favourite media to paint/draw with?
Clare: I'll try anything, really- but the two I feel most comfortable using are gouache paints, and watercolour ink. Unlike Indian ink, the watercolour ink can still be played around with a bit after it's on paper, so there's more control there. Gouache paints dry quickly, which I find makes it easier to do details over the top. I prefer traditional media to digital, but every so often, I have a go at computer based things again.


Ariana: What made you decide to draw a HUGE comic series like Dr. Selvig and Loki, that was a big undertaking, did you originally plan for it to be that long or did it sort of grow?
Clare: I definitely didn't plan for it to be that long! At first, all I wanted to do was write little one-shot bits about how Loki and Dr.Selvig would interact, playing on the science/mythology bits. That actually persisted for quite a few of the early pages- they're much more about getting to a punchline than continuing a story. Then a plot started to emerge, and I had an end-point in mind, so it picked up a bit more direction after that. But definitely a lot of it was writing on the fly!

Ariana: Your Loki and Dr. Selvig comics receive quite a bit of attention and appreciation, did you think it would be that popular, how do you feel about it's popularity?
Clare: I didn't really! Everyone was a bit Thor-happy at that stage, since the film was just out, but Dr.Selvig was a fairly minor character. Also it's more talking than action!
I'm fairly proud of it, to be honest- the fact that I managed to finish it at all. I'm also slightly embarrassed - there's quite a few pages I'd like to re-write or re-draw now, but that's an endless task.

Ariana: Do you have a favourite thing to paint, movies, people, animals, what is your favourite thing to paint/draw?
Clare: People, definitely. Getting the details of a character right, that's a lot of fun. And in general, I enjoy fantasy and superhero type things- because they're larger than life and very visually distinctive, it makes them easier to make the simplified cartoon stick figures I do. (It's also easier to find things to make fun of, but I do it out of love!)


Ariana: When did you decide you wanted be an artist?
Clare: Since I stopped doing art at school! I dropped it when I was about 14 to do other subjects, and then found I missed it so much I wanted to keep going. Also, my brother gave me a book about fantasy artists, which coincided with the Lord of the Rings movies, and that's what started me down the fantasy route.

Ariana: Do you have any interests outside of painting/drawing?
Clare: Music! I sing in a couple of choirs, and I need the radio on in the background when I'm working on anything, I don't like silence.

Ariana: How do you wind down after painting/drawing?

Clare: Music, food and bad TV detective dramas!

Ariana: What would your advice to other artists be?
Clare: It's hardly original, I know, but- try and draw something everyday. The practice starts to pay off very quickly, and you see how much your work is changing, and becoming much more recognisably your style. Even if I don't post it, I try and doodle something. (Also, it works the other way round too- if I don't do any drawing for a while, I can see how rusty I get!).

Name Sake is one of my absolute favourite stand alone comics from VanHinck

Just because it is perfect! There will never be a time when I don't laugh out loud while looking at this and there will never be a time when I don't love VanHinck as an artist! Just look at how she captures Loki's anger and annoyance in this strip! The colours are beautiful and her comics are always hilarious! :)

As always I must thank VanHinck so much for agreeing to be part of my "Art Appreciation Monday!"

It is so amazing to get to speak to different artists, from ones who I've been a fan of for a long time and for the artists who I've just become acquainted with! 

*****All the artwork belongs to VanHinck. There are links in blue which will direct you to the originals.**********

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE ARTWORK/WRITTEN WORK POSTED HERE WITHOUT PERMISSION!!!!!!! 

If you want to use some of the artist's artwork or written work, contact her through Deviant Art, not to mention she very much deserves loads of followers... so go follow her here.

♦ Art Appreciation Monday! ♦

To get over the Monday blues, I've decided to do an Art Appreciation Monday. On which every Monday (I hope!), I will spotlight an Artist of some sort, whether they are traditional painter/drawer or photoshop artist, or photography,writing, poetry, pottery, crafts or sewing...I'm going to spotlight only the best! :)

Today's artist is Matt Nguyen of Deviant Art!

**Before we start, I ask that you please remember to not, EVER use any of the art from the artists without their consent! If you see something you like- just ask. They will appreciate it!**

I thought we'd start off with a short biography on MattNguyen, so we know and understand the artist a little better! :)

Ariana: What's your name outside Deviant Art? Is Nguyen your surname? If it is how do you say that- it looks really cool.

Matt Nguyen: My name full, official name is "Matthew Đại Dương Nguyen," though I've been going by "Matt" recently.

To explain the name, I'll do it part by part. "Matthew" is because I'm Catholic, and it's highly common to give children saint names. My dad in particular, wanted to have four kids and name them after the four gospels, Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John. He had me and my brother, John.

As for my middle name and last name, those are Vietnamese. In our culture, we usually put the middle name after the last name because it just sounds better that way. My middle name, Đại Dương, translates directly to "big ocean," which also can be seen as the Pacific.

"Nguyen" is a/my surname, yes. It is a very common Vietnamese surname. You can pronounce it "gwin" or "win." The "ng" is a sound most non-native speakers can't pronounce, but you can get close.

Ariana: Are you human/boy/girl?

Matt Nguyen: Well, I'm a male, since most "Matt's" are males.

Ariana: What Country/Planet/State are you from?

Matt Nguyen: I was born in southern United States, but am Vietnamese.

Ariana: Do you have brothers/sisters/only child?

Matt Nguyen: I have one younger brother. He's four years behind me, and though he's stubborn as well as some other things, he is still my brother in the end.

Ariana: Do you have any pets?

Matt Nguyen: No. My parents don't really like them, and I never had the largest interest in them. If I were to get one, though, it'd be a cat.

Ariana: Birthday? 

Matt Nguyen: The fifteenth of May.

Before we continue with the questions, let's see some examples of Matt Nguyen's great work!

My Favourite Matt Nguyen's poem:

*****

Someone Like Me

Sometimes, on a lonely and cold winter night,

I stare up at the radiantly glowing full moon,

And subconsciously, I begin to think to myself:

I wonder if there is a living soul somewhere,

Who is seeing the same beauty that I'm seeing.

Even more so, I long to meet a breathing soul

Who thinks and has the same thoughts as I,

When they see this spherical grandness.

A person like this is out there,

There just has to be, I know it!

It is all about up to whether or not

I will ever meet this amazing person.

Will I meet him or her in my lifetime,

Or will we both be deceased before then?

Is it a male, who will become my best friend,

Or a female, who will become my ultimate lover?

Have I already met this spectacular person,

And have not yet realized?

We will just have to wait and see, won't we?

The time will come when two paths intersect,

Two lives converged, inseparable forever.

But until then, we must be on alert,

Our eyes and hearts opened wide,

For no one knows when this time will be,

Not even the greatest scientist or genius.

The man upstairs might know, but it would be ruined

If he ever told us before it happened,

As this is a life filled with surprises,

And not a predetermined destiny we are condemned to.

*****

I don't know how Matt Nguyen can capture in words the feelings which you feel when you are alone! He not only captures the feeling of loneliness but the beauty of it... And without any elaboration or special details he captures the mood and the soul of his audience!

Another Favourite of mine, is his recent artwork,

Into The Void

The reason, I love this picture is because I think it could go on for an eternity! The swirling colours, with the dark shades of blue on the left and the warm golden colours on the right leading into the white, it's so beautiful to look at- I think it looks like an entrance to another world... :)

Ariana: What inspires you most to write?

Matt Nguyen: The crazy and imaginative ideas get me going. Once I get one, I feel the rush and need to get it out to the world in hopes that they will feel what I did. So in the end, "all that could be" inspires me to write.

Ariana: How do you cope with lack of inspiration?

Matt Nguyen: Well, I just simply take a break to be honest. Sometimes it ends up being longer than I meant for it to be, but something usually gets me back on my feet, whether it be inspirational music, a show, or nature.

Ariana: Do you have a favorite subject to write about?

Matt Nguyen: I write mostly science fiction, emotional stories, and some poems. My favorite is the creative ones, though.

Ariana: When did you decide you wanted to write/be an artist?

Matt Nguyen: It gradually sort of built, as I've been drawing since I was little. Mostly, it was because I didn't want to sing or dance since I'm shy. As for writing, that came freshman to sophomore year of high school, when I wrote a piece for school and really liked it. Now, I want to be able to do it for a living.

Ariana: What would your advice to other writers/artists be?

Matt Nguyen: I'll steal Nike's slogan for this one. "Just do it." There's no harm in doing so. You miss all the shots you don't take, so take them. There's so much you don't know you can do. Also, get help and assistance from others, and try to learn from the best, not be discouraged by them.

Ariana: Do you have any interests outside of writing/art?

Matt Nguyen: Well, I play games sometimes as well as watch television. In addition, I read and use the computer.

Ariana: How do you wind down after writing/art?

Matt Nguyen: I just go back to doing other hobbies or showing my art to others. Eating or sleeping are classics, too.

Ariana: Do you have a favorite food/drink?

Matt Nguyen: The best food is probably spaghetti or pasta, and the best drink is sweet iced tea. Brownies are also nice for dessert.

Ariana: What is your favorite Doctor Who villain/and/character?

Matt Nguyen: My favorite Doctor is Ten, and then Eleven. My favorite companion is either Rory, Amy, or Clara. My favorite villain is the weeping angels, though the Daleks are a classic, too.

I asked Matt Nguyen to pick a favourite of his work, and he sent back,

The Creation Of The Universe (A Creation Myth)

Our story begins on my home planet. It was once a beautiful place, full of life and wonder, until it was stripped down of its resources by the greedy inhabitants that lived there. I could have stopped them if I wanted to, but that was not my duty. So for several millenniums, I watched my planet slowly being destroyed by my own people. The destruction of my planet only got worse as nations fought each other with advanced technological weapons of mass destruction. Soon, a good percentage of the planet's population was gone.

One nation was so desperate for resources that they developed and released a biochemical gas on the planet, one that would kill everything living, except them. Forgetting to protect themselves, the planet's species went extinct within a couple of days. The only thing, or person rather, that survived was me.

I am an immortal, the only one to have existed, at least in my universe. You'll understand more as this tale continues. Barren and deserted, the planet was definitely post-apocalyptic. Going back to my shed, I could see nothing but a desert like landscape for as far as the eye could see. The sky was blue, and so was I. I knew this would happen one day; I had just hoped it wouldn't come this soon.

.......

*****

If you want the rest of The Creation Of The Universe (A Creation Myth), click on the links provided. I would have included all of it, but I think you should go and check out Matt Nguyen's other artwork and written work as well on Deviant Art yourself, because it is definitely worth every second of it! :) So go finish reading  The Creation Of The Universe (A Creation Myth), right now, because it's awesome! :)

Special thanks to Matt Nguyen for agreeing to be the first artist of Art Appreciation Monday, and for letting me post some of his amazing masterpieces on my blog! :) 

*****All the artwork and written work belongs to Matt Nguyen, there are links in blue which will direct you to the originals.**********

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE ARTWORK/WRITTEN WORK POSTED HERE WITHOUT PERMISSION!!!!!!! 

If you want to use some of the artist's artwork or written work, contact him through Deviant Art, here.

Thank you!