In honor of staff appreciation day, I wanted to add to the list of interviews with one from the wonderful anime/manga gallery director, ^azarath. The interview consists of ten questions and at the end of the interview will be a display of some of her wonderful works. I hope you'll enjoy this read and getting to know her better as much as I did.


1. How did you get started and how long have you been in art?

Since I've been old enough to hold a pencil. I knew I wanted to be a comic book artist since I was 9. I'm 26 now, and I still have a long way to go, it seems, but I keep practicing every day. The comic Bloom County was the reason I wanted to be a comic book artist.


2. What would you say has been the biggest influence on your art over the years?

Definitely the internet and seeing what other people are doing in the fields I'm interested in. On the web you see artists of all levels, and see all their different techniques. It gives me a lot of ideas and inspiration. I met a lot of people who have given me a lot of help (you know who you are!). I'd be lying if I didn't say anime had a lot to do with it. I started watching anime when I was about 12, and I just loved the character designs and coloring style. Giant Robo, Utena and the art of CLAMP, Masamune Shirow, Junji Ito, Takeshi Obata and Nobuteru Yuuki have been the biggest inspirations to me over the years.

3. Did you go to college? If so, how has that affected your view of art and how you do things for deviant art?

I did. Believe it or not, I have a degree in Fine Arts. My college didn't offer a graphic design course, and I was really out of place in Fine Arts. Everyone was painting with oils, or sculpting, or were photographers and I was doodling cartoon characters any chance I got. I never got the hang of painting. College, of course, laid the foundation and gave me the knowledge to progress my art, even if I didn't have the greatest technical skill. I feel like I've learned more buckling down on my own and getting help from my DA peers. Of course, I try to share what I learn.

4. What would you say is your favorite part about being a member of the deviant art community? Least favorite part?

I love the community itself and how a lot of people really come together to work on projects and help others. You see it around every corner here with the clubs, news, in the forums, everywhere. It's great seeing so many dedicated people!

What I like the least are those individuals who just have to be against community efforts. Those who just seem to have the need to complain when everyone else is trying to do a good thing, to nitpick it and bring everyone down. Ugh, that really gets under my skin. If you don't like it, leave!


5. What made you want to be a gallery director? Why this particular category?

I had thought about it before, and how it might be, but never really thought I would ever actually become a GD. When I was asked, I jumped at the chance. I've been into anime a long time and have been very dedicated to it. I know way too much about it, and whether or not that is a good or bad thing, it's got me to be an "authority" on manga and anime here on DA. I was flattered. I've been very active on DeviantArt since 2002, and I thought it was about time I could give back all the great things it's given to me, so I was more than glad to become a GD and help out.

6. How would you describe the responsibilities of a gallery director? Are they difficult or easy?

Hard to say. The jobs themselves are not difficult, but they pile up fast. Contests and news are great fun to write up. Miscats can be tricky, but I do my best to deal with them and speak to artists individually to help people out. I think dealing with Daily Deviations has to be the most difficult. People are sensitive about them, so I try to pick art that not only I like but I think the community as a whole will also enjoy. My DA mailbox and notebox fill up fast!

7. What are your goals and objectives as an anime/manga gallery director?

To show the community that anime and manga are just as valid as other art styles. Everyone knows it gets put down a lot for being so popular, or being too simple, or being populated with untalented artists. But there are so many great anime artists out there who are popular for a reason. It's a more fun and versatile style than a lot of people realize, and I want to show that off. I also want to make sure I can help budding young anime artists progress in their work, and get some help and exposure.

8. Are there any more big surprises coming up in the near future that you can give us hints about?

Well, Be Afraid 2007 just launched, and Manga/Anime is a part of that. We have a contest pertaining to fears. I've got another contest ready to go right after that launches, and in the near future an art project just for fun that I hope to collaborate with another gallery with (as soon as I write it up ). Christmas is also coming up on the horizon...

9. In what ways do you suggest deviants make good contributions to the community?

BE RESPECTFUL. To each other, to admins, to everyone. I hate seeing people who needlessly fly off the handle at each other when all they need to do is have some patience and handle things like adults, instead of starting flame wars. If you have problems, note an admin, send a Help Desk ticket... just be rational about it. Also, properly placing your art into the right categories and sending in DD suggestions is the biggest help you can give to the Gallery Directors!

10. Anything else that you would like to say to the people of deviant art?

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. Seriously. I love this place and the people that make it so great. It gives me warm fuzzy happy feelings and lets me know that our work as Gallery Directors is not in vain!



Thank you, ^azarath for a wonderful interview! Here are some of her works. Be sure to check her out and show her how much we appreciate her hard work for the community.