Interview with the 3rd place winner of Derby 133
Jasneko has been plugging away consistently at Woot for about a year and it finally paid off with her first print! Here's more about her.
Shirt.Woot Stats? (first derby / shirts bought / shirts printed)
83 (Exercise) / 7 / 1. I started Derby 83 and have submitted to every derby since. I've bought quite a few randoms in addition to my 7 shirts. My very first purchase was "New Waves" for someone else; it is an awesome shirt, I'd like one for myself. This is my first print - nearly one year after my first submission. I've had 10 Honorable Mentions (and a few BLAs) in the meantime though, which felt great to get.
What are your tools of choice?
Usually I draw in Flash on a
Tablet. Once in a while I'll design in
Photoshop or
Illustrator, and more recently I've been doing more of the coloring in Photoshop. I also use Illustrator/Photoshop at the end of the process to make sure the colors are correct and creating comps.
What is your typical process for going about a design?
First, I usually start brainstorming and writing down a list of ideas. Usually I have way more ideas than I typically submit for one derby (and as you may have noticed, I often submit multiple designs). If an idea requires it or needs expanding, I'll do some researching. Sometimes I'll do a quick pencil sketch for layout or to remind me of an idea when I can begin, but usually once I decide on which idea to start with, I just delve into it! During the process I often post works in progress in the pre-derby thread to get feedback.
What design or art experience do you have outside the derby?
I did freelance design for a number of years, and I've been drawing and doing other forms of art since I was a few years old. I'd always get in trouble at school for doodling during class, even if I claimed it helped me concentrate! Now I am a designer at a children's educational website - which involves game design/animation/web design. I also love photography and have had a few photo exhibitions, won a few contests and had a few photos printed in magazines and photography books.
Which artists or designers inspire you?
I don't have any particular ones - I draw inspiration from all over - from old masters to comics, animated movies, modern artists/designers - and nature itself! I am interested in lots of different styles. One artist I have always been drawn to is Leonardo Da Vinci - not his art specifically, but because he had lots of interests and pursued them.
Would you like to do art/design full-time? If so, what is your dream job?
I do design full time in my current job, which I love! Drawing and animating animals is a large part of it, which is great - I've always loved animals, to the point where I considered being a veterinarian when I was younger. If I wasn't doing my current job, there are a lot of art-related jobs I'd like to do, such as design greeting cards and posters, illustrate books for children, create character designs for animated shows/films/video games, do more with photography, or get back into clay and sculpting - I really love that too. I have too many interests - and this is only listing the ones in the art realm!
Any plans to ever sell your designs using a print-to-order shop like SpreadShirt or CafePress?
I don't right now, but I'm open to it.
What advice do you have for new derby artists?
Try not to get too discouraged when your designs don't do as well as you'd like, be open to constructive feedback and try to embrace the good comments and let go of the bad. Often a design you've worked long and hard at or you love will not get many votes, or people will post callously about it ... it can be tough. Of course this is easier said than done - I have to remember the advice myself!
Overall, keep submitting as long as you are enjoying designing for the derbies, and try to treat others as you'd like to be treated - hopefully that is nicely and with respect.
Also, I do want to give a huge thank you to all the people (both wooters and designers) who have supported and encouraged me during this first year I've been at Woot. The positive comments, private supportive messages and enthusiasm for my designs really kept me going the times I felt discouraged for various reasons and thought of leaving. I sincerely appreciate it!
Do you have a website or portfolio you'd like people to see?
If you'd like to look at some of my past derby designs, I have them up here:
http://jasneko.com/tees.
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