The Anime Blog Artist Interview: Apricot

I’m a huge fan of anime style art and fan-art. When I say huge, I mean I go on deviantArt late at night and browse the literally, thousands upon thousands of pics for GOOD art. I use some of the best pics I find on my desk top and as wallpaper for my cell. When I see a great pic, I bookmark it and go back from time to time to see if that artist has done something new. Hell, if it’s really good, I send it to people I know, saying "Isn’t this soooo awesome!!!"

I love watching artists evolve and develop their style on deviantArt; it’s so much fun! Wanna know what’s more fun, however, than mindlessly drooling over fantastic art late at night? Interviewing the fantastic artists!

I finally took the initiative to speak with one of the awe-inspiring artists at deviantArt to pick their brain on the subject of art and anime. Her deviantArt name is apricot8585 but she said she would prefer it if we referred to her as Apricot. Apricot was willing to chat with us about herself and her work.

Rachel: How old were you when you started drawing?
Apricot: I started drawing using crayons when I was around 4 years old in kindergarten and I started drawing in earnest when I was around 18 years old. (Apricot is now in her early to mid twenties ^^ R.)

Rachel: Tell us why you started drawing to begin with.
Apricot: Drawing pictures was like making my own world. To me, it was just fun! And it still is.

Rachel: What kind of formal training do you have if you have any? If yes, where did you get formal training?
Apricot: No, I don’t have any formal training. I took only some art classes in school.

Rachel: What platform do you use to draw with, Macintosh or PC? Which do you prefer?
Apricot: I use windows xp now. I used to use Macintosh but I prefer windows!

Rachel: How did you learn Photoshop? Where did you take a class if you took a class to learn?
Apricot: I learned from friends of mine and tutorial books. My technique is very simple…lol. I just scan a pic and put colors on it.

Rachel: About how long does it take you to finish a drawing from start to finish?
Apricot: If there’s only one character, it takes me around four hours. If there’re many things and backgrounds, it takes me around three days or more.

Rachel: Do you make a sketch first and then scan it in or do you the whole process on the computer?
Apricot: I draw a sketch and do lineart at first, and scan it and color with Photoshop. I use Micron pens and Brush pens on my lineart.
Rachel: What other media do you use if and when you don’t use the computer?
Apricot: I once used Copic Pens for a while. The color comes out well! But I don’t use them at all now.

Rachel: What can you tell us about the techniques you use to reproduce the woodblock print appearance in some of your work?
Apricot: I use a texture that I made using "hard pastel" in the brush toolbar in Photoshop.

Rachel: Why did you choose to work in a style that imitates woodblock prints?
Apricot: Actually, my style was more manga-tic before. I got fed up with my style because I couldn’t see anything unique in my work. My style at that time was too common.

One day, I saw some Japanese woodblock prints called Ukiyo-e from a book. (Of course I knew Ukiyo-e since I’m Japanese lol. However, I was not interested in it very much until then.)

It was so gorgeous! It caught my eye and gave me a lot of inspiration. It’s an old-fashioned art but so fresh to my eyes, which are used to seeing thousands of anime or manga stylings. I thought I wanted to bring this "fresh" art into my drawings. So I decided to change my style.

That’s why I make my drawings looks like woodblock prints. I’m still seeking to perfect a style with it!

Rachel: Which particular woodblock artist inspired or impressed you the most and why?
Apricot: Eisen Keisai. Although the way he drew bodies is a bit strange, his works hold an attraction and draw people’s eyes. The way he drew faces is different from other Ukiyo-e, especially the way he drew eyes. That’s so sexy…

Rachel: Your color palette is exquisite. How did you develop your color usage?
Apricot: Thank you very much! Umm…I didn’t use many colors before because an artist once said, “You should not use many colors. Using many colors could be proof of not having confidence in your art. Simple is the best.” I read it from some magazine and thought she was right, so I always used to use as few colors as possible in my pics.

As I said, I see Ukiyo-e that have many gorgeous colors. I ventured to use many colors; it was so fun and made me happy! I think feeling happy makes me develop. Now I believe that what that artist said is right, and also that the opposite of what she is right. Simple and gorgeous are both right

Rachel: One of my favorite prints of yours is the one titled “Nagi and Nami”. It depicts the two primordial gods Izanagi and his wife Izanami creating the world; in this instance the islands of Japan. How interested are you in Japanese traditional myths and legends? What fascinates you most about that?
Apricot: Thank you very much! I am interested in Japanese traditional myths called "Kojiki" (or "Nihon Shoki") from long ago.

I think the idea of Shinto fascinates me. The gods from the myth are Shinto’s gods. Shinto is a Japanese religion that believes that innumerable gods reside throughout all of nature. There are many Shinto Shrines here and there in Japan and I like visiting them. I like to think about each god that resides in each Shrine, remembering the myth.

But actually, what I prompted me to be interested in it was an anime, lol. The anime wasn’t a story of the myth but the characters were named from the myth, like Yamato Takeru. He is a very famous hero in the myth and a descendant of Izanagi. I read about him vaguely when I became captivated with the myth without noticing, lol.

Rachel: How big of a role does symbolism play in your work?
Apricot: Umm…it’s "the atmosphere of Edo", I think. My most favorite Japanese era is the Edo era. I think the famous ‘ image ‘ of old Japan and the style people who like Japanese culture are interested in is the Heian era. It is beautiful and graceful because the Heian-style is part of the noble’s culture.

Edo-style, however, is the town people’s culture. It’s so cheerful and funny! I love the people in the Edo era and the culture. Although I don’t draw Edo correctly at all, I always want to leave the atmosphere of it in my drawings.

Rachel: What is the biggest influence on your work?
Apricot: It’s Ukiyo-e in the colors, and it’s modern manga in the sketches, I think.

Rachel: How would you describe your work?
Apricot: I’m driving for mixing traditional things with modern culture. I love just Ukiyo-e itself, but I think it’s boring to imitate it precisely. I’m trying to draw a lot of things going on in a piece to make people who watch my works feel like merrymaking like at a festival.

Rachel: What would you say is your favorite style of art?
Apricot: I like Ukiyo-e and Art Nouveau. The detail in the both arts is amazing.

Rachel: Where do you find your inspiration for your work?
Apricot: Kabuki, fashion magazines, kimono magazines, design books, and of course Ukiyo-e. These give me a lot of inspiration. And inspiration often could come to my mind while I’m doing yoga, lol.

Rachel: What kind of routine do you have when you draw? What kind of schedule do you have if you have any?
Apricot: Nothing special but I make kimono patterns before I color. This is the thing I need patience with the most…When I get tired from coloring, it’s really hard to make them. So I make them first.

Rachel: Can you describe your work station at your computer or drawing board?
Apricot: At my computer I have a talisman I got from Seimei Shrine in Kyoto, an electronic English dictionary, a memo note, drawing pads, and a tablet-pen.

At my drawing desk I have a light box, dolls called Super Dollfie, a mirror, teaching materials for English lessons, ukiyo-e books, stationeries, aroma goods, and a lot of small articles.

Rachel: What do you do if you ever get “writer’s block” or in this case “drawer’s block”?
Apricot: I don’t think I’ll know till that day comes…
I’d stop drawing and thinking of anything related to drawing for a while. I’d read books, watch movies, and play with friends to make me feel refreshed until the inspiration comes to me.

But I’m not sure; I might brood on the block and couldn’t do anything…

Rachel: What kind of artist would you consider yourself?
Apricot: Uh…an Ukiyo-e manga artist? lol. I want to be one.

Rachel: What would you like to do with your drawing skills?
Apricot: If I could, I’d like to make manga books, art books or illustrations for novels!

Rachel: What kind of art do you do besides drawing, if you do other stuff?
Apricot: Nothing. But I want to do kraft paper art and make houses in the Edo-style! I want to make a small Edo town. lol.

Rachel: Where do you see yourself at 15 years in the future with your art?
Apricot: I hope I would be a big artist! It’d be nice if I could live on the royalties of my works! Just kidding.lol. I hope to be someone who inspires a lot of people with my work someday…

Rachel: What kind of feedback do you get from fellow artists in Japan?
Apricot: Someone said, "Mixing Ukiyo-e and modern manga was a probable style but there was never one before. I think that’s interesting. Keep it up." I worried if there wasn’t anyone who would notice what I wanted to do, but he said this to me. I was so glad!

Rachel: What do your friends and loved ones think of your art?
Apricot: They say that my works is better than before. Thanks!

Rachel: Where in Japan are you from?
Apricot: I live in Tokyo. But my town is on the edge of Tokyo and there are many green fields. People often say my town isn’t Tokyo as a joke!

Rachel: What’s it like being a female artist in Japan?
Apricot: Actually, I once debuted on a manga magazineand drew a little of their work. I’ve left the magazine now since I want to try to improve my new style. But I learned so many things through the precious experience.

Rachel: What kind of anime and manga do you like? What titles?
Apricot: The most of my favorite mangas is little known, even in Japan, but very famous among maniac manga enthusiasts; like "Nejishiki" that’s written by Yoshiharu Tsuge…do you know? ^-^;

Rachel: What type of music do you listen to?
Apricot: My favorite music is NOT popular. I like old Japanese songs and traditional songs called Nagauta that is played on Kabuki stages or something.

Rachel: Who’s your favorite band or musician?
Apricot: I like Umekichi who does Geisha style and sings old Japanese songs with her cute voice, playing Shamisen.

Rachel: What’s your favorite food?
Apricot: I like fruits, especially oranges.

Rachel: Could you tell us what your fave color is?
Apricot: RED!!!

Rachel: I read on your profile that one of your interests is lolitas. Me too! How do lolitas fit into your life?
Apricot: Oh, really? That’s nice! I never wear Lolita clothing myself but I love watching lolita-fashion magazines and cute girls wearing them! I love drawing pictures of lolitas and use a lot of pinks because I usually don’t use pink very much. Using pink makes me feel girlish, lol.

Rachel: Name some of your hobbies for us.
Apricot: My hobby….is drawing, lol! And collecting dolls, watching Kabuki.

Rachel: What do you do when you aren’t drawing?
Apricot: I study English!

Rachel: What would you say is the most interesting thing about you that people might not know about?
Apricot: umm…nothing special…I like dogs, especially Pomeranians, I don’t like meat, I like dolls, I like horror films but I don’t like grotesque films…………everything is boring, lol. Oh, I REALLY LOVE YOU ALL who say to me that you like my drawings!!!! I really want to let you know that!

And we love you for bringing us all your awesome art! The name of the manga magazine Apricot used to draw for is Melody which is published by Hakusen-sya who also publishes Hana to Yume, another shojo manga publication.

Anyone who is interested in viewing more of Apricot’s art can view her gallery here. To purchase prints from Apricot’s gallery you can get them by clicking here.