`Gwendolyn12

Hah, I feel like it was forever ago. There's the story: One day I was making some albums of pictures and fanarts from my favorite games on my account of Orkut, and one of those games was Odin Sphere, a fantastic game for Playstation 2 . Then, while browsing on Google, I found a certain site which had incredible fanarts of OS like I haven't seen anywhere else. I got sincerely curious about that and, after learning how the Search of the site worked, I started browsing the Fanart section and I got sincerely impressed by the quality of the art I saw there two weeks after I decided to make and account to 'favorite' those pictures. And guess what, this site was dA!

In the beginning, as said, I was here just to fav stuff I liked. After I was done with the albums, I kind of forgot dA, both because I wasn't interested in comment or whatever and because I saw too many digital works here, and that discouraged me as I knew absolutely nothing about digital art, and I had always worked with Traditional media… but then, in April, a friend I knew from another website sent me a pencil picture of Vincent Valentine (this one: [link] )  and when I saw the watermark I remembered the website I had an account on but barely used. I went to this artist - `Cataclysm-X 's - main page, and was SO impressed by the quality of their traditional work that only then I realized how this site was for all kinds of art, and then wanted to be more active and even share my own works.
I never looked back after that.
(by the way, a few days ago I left a comment on `Cataclysm-X 's page as it has been two years since that happened. I lovelove her<3)

On the behalf of the story as to why I joined dA, it's related to the Odin Sphere game Gwendolyn is one of the main characters of it <3 when I started the game, I admit I didn't like her, but as I played more I changed my opinion… and saw how awesome she really was, specially when it comes to her love for Oswald So, I was on the middle of the game when I made an account here, and as I had her name in head… Gwendolyn it is. 12 comes from my birthday (12/12) and is also my luck number
_{Also, a random fact you didn't want to know: when I made and account on dA I had a boyfriend who was also addicted to OS, and he used to call me Gwendolyn and himself Oswald, so that influenced me a lot on the account name, as well}

I remember drawing ever since I was little. Most of my childhood I passed playing videogames, but I was always impressed by the environments, landscapes and character designs… the pretty stuff I also always had a weakness for details. But when I was small I couldn't draw nothing but stick men… and mountains

Yes. When I was 9 I started playing RPG's in the anime style – Tales of Symphonia was a game in particular that influenced me a lot – and I used to…ehm, eyeball the pictures of the characters of the game Actually, I didn't exactly do that, I took the pic and over that I developed a concept but I lacked the skills to do that so the drawings ended quite similar to the original ones
Also, when I was 11 or so, my dad gave me a few mangas of Saint Seiya: Episode G, and I was so impressed by Megumu Okada's style that I started trying to draw fanarts of SS on the manga's style… and through it I ended developing my own style, lol. But yes, that's how I got into m/a style.

MAGIC.
_{ok, just kidding.}
Seriously though, first and foremost is dA people. I create to post on dA and get to know what my friends think of my works, ideas, to improve, to change, to learn... But I also create because I've always been a creative person - if I may say so myself. I get ideas, good ideas, easily, and I just HAVE to bring them to life somehow – and that way is through my drawings and paintings. If I don't draw I feel bad, suffocated, ill. Doing art is a necessity, is like air, like water for me.

Each and every work of mine holds a meaning, and I can't say there is ''the most meaningful'' for me. But if I had to pick one,  it would be . It was developed through a phase that's hard and hated by every artist who has the unfortune to have it – an art block – and it took me months, and lots of effort. I only managed to finish it in time because it was done for someone very special to me, as a birthday gift, and I wouldn't let him without one.

Hm, I never like, had any goals. But if I have to say anything, it would probably be a Gallery Moderator to Manga/Anime, when I'm old enough too volunteer. I'll admit, I've been dreaming of that since my early days on dA, when I met `OneFreeInternet (back then, ^ctJemm)

Hm, I'm not one to stick to projects or such, I'm too lazy for that I'm more the random kind, who lurks is around, helps, comments, suggests DD's and make people smile. But now I've brought to life an idea I've had for months: A series of interviews with M/A Artists who I think are particularly inspiring. The first interview of the series was already posted, and I featured the amazing =TGA-Tsurugi there. I hope I can keep up with those.

Harry Potter, obviously. I'm a HP fan since forever. Also, Chronicles of Narnia (specially the first and the second, I didn't like the third one as much) and Bridge to Terabithia. Ah, also Black Swan. What a wonderful movie.

Generic answer: Any! I can listen to any kind of music as long as it's good for my ears, from rock to classic, from pop to metal… I often pay more attention to songs than artists (and my playlist has most of its songs from different bands/singers) but specifically, the ones I listen to more are: Sarah Brightman and Yulia Savicheva (singers) and Guns 'N Roses, Metallica,  Apocalyptica (bands)

HARRY POTTER! Also, Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, The Paul Street Boys, Bridge to Terabithia, The Secret Garden, The Little Prince, Percy Jackson and The Olympians, The Golden Compass series, All Mafalda (a collection of all her comic strips), and all the Sítio Do Pica-Pau Amarelo books from Monteiro Lobato (a brazilian writer) <3

Foods, barbecue! also chocolate if it counts as a food <3
Drinks, give me a pineapple or passion fruit juice and see me happy

On dA, probably the trolls like, the real ones, who are out there just to bother, not the ones who pretend to be them but aren't Also, art thieves I CANNOT stand them.
In general, I feel like killing people who chew with their mouth open >__> and people who pretend they're 'superior' when they aren't. I don't know if it's a pet peeve, but if it is I have it

Can it be a few? I am a good cook. Also, I can play the violin and the flute, and I'm known for being very lazy and taking forever to do anything, procrastinating until the last moment (that also applies to school, hence why I never do schoolwork or study). Also, I often take at least half an hour to eat anything, and I just CAN'T eat without reading something. I can't. At all.

_{Being one who works with drawings, my tips will only go for those who draw, sorry.}
Practice. Practice until your fingers rot and fall. But practice with base; use tutorials, use references, use stock, draw from life, and don't be afraid to experiment with other medias! Don't be afraid to take criticism and critique on your art, it is VERY important to know what others have to say. That is, if you want to improve.
Also, put effort on every little thing you do, even if just a random doodle on your school notebook. And if you can't get something right, don't give up! If you need to re-draw something a thousand times, do it, but don't be unsatisfied with your art. Be proud of everything you do, because you did it!

Art means absolutely everything. Nothing would exist without art. Art is not only what's depicted on paintings, photos, sculptures or those things; art is also loving someone, is serving on the table something you cooked with effort, is that blue sky outside your window, is those flowers on the park in your city, taking care of your children, those fantastic worlds that exist on your imagination. And it's also be the death of someone you knew, a murder, that sadness you or someone else feel, a  betrayal, a dream, a nightmare, a fear; Art can represent a good or a bad aspect of life, but art can be everything. And IS everything, for me.

First: I'm sorry for the lengthy replies, but I really wanted to share all my thoughts with you guys! Also, THANK YOU SO MUCH `PurpelBlur for interviewing me, being part of the 'Devious Minds' series is a dream coming true… I always admired so much the people who were interviewed here So it's a real honor
And of course, thank you, dA, thank you everyone, for everything! I love you all you all rock!

If you have a recommendation of someone you think I should interview for this series please send me a note with a subject of "DM Rec"