Honestly, I can’t remember where I found Whitney Weber’s work. I’m so glad that I did! She’s a tinker at heart and a Ravenclaw. I can totally see us having sparkling cider and tinkering on our newest project. It would be lovely.
If you have a chance, visit her website and support her tinkering.
What was the first thing that you were proud of drawing?
Hard for me to remember the very first, I was much more proud of my work when I was little and drawing all the time. The first thing I was proud of when I started my digital work was a piece for my Intro to digital art class, it was a scene from what is now the basis for my YA graphic novel with a few of my main characters that I have since redrawn.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on my graphic novel, a very slow process, and also a collection of Fae pieces that I sell at conventions and gallery shows.
Who has influenced you the most as an artist?
Eyvind Earle and Brian Froud are the most inspirational for me. I remember being a kid and looking through every Faerie book of Brian’s in the library and being completely captivated. Eyvind’s work is most known from Sleeping Beauty and it will always stand out to me with its rich colors and his overly detailed yet somehow still simplistic look. I try my best to include as much meaningful detail and whimsy into all my work as these two talented artists.
Who is your favorite female superhero/villain/comic book character?
Rogue has always been one of my favorites as well as Mystique.
Do you think people expect a certain type of art from you since you are female? For example, do people expect something cute and are surprised that you specialize in zombies or vampires?
Actually I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the lack of stereotyped expectations I’ve received. Every time I’ve been asked onto a job it’s always been for the overall look of my work and less about the subject matter. I’m really happy about that, I love to draw faeries and goblins in my free time but I’ve been incredibly lucky to have art directors and bosses that can trust me with drawing all kinds of subject matter like run down yachts and laser blasting toasters.
How often do you go to comic book conventions? Do you enjoy conventions?
I attend and try to exhibit at as many as possible throughout the year. I’ve loved attending cons since my first stint with Wondercon in 2010 when it was still in San Francisco. It’s wonderful to know that these conventions can introduce you to a great deal of new artists and work you’ve never seen.
Are you an introvert or extrovert?
Very much an extrovert.
Where do you find your inspiration?
A lot of my inspiration comes from what I remember reading as a kid (fairytales and mythos) but I do find a lot of my inspiration from other artists or spending time exploring outdoors. I really enjoy hiking and I find a lot of wonderful things for my mental reference bank while doing so.
What do you do if you have writer’s block?
I’m not the greatest about writer’s and artistic block. To try and help myself out of a funk I usually take a break for even a few days and do something that is less artistic and requires me to just be present like hiking, going to the park, or just hanging out with friends. Sometimes what can help is watching tutorials or finding a bunch of new artists work to skim through online. When I do that I usually get really excited to create again.
Have you had any interesting or awkward experiences since you’ve been an artist/writer?
Probably the most embarrassing moments have just been witnessing other people’s poor etiquette when approaching other artists, it has definitely made me more conscious of how I approach people working at conventions or shows. I’ve seen people shove portfolios in artists’ faces to ask for a review and have also had people ask if they can give me a Starbucks gift card instead of payment for my work.
Beverage of choice?
Martinelli’s sparkling cider…or Champagne. I love bubbly drinks haha
When was the last time that you dressed up for Halloween?
I dress up every year! This past year I dressed up as a Tinker fairy for Mickey’s Halloween party in Disneyland. I like to sew; Halloween is a wonderful creative outlet for me that provides a great break from drawing.
What do you want people to know about you?
I am working on my graphic novel, hopefully I can get the first part of that out in the next few months. I am also a Ravenclaw 😉
