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Name:
Antea a.k.a. “Aisling”
In a sentence, who are you and what do you do?
I am a person who wants to put on paper (by drawings or words) whatever is walking through her mind at that specific moment.
What got you started? Was there a specific moment or time when you released “this is what I want to do”?
I’ve always loved cartoons and illustrated books since I was very little; and I’ve always loved reading and the idea of creating anything thrills me, even just in my mind. So, I believe, I’m always thinking of some new challenges because I really can’t think of my life without creativity in it.
What was your favourite comic growing up, Aisling?
I really can’t say I have a favourite one. I’ve always loved superheroes but I’m not really enthused about drawing them. I prefer drawing grotesque characters and fantastic creatures from ancient stories. I really love fantasy books and art in general though.
What was the first piece of work or project that you were really proud of?
A CD cover I realized for my cousin’s band where I had to portrait him and his friends in a grotesque but still resembling way. Still really proud of the portrait of my cousin, it makes me laugh so much, it’s just him!
What is your preferred material to work with?
I must say I both love digital and non-digital art. I like the quickness of the first one but I also love the touch of a 2B on the paper and the lines I get from the pencil represent better than when I use a Cintiq what I’m feeling when I’m drawing in that specific moment.
What is your least liked material to work with?
I’m not that good with painting. So I’d say I really prefer black and white stuff.
What’s your dream project? Forget about money, time, popular demand or any other variable. If that was all covered and you would work on whatever you wanted. What would it be?
I would like both to create an illustrated fantasy book and other projects that include just my true love for writing.
If you were hired to create a book cover based on a classic story, what would the story be and how would you tackle creating it?
I would probably use some of my wit (people often say you can see my drawings are witty) and I’d also like to put in the drawing a lot of hidden hints about the story. I surely would start by reading carefully the story, to be sure I have made the characters in it mine and then I would start studying the best identity for them and, just in the end, I’d add what would make them mine and unique in my own opinion. At least, that is what I would like trying to achieve.
If you had a spirit animal, what would it be?
I would like to think of a wolf. I’m a bit of a loner but I also like being in the company of the few ones I love so I would fit in in a pack, I believe, but I also like to have my own spaces. Even though once I’ve done one of those silly tests on “what’s your totemic animal?” – or something like that – and it looks like I’m fit for A DOVE. That was quite disappointing, I must say! Though they’re a symbol of peace and stuff like that, and I must admit that I’m a kind person so, I believe, I should appreciate it anyway… but still! Wolfs are fluffy and kind of mighty and fierce…
Aisling, what are you currently working on and what’s coming up in the future?
At the moment, even though I admit it with a bit of disappointment, I’m concentrating on other matters and I draw in my free time. Though I try to find the time to write my own stories and create my own characters, even though they’re all still hidden in a drawer.
Which artist(s) would you like to see interviewed? Why?
I love many artists, even though many of them are so different in many ways, I really can’t name one. I surely love Glen Keane, I think his art is perfection and true love for the matter. But I also respect one of my S.I.C.’s (Scuola Internazionale di Comics – International School of Comics) teachers very much. He works for the French BD: his name is Paolo Grella. I believe he is a great artist and teacher on so many levels. I’ll always cherish what he taught me.
What questions (apart from these ones!) would you like to ask them?
I’ve asked him lots of questions about technique, execution etc. in my school years, but I’ve always admired how he encouraged us to exceed our limits and what little we already knew to became so much more. I’ve always asked myself how was he able to believe that much in us to make us really reach new levels and improve so much. How was he able to do that? It still looks amazing to me after six years. The point is that he taught me that you can do whatever you want to do just by trying and wanting it. It’s amazing.
Tell us something about Aisling that people wouldn’t normally know!
I’m quite an open book! But probably many people don’t know that I’m a huge nerd and I love PC games: I’m a Blizzard and Riot fan and I painfully admit that I spend way too much time on games.
Your Links (Facebook/Twitter/Website/Instagram/etc.)
Instagram: @ladyofshalott89
Aisling Blue Fox Comics Work
Blue Fox Comics Dragon Colouring Book
Blue Fox Comics Dragon Colouring Book – Digital
Simon Birks is co-founder of Blue Fox Comics, along with his wife Marielle. He writes incessantly, and has been known to create the odd website or two.
As well as comics, Simon writes plays, poetry, (award winning) film scripts. He also acts, directs and produces films, too, because why have any spare time…
