How to Draw Month: Ariela Kristantina
Dec 30, 2016
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For How to Draw month, PREVIEWSworld talks with artist Ariela Kristantina! Ariela is an artist who broke into comics with the BOOM! Studios series Deep State (JAN151107) and is currently working on the Aftershock series Insexts (JUN161072) with writer Marguerite Bennett.
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PREVIEWSworld: Who were your favorite artists growing up?
Ariela Kristantina: When I grew up, (translated) manga flooded the Indonesian comic market. Almost all my favorite artists growing up are mangaka: Uno Hiroshi (Captain Kid), Yuho Ashibe (Crystal Dragon), CLAMP (X, Clover), and of course, Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon). Aside from that, I was also into lots or Japanese anime such as Saint Seiya. I've also read various of shojo manga, the one which affected me a lot was Garasu No Kamen by Suzue Miuchi.
PREVIEWSworld: Were you self-taught, formally educated, or a combination of both?
Ariela Kristantina: It's a combination of both.
At first I was self-taught. Growing up in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the end of 80's, my parents, mostly my mother, didn't like the idea of "being a painter for a career". However, I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil and I used to create stories with my sister. We would draw the characters and since we couldn't write yet, we just said the dialogs out loud. I never stopped drawing until when I was 23-24 (2006-2007), there was a professional mangaka moved to Indonesia and opened a manga course. I took every lesson she offerred for almost a year. Still, it's not really a formal education (my bachelor degree is related to computer programming) until I went to get my MFA in Savannah College of Art and Design in 2011.
From 2006/7 until 2011, I was a published comic artist in Indonesia. I have (self) published quarterly comic magazine anthology with my studio friends, several books published by publishing companies, and several exhibitions.
PREVIEWSworld: Talk about your studio environment. Do you watch or listen to anything while you draw?
Ariela Kristantina: I do both. I mostly put my earphones on and listen to music. Aside from that, I follow several TV shows for several years so I know the actors' voices well. I don't always have to look up to watch. Aside from that, I also listen to a lot of video gampelays in Youtube, late night shows, and stand-up comedians. I don't really listen to podcasts though.
PREVIEWSworld: What tools do you prefer while drawing? Pencils, pens, art boards, etc.?
Ariela Kristantina: Mechanical pencil and rapidograph by Rotring. Gpen and marupen (Zebra holder and Nikko/Tachikawa nib). Strathmore 500 series semi-smooth. Kolinsky sable brush from Raphael 8404. Siberian blue squirrel quill mop from Isabey 6234.
PREVIEWSworld: Are there any books you would recommend to help with art?
Ariela Kristantina: Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu-Mestre. Figure Drawing (Design & Invention) by Michael Hampton. Both are my bibles back when I just went to SCAD.
PREVIEWSworld: Do you prefer drawing by hand, digitally, or both?
Ariela Kristantina: Manually, if possible. I probably can do rough pencils digitally but I can't imagine inking digitally. I might have to try in the future :D.
PREVIEWSworld: How long does it normally take to draw a page?
Ariela Kristantina: This is always a tricky question. When I do a page from a sketch/thumbnail to finish, I'd say 15 to 18 hours depending on the complexity. A flash page with architectural background, for example, will need 18 up to 24 hours to finish but a page with 3 panels and no background will need probably only 5-6 hours.
PREVIEWSworld: What’s your favorite thing to draw?
Ariela Kristantina: To draw: buildings and anything that needs expressive inking. To sketch: everything, from daily pose (people sitting, sleeping, etc) to random room or a situational drawing (people gathering in coffee shops/markets).
PREVIEWSworld: What's the most unique thing you've been asked to draw at a convention?
Ariela Kristantina: The Pet Avengers! Not really in a convention but that's the first time someone ever asked me to draw Pet Avengers. That was fun!
PREVIEWSworld: Finally, what’s the best advice you have for beginning artists?
Ariela Kristantina:
There are three things I still keep doing because until now, I still see myself as a beginner. I only started drawing professionally in 2014.
1) keep drawing all the time, keep a sketchbook constantly, don't ever stop; artblock will happen and you just have to find a way to deal with it because an artist doesn't really have the luxury to have a break because of an artblock when on deadline,
2) listen to editor(s) and comic pros when asking for a portfolio review. Like, really, I can't stress this enough,
3) draw outside your comfort zone: if you like cartoony style, learn realistic anatomy; if you like drawing figures, sketch as many buildings and vehicles as possible, etc.
