UPDATE // Trouw news article
Added 2020-01-14 09:31:30 +0000 UTCLast week I was interviewed for an article in the dutch newspaper Trouw! I figured it might be fun to share here. I translated it into english, here it comes:
Previously, her work had been on display in a few coffee places. Now, with her exhibition in Storyworld, she now has her first official museum exhibition under her belt. Her work has been printed out and displayed in the Storyworld approach: from sketchbook to finished product.
A museum is an uncommon place to find her work. Why hang it on the wall when it’s available worldwide through the internet? Loish doesn’t refer to her own work as ‘art’ in the traditional sense. She associates ‘art’ with original artworks, or limited edition prints. “What I make can be seen by anyone, and is easy to purchase and own.”
Amongst other things, van Baarle designs characters for games. She aided in the creation of Horizon: Zero Dawn’s Aloy. She has 1.7 million followers on Instagram, mostly from North and South America. Her personal work, which is she is best known for, consists mostly of dream-like and colorful illustrations of women - but she doesn’t have her teachers to thank for that.
“During my studies, my teachers looked down on my style. They felt it was too easy, too girly, and too manga-influenced. I found it hard to navigate those situations. I found a way to create work that kept my teachers happy and keep doing my own thing on the side, inspired by Disney and Mucha.”
She found encouragement for this style on Deviantart. She built up a following there: fans who enjoyed her work and encouraged her to continue. “This saved me,” she says. “When my own immediate environment didn’t see a future in my personal work, I was able to turn to the online communities I was a part of. 50 years ago, I would have had to adapt my style more, or have to fight harder to be able to work in my own style.”
Loish calls her own work “semi-realistic digital art.” This style is gaining traction thanks to online communities, and events like comic cons. “Also, things are more mixed these days: movies are translated into apps, comics are translated into games.”
Her advice for digital illustrators is: draw what you enjoy drawing. And share it. “These are things I wanted to hear when I was young. And now I can help others with this message.”
Did you guys also experience discouraging voices as you were trying to find your own style? I feel like a lot of artists go through this at some point or other.
Comments
I think it was seen as childish by people outside of Japan, because outside of Japan, adults didn't really read it. But now +10 years later, those children and teens have turned to adults and still continue to read, so people started seeing things different. Either case, I'm glad to world started treating it different so artists after us don't have to deal with as much rejection just for loving a style.
Hanna
2020-01-16 12:26:19 +0000 UTCinteresting! I've noticed that if someone subverts expectations, there's always some people in their environment who don't like it and want things to change back. but it's good to do your own thing and don't let those voices keep you down! :)
Loish
2020-01-16 09:41:55 +0000 UTCthat's great! it's a good time to be self-taught. and if you want a more structured school-like environment, there are a lot of online courses or workshops you can follow!
Loish
2020-01-16 09:40:53 +0000 UTCi know right? I think it's because the schools I went to were such overwhemingly male environments. Most of my classmates and almost all of my teachers were men.
Loish
2020-01-16 09:40:08 +0000 UTCyeah. I think manga influence was looked down on really badly for a long time and now it's becoming clear that it's a valid style like any other.. and can generate income too.
Loish
2020-01-16 09:39:04 +0000 UTCthat's heartbreaking. I feel like these teachers must have been taking out some kind of personal issue out on you guys. I can't think of any other reason why people can be so mean and go so far as to crush someone's creativity. glad you still persisted!!
Loish
2020-01-16 09:38:21 +0000 UTCI’m currently going this right now. I used to try and draw cute and girly things because I thought that’s what everyone wanted to see and would help me grow a following on instagram. I wasn’t being true to me and seemed my work never turned how I wanted it to. I would stress about my art constantly. Now I’ve been experimenting with drawing creeping and sometimes creepy cute things because that’s where my heart really lies. Not everyone has been understand or approving.
Kelly Lewellyn
2020-01-15 23:50:17 +0000 UTCThat's great ! 😮
Chris
2020-01-15 13:42:47 +0000 UTCYeah I remember reaching out in 2016 to you, because I was opting quitting my job for animation at HKU. Instead I purchased the studybooks you recommended me :) I gotta say I have improved a lot since then (I didn't even dare to pick up the pen back then), but I still have a long way to go :S
Laura Heuijerjans
2020-01-15 05:43:44 +0000 UTCThanks for translating for us English-speakers! I love that Disney, manga, and Mucha are inspirations for both of us. It's probably why I like your work so much. The vibes come from the same other "art grandparents" that I love. I'm glad you didn't listen to those teachers and that you kept doing your own thing.
Hannah England
2020-01-15 00:14:00 +0000 UTCI still occasionally recall one of my 4th grade teachers, that specifically called a conference with my parents to tell them I "would never amount to anything." I probably had more ambition and career goals in 4th grade than many people do as adults, and made good grades as well. I never understood what she had against me! Of course, then I went on to become valedictorian, accepted into a prestigious college, and now run my own successful business. So ... SUCK IT Ms Richardson! :)
David Woods
2020-01-14 18:32:20 +0000 UTCSince when is "too girly" a bad thing with respect to your personal style? I don't see where anything to do with gender is a bad thing.
Keith Ward
2020-01-14 17:32:59 +0000 UTCDiscouraging people are all round the corner whenever we speak about art. Our Mission Is to overcome these toxic people and change their minds working hard!
Silvia Mercuri
2020-01-14 16:56:55 +0000 UTCWow that's just not right D: But I'm glad you didn't loose your spark forever!
Hanna
2020-01-14 14:10:32 +0000 UTCI had people back in my home country tell me I wouldn't be taken seriously as a manga artist. So I formed my own style which had my manga roots and some Disney style to it... People still think I'm a manga artist, but for some reason in the last 10 years it has become... respectful?
Hanna
2020-01-14 14:09:49 +0000 UTCSo sad when art teachers do that 😔 they are supposed to light a flame under your passion for art, and let you bloom into your own style -.-‘ not force some 18th century paints style upon you.. good for you for finding your flame again :) 🔥
YesitsTijl
2020-01-14 09:43:24 +0000 UTCI had an art teacher once who called my art “my own style of boring” 😟. It crushed me and I gave up on my dream of becoming an artist (although being in an art school I had to keep going. Just the passion wasn’t there anymore). Now, luckily, almost ten years later, I’ve found that spark again and am picking up where I left off and it feels amazing! 😊
2020-01-14 09:39:47 +0000 UTCAaaaand haha 😂 “links en rechts hing ze al in een paar koffietentjes”... 😆 B*tch, Loish haar art staat op wacom tablet dozen!
YesitsTijl
2020-01-14 09:39:11 +0000 UTCThank you for this <3
2020-01-14 09:35:58 +0000 UTCYep, bin there done that.. still get those comments 😋 but I don’t care.. I’m doing what I like to do 😁
YesitsTijl
2020-01-14 09:35:51 +0000 UTC
