Q: How did you meet your art mentor?
The story of how I met my mentor, now collaborator, Phuijl, started way back in 2017 when I was first beginning my online art journey on Tumblr. Doing mostly requests and fanart at the time, one of my pals worked as a BG artist at Dreamworks, and Phui happened to be an animator on the series they were working on.
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Sometime during that period, I started tuning in to her various Picarto streams and inquiring on different techniques and advice I could use to improve. At a certain point I believe I bugged her enough that instead of constantly replying to my bothersome questions, she chose to take me under her wing and mentor me.
Getting me involved in some of her communities, along with teaching me about reanimates and fanzines ect.
At this point in time between 2017 to 2020, she'd worked on Rise of the TMNT, Lackadaisy, and the Hazbin pilot.
And I had the pleasure of getting to speak with and learn from various production members across the board.
Q: What are some techniques and advice that helped you to improve your art?
Probably the best piece of advice I ever got was to focus more on seeing a piece through, instead of constantly sketching and building WIPs.
By completing a piece from start to finish, it helps a great deal in improving efficiency and creating your own pipeline. And for me personally, massively cut down on the time it took to complete future works.
Q: What were the things that you learned from the various production members?
Most of what I learned from speaking with various VA’s, Writers, Directors, ect was the importance of professionalism. I came into the online front in my mid teens, and was for lack of better phrasing, a total menace. Cocky, Big Ego, Easily hurt, and just all around emotionally driven. While this continues to be a battle to this day, and one never truly overcomes their own pride, having the guiding words of long time indie and industry leads to navigate my future choices, I feel like I’m slowly settling down into a more mellow and happy person.
Q: How does being left-handed affect your art process
For the most part, it was a partial deciding factor in me switching to digital art.
Constant smudging and smearing while filling out a page became really bothersome.
Q: What do you like about art?
For most of my life I’ve been a black sheep to my family and contemporaries.
While this hasn’t always been a negative, I’ve often lacked community or things to call my own.
Art has been one of the few passions of mine that has stuck around through the years.
And the only one that has brought me closer to people all around the globe.
Q: What do you think about NG? And what make you join the community?
I was first introduced to NG probably around 2006? Via playing on a website called
“Addicting games” which featured marginally NG based site links and media.
And around 2018 during the early Tumblr migration is when I first made an official account.
Q: What would be your advice on using the Internet in a good way?
Be very careful with how you treat people. Coming from someone who came to the internet and social media totally blind, I’ve had my fair share of cruelty, abuse, rudeness, and burnt bridges.
Both from the giving and receiving end. People have feelings, and a life outside the internet.
Try to put a little positivity into what you do and who you interact with, instead of just looking for what the online world can offer you.
Q: What is Egodiver?
Egodiver is a pet project of mine, focusing predominantly on the theme of “Self reflection” via a series of short vignettes centered on a photographer learning to come to terms with past failures and losses while trying to find beauty in what was once his biggest burden.
Currently with work and a series of collabs in the works, it’s been put on a back burner for the time being.
Q: What made you decide to create your Newgrounds Creator Spotlight?
It originated from a couple of summer VC’s with NG friends who attended the TMG meetups.
A recurring issue / gripe involved various creators and community members having trouble spotting or identifying people who attend or hosted. Or worse yet, seeing someone with a huge crowd around them, and having zero idea of what they did or why they were popular.
So the entire undertaking started as a bit of a “For U” page for meetup heads who’d be interested in a little artist synopsis paired with a snazzy portrait. And it’s slowly grown from there.
Q: What interest do you have around history? How do you decide on choosing subject matter for your Historical series?
History has been a point of focus for me since childhood.
Mostly spanning from my dad and elder siblings interest in documentaries and road tripping through battlefields and national parks.
And as far as how I pick someone out for the series, I tend to focus on figures I feel have been lost to time. A lot of our most important leaders, generals, and civil activists have fallen victim to less than stellar public education. So if I can get someone interested in wiki’ing em, that’s a win to me.
Q: What is it like directing at Studio Phuico?
It’s quite nice thus far. Certainly a learning experience.
I’d been a long time collaborator of Phui’s prior to my time with the studio.
So a lot of the writing and concept work comes pretty natural.
Q: How did you decide on becoming a full time Artist?
I honestly just kept pouring more and more time into it.
It really crept up on me year by year. Till it became something I was able to scrape along with.
So in that sense it feels more like a blessing than a cognitive choice on my end.
Q: Your interest in philosophy had a lot to do with your "Homeschooled" upbringing, your father being a Buddhist and a bit of a Southern dandy, growing up in the early '60s with a belief in Alberti's ideal of a "Renaissance man." In what ways would you say philosophy has changed your life and your perspective on the world?
For most of my youth I’d had problems in socializing and quite a bad temper.
Paired with a lack of self awareness to my own failures and missteps, Philosophy really became a point of necessity for me. It was either “Learn about yourself and what you stand for” or become evil. To this day I still make wrong choices, but I like to think I’m getting better.
Q: How would you describe your Homeschooling?
Positive. I’ve never been a great student, and that’s what homeschooling is perfect for.
You never get left behind. If you don’t get it, then you’re given the chance to recover the material. You’re granted a much more rounded education style if done right.
Q: Dealing with dyslexia growing up, the arts and humanities really took center stage for you early in life as a method to help you advance your English and socializing skills. What would be your advice for dealing with dyslexia?
Get used to taking your time. It’s really not a big issue if you take your time.
A lot of it involves troubles in reciting patterns. So English, Math, Verse, ect.
Instead of getting frustrated, just take it one step at a time.
Q: What is passion?
Passion is to never admit defeat, no matter the odds.
Q: Why do you think you resonate with Oku no Hosomichi by Basho? Before embracing the concept that "every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home," how were you previously, and in what ways do you incorporate that principle now?
One of my greatest fears in life is failing someone. People, parents, partners, ect.
I found myself constantly battling anxiety to prove myself to the world.
What Basho taught me was the importance of solace, and embracing your emotions in the moment. And a willingness to let them go.
Everyday is a brand new life that you’re born into.
Remember, “Only a fool trips on something behind them”.
Q: Why do you imagine Sisyphus to be happy? Referring to The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. What is your opinion on Existentialism and Absurdism?
Every second of life is an uphill battle. The peace and happiness Sisyphus finds is the moment of realizing that his punishment is no different than any other day in life.
After any of us complete a race, win a battle, come to terms, that boulder of life rolls right back down. And we all must start again on our next challenge. Might as well enjoy it.
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Absurdism and Existential thought for me, is based on the simple and honest destruction of one’s ego. It’s the admittance that you don’t know everything, and never will have a full deck of cards to play with. As soon as you embrace that truth, the world is a really pretty place no matter what’s happening in it.
Q: What do you like about photography, both 35mm and instant? Why did your interest in the field grow through your fiancée’s love of scrapbooking? You currently work with a Konica Autoreflex TC, Canon AE-1, Polaroid OneStep, and Fuji Wide 400. Your advice on choosing a camera and taking pictures?
After spending an odd 7+ years with art and illustration being my only real pursuit or creative outlet, I found myself feeling deeply burnt out. Pair this with a rough and rocky first year with my lady, and I wanted something we could bond over that centered on us, and photography filled that role for me.
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I love the enjoyment of capturing God's domain and the moments of others. Entirely removing myself from the equation. It’s very invigorating.
If you’re just getting into traditional photography I recommend starting with an Instax mini or other cheap instant film options. The entire format lends itself to embracing trial and error. And enjoying what you get. Who knows, you might just make some memories you cherish.
Q: How would you describe the concept of civil disobedience, and why does it resonate with you? Why do you identify with the ideas of Thoreau?
I firmly stand with the belief of “No right answers”.
Thoreau ( At least in my understanding ) always amplified the idea of political participation to be a net failure. A life and a moral code should be separated from Politics and civic formats.
Embrace nature and a life independent from the world. As soon as you give into the political meat grinder, you’ve become part of the problem, not a solution.
Live free. Love hard. And don’t settle for second banana in your own life.
Q: What would be the opposite of the three philosophical perspectives above, and what ideas and behaviors would those create? And why?
Most ideologies I follow are escapist and focus on personal growth and going with destiny.
The clear opposite is a very hands on and active lifestyle.
Political activists, Priests and Preachers, the Moralists, The final sayers, and Freedom Fighters.
My life is peppered with deep set anger and rampant depression.
So the path I’ve chosen to walk is one of peace and acceptance, not of redemption or power.
Q: You have a great interest in and love for history and civics. From philosophers to political essays, you enjoy hearing worldviews from every walk of life and ideology. But in today's political climate, civics is more often than not a dead end for most, no matter where they fall on the political spectrum. Why do you think this issue exists, and what would be some solutions for addressing it?
This is a bit daunting to answer because of the touchy nature of it.
But a hard pill to swallow for anyone looking to really become grounded in these concepts is the “No wrong side” mindset.
To really understand the world, you must accept that there are cultures, societies, and alignments that are equal to your own, that believe in the exact opposite things that you do, and that is good and positive.
There’s no such thing as “Wrong think” or “A bad guy” in history.
Funny how the good guys always win in history, isn’t it?
Q: As a reasonable person who thinks and questions, what do you do when you are wrong, and what helps you realize that you're wrong? A lot of people are incapable of admitting when they're wrong about anything, and they never change their minds because it hurts their ego. What are some things you've been wrong about and why? How did you come to realize it? What do you think could help people who are incapable of recognizing when they’re wrong about something?
One must be willing to embrace the idea that they're on the wrong team.
Speaking from experience, the weaker the person, the more they feel a need to put roots down into ideologies and personal beliefs. They act like a safety net.
And allow you to justify any action you make in life.
While maybe against popular belief, I think every well rounded person should ponder the idea that they’re a less than good person, on a regular basis.
Q: What are some cozy romance stories and slice of life pieces that you really like? Why do you think those works resonate with you?
Huge soft spot for Murakami’s works. Norwegian wood, Sputnik sweetheart, Wild sheep chase.
The films of Wong Kar Wai. In the mood for love, 2046, Chungking express.
Random anime that hits the spot. MGX, any romance subplot in Eva, Saya and Haji in Blood+
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I think moving a lot as a kid, paired with the homeschooling, I had deeply romanticized relationships, something beyond comprehension. So I fell in love with the spark.
Love at first sight. The chance meetings. The idea that love and to love, is something magnetic that you can feel in the air.
Q: What do you like about fashion design? Would you like to be a fashion designer someday? What kinds of clothes would you like to design, and what are your inspirations, thoughts, and opinions on fashion?
I remember an old Kitano film featuring him in a lovely black grey tweed sacksuit.
And it was so impeccably cool on him, I didn’t think you could look better than that.
Menswear. Suits, ties, silk socks, subtle watches, a nice fragrance.
It’s the altar of reflection.
The real deal of you, in its most shallow state.
Good fashion is simple, classy, and bigger than you. It uplifts and defines the ego.
I’m cold blooded by nature. I’d like to make a winter line of jackets someday.
- Nightmares
For a very strange few months at the age of 7, I had a recurring dream that I was walking alone in a foggy park at night, with big street lights overhead. And randomly I'd fall into a hole covered by leaves. Waiting for me in this damp pit was a rotten skeleton that would chuckle and bite my lips off. and I'd always wake up the moment they'd begin to tear.
This series of dreams that would follow me, worried me so much, and made me so fearful of the supernatural, I began to study and practice Buddhist and Taoist beliefs in hopes to be in good spiritual grace for whenever my time came.
Q: Did studying and practicing Buddhist and Taoist beliefs help you?
It helped me define what I didn’t want to be.
And understand my moral roadmap a little better.
I’m not a great Buddhist or Taoist, but I believe in their teachings on a core level.
Q: What is your advice for living?
You’re gonna fuckup a lot, and often.
Say your sorries.
Count your blessings.
And always move forward.
Last but not least. Always remember to smile.
Because the world smiles at you every single day.
Be sure to return it.
