@DeeDotNG - @Aalasteir (Q) - Index

Q: What does it mean to create art? How did you get interested in it?

I actually got into making art way later than a lot of my peers! I was about seventeen before I started to draw in any sort of artstyle. Before I decided I wanted to study art I was actually planning to go to college for architecture! bahaha, looking back that seems like such a bad fit, but making art as a job wasn't even a possibility in my head at the time!

As for what it means to create? that's a tough one to answer. For me I'd say it's exploring new ideas and improving my skills, What drew me in to art is that progress is so tangible and there's always something new to try and explore or improve upon. ...this way of thinking is probably the reason I can't hold down a consistent artstyle bahaha 😄

Q: How is it like living in Ireland?

Ireland is great!! I am NOT built for hot countries so the weather here is perfect for me! It rains loads but I find it relaxing. I am terrified of storms though, even if they don't happen super often.

Art wise as well there are so many awesome and cool creatives here! Brobexx and CigarDoesArt are my personal faves. Don't know if they're on newgrounds but their art rocks!

There's also a ton of animation studios here that are amazing, Boulder Media worked on Wander over Yonder, Gumball and a ton of other shows. And then there's Studio Meala who worked on a bunch of Cas van de Pols videos! Meala also has a bunch of shorts on their yt channel they are so much fun to watch (I hear they also worked on a show about a little girl who punches things ). There's like a billion other studios here as well, it's super inspiring!

Q: What was it like being at the NG Dublin meet 2024?

Dublin meetup rocked! It was my first time ever meeting people from online in real life! Everyone was drawing in sketchbooks, we had a bunch of NG cartoons playing at the bar and there was a bunch of old arcade games! Had so many chats with lovely people so I'd say it was pretty great!!

Q: Are you inspired by anime? And what do you enjoy about anime?

I am totally inspired by anime and manga! Which is weird because as a kid, I got it drilled into me that watching anime made you a weirdo.

I obviously got over that eventually bahaha. I watched evangelion when I was 16 and got absolutely hooked!! Once I started college I really got into reading chainsaw man and from there it spiraled into me watching everything I heard good things about, I love getting reccomendations!

My favourite stuff I've watched recently is Ghost in the shell, Paranoia agent and Eizouken!! As for what I enjoy about it? It's kinda everything, art and animation are just my favourite thing to explore creatively.

Q: What do you feel are the differences working with 2D animation and 3D animation?

The principals of animation are pretty much the same and all, but when it comes to the more art direction-ey kind of stuff, like stylisation its just a completely different skillset

You can simulate a lot of stuff with the computer in 3D, like physics, textures and lighting. It can even do some in-betweening if you want it to. Which is both like super cool and pretty dangerous cuz its very easy to get lazy with it.

I personally find them both fun!! But fine tuning stuff in 2D, you have all the control to get it looking exactly how you want. Where in 3D, fixing the little things can take FOREVER.

Q: What are the qualities immediately you enjoy? And what makes them good?

In relation to art and animation? I love some good colours and shading, it's something that doesn't come very naturally to me so I love seeing it done well.

Q: Your profile picture is very creative, with the hair and hand seemingly coming out of the frame. How did you get inspired to create a profile picture like that?

Im just super creative what can I say? ¯⁠⁠⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠⁠/⁠¯ (I stole the idea from Bacun) But the character is in fact mine! That's Dot, as in the second half of my username!

Q: What are you most proud of learning?

I'm proud of learning everything I have so far! I started doing digital art just under a year ago and I'm super happy with my progress.

If I were to just pick one thing is would probably be my line quality! Everything in my old sketchbooks looks like chickenscratch cause I had zero confidence in my linework. It's a super hard habit to break when you've been doing it for so long, but now everything's (mostly) nice and clean 🙂

Q: What is it like being in college? What do they teach you?

To be honest not much, I'm given assignments to do and the tools to do them, but as far as learning goes, I'm 99% teaching myself here.

Like I'll go into class and the lecturer will just put on an hour of tutorial videos they found on YouTube lol.

Luckily I'm pretty good at teaching myself 😛

Q: What does it mean to be happy?

Always try and do something new. Staying stagnant and doing familiar stuff excessively can make it feel like youre stuck in life. Experiencing new things is like a system reboot and keeps everything moving.

Also talk to people! Make gifts, do activities together in person or online! Help them when they need it and they'll help you back. Just be careful and make sure you're with a good crowd, there are some people who'll take advantage. But trust me it's worth it

And finally, follow ya dreams! ᕙ⁠(⁠＠⁠°⁠▽⁠°⁠＠⁠)⁠ᕗ