Embedded Files
Name / Artist name
Name / Artist name
Esther Velasquez / Khokho (previously Stervelar)
When did you start drawing and when did it transition into something more professional?
When did you start drawing and when did it transition into something more professional?
I liked drawing characters since I was a kid, I wanted to be an artist, but that’s not where things began for me, I was often told that I was good at drawing, but it was a useless skill because "it's not a career" so I'd lose my time with it, I was terrified of trying and failing, which combined with the lack of any education available eventually frustrated me, so I abandoned the idea, thinking I’d never learn. Then after I finished college, I re-discovered Deviantart and found the art side of Instagram, which gave me hope, I saw people making art a career and sharing their progress online, the growth of big Youtube channels offering tutorials helped a lot too, along with getting access to buy online, allowing me to get amazing books to learn about painting. In late 2019, I shared my first drawings, and by early 2020, I took drawing seriously for the first time and was resolute to learn, mainly digital illustration, because still toady, getting supplies regularly is rather hard for me here. I took my first commission in late 2021, but began freelancing for more serious projects the next year.
What’s your art background?
What’s your art background?
My formal education is in Architecture with a MA in Interior Design. I learnt theory and history of arts during my days at college, but the actual drawing knowledge mostly comes from watching tutorials on the internet, I thought the career would involve more drawing, but I barely had any drawing classes, no one took them seriously because you don't need to know how to draw to make blueprints in CAD or BIM softwares, so they were more like "free time" no worries classes, but I learned a lot about perspective for sure. I studied from books like Andrew Loomis' series and asked for critiques from other more experienced artists. I did a couple of online courses in CGMA Academy (now dead), where I had the chance to get some valuable critiques too.
List a few of your inspirations.
List a few of your inspirations.
I have many many sources of inspirations, old school painters & Illustrators like Adolphe Bouguereau, Alphonse Mucha, Dean Cornwell, Leyendecker and Singer Sargent, more contemporary creatives like James Gurney, Hayao Miyazaki & his crew and Aaron Blaise, fantasy books, folklore and the animation industry as a whole. Also games like Zelda and Final Fantasy. Lately I've been heavily taking inspiration in my local environment; I grew up in a semi-rural setting, very rich in cultural elements that feed my visual library. I also love Artistic Movements like Symbolism, Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
Preferred software/hardware for illustrating?
Preferred software/hardware for illustrating?
I use ClipStudio Paint and Blender. My current drawing tablet is a Huion Kamvas Pro19.
What are some of your strengths in illustrating and weaknesses?
What are some of your strengths in illustrating and weaknesses?
I think my strength is working with characters, sprinkled with some creature design. Ironically, I don’t like drawing architecture and often have a hard time drawing buildings and hard surfaces, so yes, I plan to be able to translate all the theoretical knowledge I have about this topic into my illustrations. Promise I'm working on it hahaha.
Favorite artworks you’ve done for Tetraverse.
Favorite artworks you’ve done for Tetraverse.
Jade Nightshade, Serpent's Kiss (Alt Art)
Katya Noaya, Yukina's Grace
Favorite artworks you’ve done in general.
Favorite artworks you’ve done in general.
Axolotl Mermaid
Fairy Yuna
Goals as an artist. Where do you want to be in your art career 5 years from now?
Goals as an artist. Where do you want to be in your art career 5 years from now?
Professionally, I’d like to be a successful freelancer, working as an artist full time. I want to paint illustrations that make people smile, something that makes your day at least a bit better in some way.
Advice for new or aspiring artists.
Advice for new or aspiring artists.
I’d strongly advise new aspiring artists to be mindful of their health, taking breaks is just as important as practicing, no one develops god tier skills overnight, it takes time, so take yours, at your own pace. I had a horrible daywork-drawing-personal life balance at the beginning, injuring my wrist to the point I needed a surgery to fix it, which resulted in months lost.
Being afraid of failing is a career killer; I lost over a decade being frightened of "not being good enough", but no one is at the beginning, you need those wonky drawings first, then you do much better, gradually.
Give high priority to studying the fundamentals, maybe studying perspective, values or composition is not as exciting, but those skills will skyrocket your improvement, independently of what style you're aiming for.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse