❀F.A.Q.❀

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What tools and programs do you use?

For digital art, I create using a Wacom 13HD pen tablet with a computer/laptop in Photoshop. In summer 2022, I purchased my first iPad Pro 12.9” tablet and taught myself to use Procreate.

For traditional art, I prefer watercolors. My main watercolor set is Sakura Koi Watercolors set. Other mediums include Sakura Pigma Micron pen/ink, and Prismacolor Colored Pencils set, and recently Arrtx (Primrose) Gouache paint! Sometimes, I combine traditional and digital art by scanning my sketches or drawings onto the computer to continue with the digital process.
 

What is your art style?

It’s a fantasy or semi-real anime-inspired style. I used to focus on photorealistic portraits, but now I enjoy more stylized works. I like to incorporate storytelling and meaningful messages in my illustrations.

How do you develop an art style?

I develop my art style through constant observation and practice; so, it changes overtime depending on what I observe and admire.

My earliest influences were illustrations from children’s book.

So even before I started elementary school, I love looking at all the pictures—soaking in the colors, the characters’ expressions/personalities and the clothes they wear, the settings—EVERYTHING! I copied the style by drawing and coloring the way the illustrators did. It didn’t look as clean and beautiful as theirs at first, but I kept drawing like that over and over until it becomes easy without thinking about it.

My biggest influence were 90s anime art style.

I grew up watching Sailormoon, Pokemon, Digimon, and Cardcaptor Sakura on TV everyday after school. I started drawing those characters to put in my binders and notebooks, or hang on the walls. I was in elementary school by this time, and I was still copying the style as exactly as possible.

It wasn’t until I was in high school and uni that I drew characters in my own way.

I learned formal art styles from the art classes I enrolled in. These help me tremendously. It taught me to observe and draw from real life—to see how light changes as the day progress; to see texture in different materials like cloth vs metal; to see form in how people move.

The “uniqueness” depends on the form (sharp or smooth lines for curving parts), the proportion (big anime eyes vs small realistic eyes), line weight (thick lines or thin lines or both), and color (flat colors with no shadows vs limited colors palette vs all the colors!). Nowadays, I still observe and pick up what I admire from different artists. For example, it may be a certain way one artist draws eyes and the way another artist draws lips. I’ll then draw the shape of the eyes and lips on one face. But I’ll decide my own proportion, line weight, and colors. It’s definitely like creating a collage!

Beginner advice?

For beginners, observing and drawing from life is one of the best ways to start understanding how form, light, and colors play together. With still life, you can rearrange the objects and light source however you like. Nowadays, there is easy access to a camera so you can easily snap a picture to use as reference material. Many art tutorials are now available online for free access as technology develops. And of course—books!
 

What are your favorite subjects to draw?

My favorite subjects are people, fashion, and plants ♡♡♡ I like working on fantasy/sci-fi illustrations.
 

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How do you create your stickers? Are they waterproof?

I create my designs in Photoshop or Procreate. Then, I use my Cricut Maker machine to cut shapes or trim prints. Both transparent and vinyl stickers are UV light and water resistant. Gently pat dry water droplets.

How do you make your prints? What are the sizes available to purchase?

I mainly print with Epson Ink Tank ET-4750 printer for art prints, and Canon Color Imageclass LBP622Cdw laser printer for transparent stickers.

To which country do you ship your products?

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and postal delays, international shipping may have restrictions or is temporarily unavailable to some countries. Before ordering, please check here to see if your country accepts delivery from the US. Thank you for your patience!

Where do you ship from and what are the shipping costs?

All my products ship from California, USA.

USA: $4.50 flat rate.
International: Go to checkout to see prices.

I currently don’t do returns or exchanges, but please contact me if there are any issues with your order at hello.sotara@gmail.com.

Thank you for your interest in my work!!!
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