Weekly Artist Post: When We Were 12, by Ninona | MangaMagazine.net Official Blog

If I could go back in time when I was 12, what would I teach my younger self?

It’s an interesting matter to think about… When I was 12 it was the year 1994 and I was into comics (I’ve been drawing comics since I was born I think!). If I’m not mistaken I was into some fandom, probably more than one… but I bet it was my “Dragon Quest (Dai no daibouken)” era… -in my country it was called “Fly“. So yes, I used to read manga (which was very difficult to find those times where I used to live…), and watch anime on TV. NO INTERNET! So the only influences I had were through that media. Not so handy as Internet but anyways… I think everything was quite more magical than now, availability makes thing easier but less beautiful.

I used to draw stories, comics and drawings, mostly fanart and I loved to create new characters and make them deal with the original ones from the series. I hadn’t any original story then… But I hadn’t any pressure but the joy of drawing itself. So it was fun! And not having internet, nor a computer can be counted as a good thing… Good thing because I wasn’t “corrupted” by almost anything or anyone. Good think because I had to improve my traditional skills everyday (I think I haven’t done anything traditional in years……). The bad thing: no feedback (which makes you improve); no references (which is always useful in case of need). No Ctrl+z xD

So if my 30 year old self had the chance to give some advice to my 12 year old one I would tell myself…

-Enjoy the moment! Enjoy the fact of being able to draw with no pressure (no for money, not in search for work….). You’re a child, there’s no need to worry.

-Draw always, even while sleeping. Practice will build the basis of a good artist, in the future.

-Be ready for new technologies… And all the good and bad things they bring.

I don’t think I would tell me anything about tecniques, maybe just “try to draw more backgrounds xD You’ll be grateful when you’re 30….”, but I think, except that point, the rest can be learnt by practicing -my main advice.

Really, I wouldn’t like to face my younger one… but well, this is what I would tell myself, in any case.

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