Eng/ This is no secret that I LOVE the work of Danita. She is creating such cute little girls in amazing little worlds, with her very own style. She’s is currently teaching about her techniques and tricks in an online workshop entitled “Mixed Media from the Heart“. For the occasion, and for her students, she interviewed me

Fr/ Ce n’est pas un secret, je suis une grande fan de l’artiste Danita. Elle créé des petits personnages adorables, dans des mondes incroyables et avec une technique bien à elle. Elle enseigne actuellement tout ça dans un atelier en ligne intitulé “Mixed Media from the Heart“. Pour l’occasion, et pour ses élèves, elle m’a interviewée

Do you keep a sketchbook?

I currently don’t keep a sketchbook but I used to have one for years ! I forgot it a bit when I started to work with digital Medias. I prefer to sketch on my computer and to collect tons of pics in folders. But I miss my sketchbook and I plan to start a new one anytime soon. This is so much fun!

What are your sources of inspiration?

They are sooo wide ! My dreams are the first thing that comes to mind. I sometimes wonder how I can create such delirious but constructive dreams, the subconscious is something totally amazing and I will never get enough of it ! It feeds my own imagination. I am also inspired by my feelings, and my everyday life. Whether I’m joyous or sad, I can immediately relate into an illustration. I can add my baby girl to my sources of inspiration; She is giving me so much joy, that my palette is as colorful as ever! Nature and its magnificent little creatures like dragonflies and butterflies.. Trees, flowers.. All those little elements you can find in my illustrations are obviously something that inspires me a lot. As well as music, lyrics, so many things

How do you choose your themes?

It really depends ! Most of the time I start on a idea based on a dream or a feeling. I can start on a color or I can start on something special that I want to explore, like a character from a book, a movie, or a legend. I’m really open and I work with no stress, I go where my spirit goes !

How do you transform an idea into a painting?

When I have an idea, it’s most of the time little sceneries. I first try to imagine the perfect « atmosphere » for them, I can spend a lot of time choosing my background color and the digital brushes I will use for my painting. I don’t start to work on anything else if I’m not totally happy with my background! When I feel the atmosphere is here, then I’m good and I can start on the characters and then on little details.

Do you have a favorite subject to paint?

Absolutely  I love to draw feminine characters. I love to put them into nature, through giant plants and flowers, among dragonflies and other pretty little creatures.

Are your paintings self portraits?

I’m not sure they are self portraits, but as I often represent my feelings into my paintings, I think one can say they are « kind of » self portraits. My girls have dark hair and pale skin, just like me. They are thin, thought, while I’m more curvy, LOL ! But anyway, they all come from my « Nebulous Kingdom », which is a land of light and darkness that lives inside me.

How has your work evolve over time?

My work and my girls evolved with years just as I grew up myself. I remember sketching and drawing children about 10 years ago. Then I focused on little girls, teenage girls and finally young women. Since I gave birth to my baby girl last year, I started to work on mature women and mothers. I really like the fact that my work and characters are influenced by my life and by the woman I am.

Can you describe your working method since you have the idea until it’s finished? (More than technical stuff, I’m mean more the steps each of your images take to become the final one).
What do you want to express in your work?

The first thing I work on is the background. I try to find the perfect color shade and I can spend lots of time on this part of the painting! I can change it 10 times before I’m totally satisfied with it. I try several brushes (on Photoshop) and when I feel good with these first steps then I start to think of my character. In new layers, I sketch bold lines of the body and work on the face first. I love to spend time on the eyes, giving them joy or sadness. When my character is done, I slightly add details around it. The choice of detail elements depend on the feeling I want to give to my painting. In my work I always want to express feelings. Sadness, joy, melancholy, love.. Everything I do is based on feelings. I love it when people say upon one of my paintings “I can totally relate to this illustration” or “This girl is me!”

Do you have any advice for someone who is struggling to incorporate their memories into their work?

I would say, memories are linked to feelings. Try to find how you feel thinking of your memories; You shall immediately know if you are happy, sad or insecure, for example. I believe colors have the strength to illustrate feelings, so I would recommend to, like I do, spend a good amount of time thinking of the main color of your painting. There is no secret: Black and dark tones are perfect for melancholy, pinks and reds are linked to joy or love! If you struggle to put your memories into a painting, remember that simple ideas can lead to the most gorgeous things!

Anything you’d like to add?

Thank you very much Danita for this interview! And please excuse my very “simple” English ^_^