Shirogahara

I am a 100% self taught artist. Sadly here in my country are no such opportunities like free art schools to learn or study art or digital illustration. Unless you can pay extremely high fees for private art schools. I always wanted to move to another country nearby like Germany or Italy to study game design or digital illustration for pursuing my dream as character designer. However, thanks to a bunch of game directors I had the opportunity to meet and talk to in different Game and Art conventions, I realized that you don't need any Art School papers to get hired in any art or game company or as an artist for comics or as an Illustrator in general. Hence nowdays you also can get hired online or simply make an income with your art trough the internet as a Freelancer. And all you need for that is build up your art skills and show your portfolio online. Nowadays I finally reached this goal which I years ago I didn't imagine I could reach it. But I can now finally proudly say that I am able to be my own boss as a freelancer Artist.

For drawing, I use Clip Studio Paint Pro and sometimes Photoshop for final effects. For editing Videos, I use Filmora and Premiere Pro.

Since my childhood as soon I could hold a pen! First I mostly drew animals and simple figures like pokémon and Sonic characters on paper. It was 2008 as I discovered digital art.

Japan, its culture, traditions and places. Also Nature itself. Especially plants and animals have always been my inspirations for my drawings. Cartoons and shortly later Animes have been my first inspirations and desire to start drawing. I wanted to draw these beautiful characters on my own. I was obsessed and drew every day and every free minute. Video Games have also been a huge influence on me, marking the focus of my drawings and the particular field of art I wish to pursue: Character Design for Games and Illustration.

As I started drawing digitally in 2008, I first only used the track pad of my laptop for a long time. I can't remember how I had the nerves to draw like that. But it was fun to me and I didn't matter what tool I needed to use to draw. I just wanted to explore and learn more about digital art! Then I switched to my very first tablet: wacom intuos manga pen and touch. I used it for almost 5 years. Later I saved money for a Cintiq 13 HD. It was my first screen drawing tablet and my world changed completely. Then I was able to save up enough money for the end boss: Wacom Cintiq 24 Pro and its huge Ergo stand. I couldn't be happier now. I am sure I will be using this one forever.

No. My characters are for my personal use only. I would feel uncomfortable to see them in other stories, since they are very a personal part of me. I do not allow my art and characters to be used in any way.