Artist Spotlight – @simplyhalina
Tell us more about yourself
I’m currently a student at the University of Michigan studying Art & Design. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid and didn’t get into digital art or even know I wanted to be an artist until my senior year of high school. It was also around that time I had gotten into anime and video games and found out that there was a career path blending art and video games—which is what I’m interested in! I’ve been volunteering on indie games for 3 years now, doing work that ranges from logos to concept art. My primary focus is in illustration and specifically for characters since I love bringing them to life through my work. One main theme that I’ve been exploring recently is portraying the purity and love of sapphic relationships.
Could you share a few highlights from your portfolio and tell me what each piece means to you?
“Succubus” is one piece of an original three-part series called “Tricksters,” where I illustrated different encounters with fantastical tricksters. This was my first time drawing for a series in a while. I got to explore how to display beauty as still dangerous and people’s focus on external appearance.
“Wish Tree” is also one piece of an original series. This piece is about a story about adventurers who team up to fulfill their own wishes from a magical tree. This series is important to me because it’s my way of learning to appreciate the journey of life, not always focusing on the final destination.
What inspires you to create art, and what keeps you motivated to draw?
Watching movies, playing games, seeing such amazing artworks inspires me to make art that can tell stories like they do. If I keep listening to my inner voice and stay authentic to myself, then I can tell stories that can reach other people.
Outside of art, what hobbies or interests do you pursue?
Outside of art, I like playing video games and reading books. I also love collecting stuffed animals and learning about the meanings of flowers.
Which artist(s) have had the biggest influence on your work, and why?
The biggest artist that has the most influence on my work is Airi Pan. Their artwork on a surface level is beautiful with amazing colors and dynamic compositions, but the thing that I would love the most to incorporate into my work is their storytelling. Through the character poses and atmosphere, their illustrations feel like they’re capturing just a moment in time of their characters. I would love to be able to illustrate casual moments like that and make them beautiful, because life is all about celebrating the mundane.
What aspect of your creative practice do you find most rewarding?
The aspect of my creative practice that I find the most rewarding is hearing people’s reactions to my work! As much as I enjoy the process of making art, it’s validating to hear that the things I make are relatable or touched people in some way. To me, it’s a sign that my voice came through and I can communicate through my art.
Visit www.meetarts/beyondthepanels for the virtual exhibition.
