How did you become an artist?

I took an interest in art when I was 12 years old when a friend showed me an anime she was interested in. She would doodle some of the characters and I thought it was so fun!

We started bonding over art and collaborating with storytelling and illustrations. Over the years I casually drew characters I loved and it was only recently that I took art seriously and decided to invest time into improving my style.

Where do you get inspiration?

I get inspiration from stories I find interesting! One of the biggest inspirations in my art is the game Honkai Impact 3rd. The desire I had to draw the characters and portray the beautiful story in my style pushed me to improve my art process.

I also enjoy music daily! I have a vivid imagination when I listen to music and it tends to flow into my art. Sometimes taking breaks to enjoy other forms of art can help get your ideas going.

What’s your hardware setup?

I have a Huion Kamvas 16 Pro 4k and a CyberPower PC.

What do you like best about Clip Studio Paint?

How long does it take you to make a single illustration?

Typically it takes me 2 hours to do a simple shaded illustration! If I want to do a whole scene with dramatic lighting and a lot of details, then it takes me 1-2 days.

How has Clip Studio Paint improved your workflow?

As I mentioned before, Clip Studio was very easy for me to use when I started digital art. The default brushes and materials that come with CSP were better for me than the previous programs I've used.

It's even more helpful that the community assets are in the same program so I don't have to go hunting for them elsewhere. I don't like a messy workspace so I appreciate having everything I need in one place.

Where can we follow your work?

I am very active on Twitter: @_mararu_ and a bit less on Instagram @_.mararu._

I post a ton of WIPs and doodles there along with fully rendered pieces!