FAQ – Who are you, anyway?

So, hello! You know me, I’ve been sorta-kinda adding to this blog for years now, and it’s time I got more serious! I figure, if you don’t know me, I’d like to give you a short primer. This will be a page that I keep updated with new info as you get more inquisitive, but I find that I get asked a lot of the same questions when I’m out and about at art shows/craft fairs, so here they are in one short, sweet blurb. Enjoy!

FAQ

How do you say your name?

Stay-juh, like Asia, or Anastasia (nix the Ana).

How long have you been doing this?

I’ve been drawing since I was really small, and have always wanted to illustrate children’s books. I went to college for fine art, dropped out, returned to get that degree, and since graduating (2009) have been working full time as an independent artist.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I try to create art that I want to see, that makes me feel. You can’t help but be influenced by your environment so I try to keep that rich with people and things I love. Short answer: people watching, children’s book illustration, directors: Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) and Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom), visual artists: Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, Alfons Mucha, Egon Schiele, Aguste Rodin, Kiki Smith, Sam Weber, Yuko Shimizu, Jillian Tamaki, Jeffrey Brown, among others. Seeing the beautiful work that others are creating are equal parts humility and inspiration.

What media do you use?

Pencil, charcoal, sumi ink, Windsor and Newton inks and watercolor paint mostly. Sometimes I will create the initial drawing with pencil and ink, and color/texture it digitally. I am attached to cutting designs (flowers, insects) out of cotton quilting fabric, and then using them to collage over an existing drawing. Recently, I’ve been challenging myself to get into oil painting. I’ll let you know how that goes!

Do you do custom work?

Absolutely, yes. It is one of my favorite things.

Do you design tattoos?

I do this too.

What’s your ethnicity?

My Papa’s Japanese, Mama is mixed Scandinavian/English/French/Scotch-Irish mutt. I was born in Texas.

Can I visit your studio?

If you’re willing to drive to Seatac, WA – sure! I have coffee, tea, and might even make you cookies.

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Well, that’s it for now! If you have a burning question you don’t see answered here, please ask, and I’ll do my best!

Read more in some past interviews here:

GR2:

http://www.giantrobot.com/blogs/giant-robot-store-and-gr2-news/15791435-gr2-interview-merging-views-stasia-burrington

Consortium Gallery

http://www.consortiumgallery.com/#!stasia-burrington/cg8u

Japan Cinema:

http://japancinema.net/2014/04/17/creative-spotlight-episode-323-stasia-burrington/

Sequential Tart (talking about the Virgin Project):

http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=2546

A special tattoo design

I love when I’m approached to help design a tattoo. It’s such an intimate and special request that I work very hard to make sure it’s perfect. The plan for this one was for a blackwork design of a raven holding a fern in either its beak or its claws.

One of the best parts about these projects is the research, and the sketching, trying to figure out the right composition for where the tattoo will end up being inked on the body. It reminds me that I need to spend more time outside with a camera taking pictures of everything, because you never know when you’ll need a picture of… a raven, a fern, who knows what next?

Here is the sketch we settled on, and the finished drawing. Broke out the microns for this one!!

Happy November, you all!

A Bevy of Blog headers!

A while back I created this super-fun blog header Justyn from Dunia Duara, so imagine my excitement at being asked to create individual page headers for the online contributions of her four kids! Soooooo awesome.

This one’s for the eldest, artist, sumi-e student, writer, bibliophile and origami enthusiast!

For the second eldest, musician, budding authoress, fan of sci-fi and fantasy literature – her family calls her “little bird.”

The boy of the group, solitary like my brother (strong, surviving three sisters!) – explorer, adventurer, wildlife biology buff and lego architect!

And last but not least, the baby – constantly dancing, fond of baby animals, flying, cooking, Paris, gelato, and have I mentioned – dancing?

This project was lots of fun because – now that I think about it – the kids remind me so much of my siblings, growing up. Two older girls, a boy and a baby girl, homeschooled, travelers, basically of the artsy-bookish-nerdy type.

I, of course, eldest, basically an antisocial hermit holed up in my room with books and colored pencils, Lara, supersmart bibliovore, long hair, guitar in hand, Shuki – the origami master in this case, animal trivia EXPERT, and Milli the baby, bubbly, happy, French-ish. Weird! And so much fun.

 

Dinner and a movie

Now that it’s after Valentine’s day, I want to show off this super-sweet custom drawing I did for a lovely couple, who obviously know how to have a good time!

I’m an incredible homebody myself, and ordering takeout and watching movies at home is one of the most romantic things I can think of. Especially this time of year. Brrr.

Custom portraits are so much fun to do. My clients are amazing. 🙂

Heartstrings

I’ve been wanting to post this till after Christmas, as this super-fun custom illustration was a gift. It’s one of the most romantic portraits I think I’ve ever done, inspired by those paper-cup telephones we made as kids, and heartstrings.

Pencil, watercolors and acrylic ink on watercolor paper.

I spent a wonderful week in Montana for the holidays, but it’s so good to be back home. I hope the new year is awesome for you all!!