Artist Feature: Chiara
“Fan art led me to learn digital art which helped me to improve a great deal... I thank Rachel because she was a booster for my skills and self confidence.”
Chiara (aka @queeniemadhatter) is a tourist guide in Tuscany, Italy. If you don’t find her on your vacation touring Renaissance art, you may spot her in her garden trying to catch her cats, playing with her daughter, or laughing with her husband.
How long have you done art?
That's a tough question. What's art? If you mean drawing on every suitable surface, I think since I was three. I remember my mother drawing for me butterflies and little birds, and I loved to draw my favourite characters out of the fairy tales.
But "art", real art, maybe around 18 years old. I loved berserk, I had a crush on Griphis and I dried two different ink pens for one of his portraits. At first I preferred markers and pencils. Now, I love inkpens and copic. I also love watercolor, but they are so difficult!
I recently enrolled in a digital art manga workshop. I use clipstudio paint, procreate on iPad.
How would you describe your style?
I love to draw cute noses, small for ladies. Big eyes with a lot of eye liner and mascara? I also love people hugging. I think the facial expressions of my characters are different. I was told that their eyes are cute.
Tell us your Lore Olympus story.
I have a toddler, my beloved Diana. While pregnant, I was waiting in front of the doctor's door. I was bored. I found the Webtoon app, and It was love at first sight. I think it was around 2018 Christmas. Actually, I love Greek mythology. I visited Greece when I was a child and Persephone's myth was one among my favourite. The art is great, and the fandom Is even better than Eros in squeel mood. So, I stayed.
If you could body snatch one LO character for a day, who would you be?
That's hard…I think Nyx because she is cool, giant, has wings, and is so utterly cool with her sweet eyes.
How has fan art changed your style or helped you grow?
It helped a lot. Let's just say that it led me to learn digital art which helped me to improve a great deal. I had to work on smooth lineart, posing and dogs (I could not draw a paw). I thank Rachel because she was a booster for my skills and self confidence.
Which fanart are you most proud of and why?
The one I have not yet done! Although, among those already created, I’d have to say Leto looking sassy. That's the first drawing I consider a good illustration.
Any advice for someone looking to build their art skills?
Don't be too hard on yourself. Art begins with a shaky line and the wrong colour. Without the support of the fandom, I would have quit long ago.
Do you have goals or aspirations for your art?
I would love to be proud of my work. I keep telling myself that I can do better. My goal is to turn my art in my job, but it looks a very long term dream. I would love to be able to draw a short webtoon.
Just for fun: Who did you get on this quiz?
Cerberus! With a strong Cordon Bleu influence.
Chiara is tourist guide in Tuscany, Italy. She loves Renaissance art, chocolate, and Lore Olympus. Her age is a secret but if you are good at math, you can guess: Can you solve 30 plus 9? You can spot her in her garden trying to catch one of her cats, Arturo and Stella, playing with her daughter, or laughing with her husband.