CA: What made you first start drawing?
Saera: I remember when I was kid, I loved to draw with my cousin. He wanted to be a comics artist (and he is now). So in his house, there was so many comics around. I grew up with stuff like Dragon Ball. He said a lot “you’re really good at it” in regards to drawing characters. One day at school, I sketched some characters of my friends and they loved it. I think I knew what I liked and what I did well. Naturally, I chose a fine arts major.
CA: When it comes to art, what sparks a piece for you? Saera: Feelings from life, human beings, and relationships. It’s the only inspiring things to me. Nature and good views usually do nothing for me. Mostly, it’s negative. From their eyes and face, they try to hide behind their poker face and I try to find anger, violence, weird, and some strange feeling.
CA: What helps you get in the mindset to draw something? Saera: Usually it’s portrait photos. When I draw that, I try to add some feelings and express with my lines. Feels like I draw myself and it’s perfect. It is different with another person who I have never met.
CA: Do you have any inspiration from art (heroes)? Saera: Egon Schiele is my hero forever. People said a lot my drawing looks like his style, I love that. Also I’m a big fan of Andrew Salgado, Korean artist Han Jae Yeol and I found many good artist these days on instagram. I really love @ochoasub’s paintings and really love @derekoverfield with his drawings which feels so strong. I really admire them.
CA: What do you feel in front of a blank canvas? Saera: I usually feel deep silence and pressure as well. I want to make perfect lines from the sketch. I think small mistakes could mess up everything. Even with some wrong lines or a little dot. Actually, blank is a very important part of my drawing. so I should think which part do I have to fill and which part I don’t.
CA: What do you do to improve on your craft? Techniques? Saera: Doing many croquis (sketches of live bodies) and try to use many kind of lines. Portrait sketch too. Using different materials and try to work in different sizes. Example, I practice many small doodles also paint big size canvas.
CA: What is the perfect piece of art to you if it exists? Saera: Balance. Perfect balance. Strength of color and lines has to be great balance. Not only about my artwork, but also my life too.
CA: How do you describe your style? Saera: Line flow. I don’t want to make rules. Every work, I start differently.
CA: Do you prefer pens, pencils, or a brush? Saera: All of them are my favorite but usually I use more pens than pencils.
CA: How long have you been doing artwork? Saera: I always doodle and sketch. It’s leisure to me. I went to academy when I was 19 years old and go to university so it’s been 8 years.
CA: Do you have a favorite piece? Saera: A small doodle sketch which is smaller than my hand on old paper. Its my grandma drawing and she passed away 4 years ago. I sketched her when she was dying in a hospital. I have no photos of her and that is the only thing I have of her.
CA: What do you feel is the best quality in terms of art that you have right now? Saera: Expressing the reinterpretation
CA: And the biggest opportunity for growth in regards to art you have as of right now? Saera: This year, I wanted to make my portfolio but I couldn’t. Still working on some new paintings while having 2 jobs. Honestly, it’s okay for me if I can’t be a mainstream artist. Since when I was a kid, I didn’t want to deal with lot of pressure. I am not satisfied with my work yet. I feel different with each of my works. Maybe it’s too early for branding so I will keep working on it.
CA: What is fun and rewarding for you in regards to drawing? Saera: When people love my work and some people want to do tattoos of my art. This is why I’m considering to be a tattoo artist. I feel it is a great expression for me.
CA: Where do you want to take your career in art? Saera: I don’t care about it too much. I have a teaching job(drawing paintings) also try to go to new field(tattoo) living life in art. Pretty satisfied with those two.
CA: How do you want your work/portfolio to be remembered for? Saera: Impressive. Good strange or bad strange, whatever.
CA: What is the best advice you can give someone with a strong desire to do art like yourself? Saera: Don’t be obsessed to make your style, your expressions, your lines. You are already an artist, just be yourself.
Follow Saera on IG @seratosaurus and her tumblr blog