Artist Spotlight: Catching Up With Liana

A little over a year ago, I featured (more like, totally officially discovered) this adorably sweet, super geeky artist named Liana. I fell so, so in love with her watercolor art and it’s been such a pleasure getting to know her over the last year. I got so lucky meeting her and becoming fast friends.

It’s been far too long since I mentioned her around here and I wanted to snag some of her time so I could re-introduce you to her (especially you new readers who maybe haven’t yet been exposed to her awesome) and get some perspective on her life and art these days.

Liana was so nice to answer my questions and provided some GORGEOUS pictures from her… well, I’ll just let you read the interview below. ;)

 

The Interview

When I featured you last on my blog, you had a lot of changes on the horizon – including a pending wedding! I know it’s been a while and I’m sure you’re just an anxious to share pictures as I am to see them!

Oh my god. We just hit our one year anniversary. Can you believe that? HOW?! I feel like It’s been a month.
Part of me misses our wedding. I wish I could have experienced it in more ways than one.

We had a daytime brunch wedding in a loft in Chicago, with our closest family and some friends from back home (Florida for me and all over including Illinois from Mike’s side)

It makes me feel like I’ve been on the road since then. During our honeymoon we had a suggestion things might be shifting to where we’d have to move from Toronto but we weren’t sure where.

 
That’s right… You moved a BUNCH this year! It seems like every time I chatted with you, you were moving somewhere else!

After we found out we were moving back to the states, we were set in Memphis for 6 months. I met some incredible artists and curators and got connected with my first shop that features my work. I miss Memphis a lot and moving to the greater NYC (we’re technically in NJ) was hard, but it made it a lot easier meeting folks at Vinyl Fantasy, which introduced me to my first art show up here in the second month we moved. There’s a heavier comic book scene so I’ve already signed up for my first artists alley as well in NJ!

 
You’ve been doing a lot more artwork since you’ve moved around and you’ve definitely expanded the types of work you do – including my absolutely favorite piece that you drew for Jeremy and I (although I’m totally biased).

I’ve always been one to offer commissions, but they’ve always been traditional media. Now that I’m researching and practicing digital media, I thought it would be a great way to develop my skills to start offering digital commissions. First it started as something to do during our move to NJ/NYC, then it turned out to work out perfectly! Everyone has been so great in supporting me during all of this, I couldn’t be more grateful :)

 
So now that you’re getting yourself settled down again, what’s on the horizon? What are you working on these days?

– The painting series I started in Memphis: I’m exploring tons of new colors in my work and want to focus on creating more traditional art since I’ve been heavily working digitally to practice and continue on my momentum in the realm of comics.

– Debuting my characters for my comic: I’ve had an idea for a comic since high school and i’m finally finding writers to work on the series. I hope to release the first issue at my first con, but in the mean time i love posting illustrations of all the characters!

– Working on series for my Etsy: I’m still collecting illustrations to sell on my Etsy, all fan art, super fun, some still watercolor but some digital now which is fun – but the funnest part are the tangible items. I started creating pins and patches and I’m so stoked to do more! I’ll have tons at the convention as well!

 

The Art

I’ve always loved Liana’s Etsy shop, but here are some ofmy personal favorites she has available right now. I know you’re going to love her stuff too, so I’m just going to leave this special promo code right here for you…

Enter Code: BFFKIMIWHO for $5 Off at Checkout

But it’s no secret that my absolute FAVORITE is her custom sketch work (like the one below of Jeremy and I). It’s incredibly affordable (seriously, it’s like $20-25), and it makes the best gift! I bought one for Jeremy as a birthday present and I can’t wait to get it printed out and hung somewhere in our house!

Her custom sketch is done using reference photos (I sent a bunch of Jeremy and I to her but you really only need one or two). You get to choose 1 to 3 colors, and then she sends you a finalized 300DPI file 800×800 px via email which can be printed or used for personal purposes.

That promo code is looking so good now, right? BFFKIMIWHO You. Are. Welcome. 

The Liana

Did you know that in addition to being an artist, Liana is a fellow blogger!? That’s right… You can follow along with her at FromNoToGo.net and any number of social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I do hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Liana and otherwise catching up if you already know her! She’s a great artist and wonderful friend. Go say hi to her and be sure to tell her that Kimi sent you! ;)