The interview with Cymone Willis, the creative force behind StarryMariArt, provides a captivating journey into the world of a digital anime artist with aspirations of becoming a renowned Character Artist. From the origins of her artistic passion to the inspirations behind her unique business name, Cymone shares insights into her creative process and the fusion of digital and traditional Art in her portfolio.

Dive into the interview to discover the stories behind her favorite projects, the significance of her dream to become a Character Artist, and the impact of her Missouri roots on her artistic evolution. Cymone’s journey is not just about Art; it’s a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the pursuit of dreams in the vast universe of creativity.

Tell us about your artistic journey and what inspired you to become a digital anime artist.

Cymone: What started my art journey was my older cousin. I drew all the time and drew very well and had such a creative, open mind. I believe she’s the one that initially got me into this passion. Over the years, I always drew traditionally. I never colored my drawings unless it was through MS Paint. But I got inspired to try Copic markers. They were costly, so I could only buy one at a time, which was tough. My mom bought me my first Wacom Intuos pen tablet one day, completely changing my game. I realized I love to color. And the idea of bringing a character to life, and I have been stuck with it since then!

What does “StarryMariArt” signify, and how did you develop it for your art business?

Cymone: I originally started as ArtisticAnimeDreamer. It didn’t sound very catching to me and was very long. Then I tried PockyEonniArt, a combination of the snack pocky and Eonni as an older sister in Korean. But I felt it was random and possibly challenging for people to pronounce. So, I tried to think of something genuine and meaningful. I always loved space, the stars, and everything involving the universe, so I had to incorporate that in my name. It also matches since my Art is sparkly, like stars! Mari is part of my middle name and one of my favorite YouTube creators’ names, so I combined both. And then Art, of course!

You mentioned your dream is to become a Character Artist. Could you elaborate on what this means to you and the type of characters you aspire to create?

Cymone: Growing up, I always wanted to be a graphic designer! As I got older, I realized that meant more like logos and things, which wasn’t fun. I wanted to illustrate, draw people, and create a world! As I watched artists on YouTube and followed many on Instagram, I realized there is a difference in each meaning. Therefore, I felt that the Concept of Character art fits me best for what I want to create. The type of characters I would like to create is anything related to anime style or semi-realism. I love the style, which got me into drawing the way I do now. I’ve mixed semi-realism in there for the past year, and I’m improving!

Missouri is your home base. How has your location influenced your artwork and connection to the art community?

Cymone: Missouri is my home base; it didn’t affect me. I did everything at home and didn’t always have the opportunity to attend art events. Plus, I didn’t feel I fit in the type of styles on display. So I got a bit discouraged. But on social media, I saw so many artists draw my style and have such jobs and do it for a living. That motivated me to begin posting my Art online.

Your portfolio showcases various anime, manga, and K-pop art. Could you share some of your favorite projects or pieces and the stories behind them?

Cymone: When I first began drawing, I started drawing traditionally. I never colored my drawings because I was so afraid of ruining them. But, I felt my Art looked bland and non-expressive, so I tried using colored pencils. It began to hurt my hands to color like that. I drew pretty hard as I didn’t have a steady hand. But I’ve never stopped drawing traditionally. I sketch and draw ALL my drawings before uploading them to my computer and starting the inking/coloring process!

Also, being able to draw digitally gives me the freedom to make mistakes and not feel pressured. Drawing traditionally, I noticed I NEVER erased. I wouldn’t say I liked how it would look, and my patience would run low trying to erase and ruin the paper constantly. Yes, that is the reality, but It is much better for me digitally. And a lot more fun, in my opinion.

Most of your work is digital, but you occasionally explore traditional Art. What draws you to both mediums and how do they influence your creative process?

Cymone: When I first realized I was a character artist, finding my favorite artist was enjoyable and immediately inspired. But as I found more and more and more talented people, a part of me got depressed. I compared my Art a lot, and in the end, you don’t want to draw or feel that you won’t ever be as good as them. That is a mindset I had to work on a lot. It is a straightforward emotion to fall into. But I was thinking how those people had years to learn to draw.

Of course, they may be way better than you, or sometimes even people younger than me being super talented in drawing could be depressing, but you are not just born with that skill. You are not born talented. It takes hard work to get to where they are now. Maybe they had more time to study and practice or even took classes; you never know. Being self-taught and not progressing as fast, I must constantly put my mind into reality.

How do you stay motivated and inspired in your artistic endeavors, especially during creative block or self-doubt?

Cymone: To stay motivated and inspired, I had ONLY to follow the artist I wanted to draw like or learn from. That way, I could be inspired and have my head on straight instead of comparing myself to strangers every two minutes I see them post Art. For creative block, I don’t get very much. I have a whole list of characters and scenes of them I would like to create. Sometimes, being organized and having multiple options helps me overcome the artist’s block.

If I have self-doubt, sometimes I’ll watch something I know will make me feel better, or maybe I’m tired or need a break. I don’t always draw every day. I would love to, but life is overwhelming, and maybe we may need to rest before really using our brains to create artwork.

What are your plans and aspirations for StarryMariArt? Are there any upcoming projects or themes you’d like to explore in your artwork?

Cymone: My plans are StarryMariArt; I want to make more YouTube videos of my art processes. Seeing my growth over the years is also fun, so it’s very inspiring. I try to draw and finish pictures every week to stay on a schedule, so it doesn’t make me sad when I don’t draw. I also want to start streaming and possibly make a Vtuber/PNGtuber, but I’ll think more about that in the future. Right now, I’m just trying to grow and connect with my audience and get my name out there. I want to share my Art with you all and create things that you can feel and make you smile.

Every few people see Art as a way of if it ONLY looks like this, then it’s Art. But that is not true. People who draw realism find it hard to draw anime. And so the opposite. I don’t want anyone to feel they can’t pursue their dreams because of what’s familiar or famous. I believe anyone can achieve anything; you will get there no matter how long or complex, so please never give up!

Artwork by Cymone Willis