Hi Forest People !
Today I'd like to present you a wonderful artist and her art : Zed-Oras known as
Z-Oras on DA.
Zed-Oras is a French illustrator and graphic designer. She does most of all children books and book covers. Her world is cute, colorful and filled with magic.
Hello ZedOras !
I'm very happy to interview you today. Thanks in advance for answering my questions.
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Thank you! I’m very happy to be able to talk about one of my biggest passions We'll start at the beginning
I always wanted to know : what does your pseudo mean?
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It intrigues a lot of people indeed LOL. But, to be true, it’s not that magical or mysterious. Once upon a time, I felt in love with this painting of John Howe : www.john-howe.com/portfolio/ga… Not only the painting but its name too, Edoras. I really loved the sound of it. Back then, it was my first steps on the internet so I decided to make it my pseudonym. You can imagine my disappointment when I discovered I wasn’t the first to come up with the same idea XD. I didn’t want to become 'Edoras12033368' so I put a « Z » in front of it and, Ô Miracle, I was unique again!
How did you enter the world of illustration?
> It’s all thanks to my parents and their love of books. I wasn’t even 10 when I knew for sure I wanted to illustrate children books.What decided you to choose this path ?
> My books helped me going through a sometimes too harsh reality. I wanted to do the same, make people happy (in a small or big way) with my little world.
Did you study in a artschool or something ? If yes, how long ? What do you think it brought you (to your personal art-making process) ?
> I attended art courses from a very young age and, when I finished college, I went to an art school during three years. It shaped my technics and my eyes more than anything else. I could test many mediums and see what worked for me at the time.
Please, describe us your universe in a few words
> My universe… It has evolved a lot but in its chore it’s still about the same things : colorfull, whimsical and shamanic/pagan/naturebound.
Do you have habits while you're creating ? For example : do you listen to your favorite songs, do you drink tea or something else that you like, do you need to be in your workshop to create ?
> I’m always listening to some music (something bittersweet in general but I sometimes do some exceptions ) : SJ Tucker, all the Miyazaki, Cocoon, Coco Rosi, Morcheeba, Mushishi, etc…
What is your favourite type of art to create?
> Clay . I don’t do it often intentionally. I’d like to keep it a fresh and childlike experience
Do you do this for a living ? If yes, was it hard to start, is it hard to live from your art ?
> I tried, many times, but didn’t succeed. It’s hard, even when we are (finally!) published or have some commissions. It’s not only about painting but being a secretary, a marketing person, an accountant, etc… It’s about being a businessman and it can be quite difficult to handle it as an artist. On what are you working right now ? On what project(s) ?
> I’m working on some books covers, an art book and a cards game.
Amongst your whole art, which piece do you love the most ? Why ?
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Hummmm It’s an hard one! If I must choose, it will be « The Star Fisher ». Mostly because of the subject : a little character with nothing special, coming right from a dream, fishing stars/hope/light/joy…. But also because of the period I painted it, it was the real beginning of Zed Oras .
What type of art do you tend to favourite the most?
> I really love watercolors and acrylics, but these past few years, I tend to work on my computer a lot. It's easier and I really like what I can do with it.
Do you think you have still something to improve, a technique maybe, in your art-making process ? If yes, what is it ?
> Of course! I’m very frustrated with my skills most of the time. No matter the medium, the hardest is to recreate what’s in my mind and I failed a lot! XD So I have to improve everything, everyday until I can make it .
Who is your all-time favourite artist?
> I don't have a favorite, really. A lot of artists of very different styles touch my soul in every kind of way.
What are your others inspiration sources ?
> Everything! Someone passing by, the color of the grass after the rain, video games, books, jokes between friends…
Do you have "other" hobbys ?
> Modeling (with clay most of the time), a little bit of photography, animation (when I have the time XD).It's already the end of this interview. Thanks again for telling us more about you and your art ! One last thing, if you could give some advice to young artists who want to live the same dream, what could it be ?
> Build your technics, feed your muses and never stop enjoying what you’re doing . And when a critic hits home, when it hurts pretty bad, let it out, cry your heart out (or scream… I do it and it felt incredible! XD), nurture yourself (go out, eat an entire ice-cream pot, play video games, tell yourself that nobody can understand how genius and great you are but someday you’ll rule the world!) and go back to work .
Thank you,
Z-Oras !
Interviewer :
MademoiselleOrtieFollow Zed-Oras :
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