Creator Interview: Fuumi

Creator Interview: Fuumi

The birds look as if they are alive! It feels as if the feelings and voices of the characters drawn are coming through! In illustrator Fuumi’s work, there is a story and a dream packed inside. Although she is still a college student, she is widening her field of activity by decorating cover pages for light novels, undertaking background designing jobs, and more. She seldom uses Photoshop or Illustrator. Instead, she continues to draw her works with alcohol-based markers called Copic, sold by Too. We recently sat down with this talented illustrator to talk about her work.

Creator Introduction
Name: Fuumi
Creator’s Portfolio Page: http://otakumode.com/Fuumi

TOM: When did you start drawing pictures?
Fuumi: It started in the drawing club in middle school. I was also active in the wind instruments club since long ago, but as I started to think, “I want to express my world more distinctly,” I gradually took a growing interest in drawing pictures. By my last year in high school, I was totally addicted to drawing.

TOM: So you advanced to a fine arts school. Did you already have the same analog style, using Copic markers?
Fuumi: Yes! In the beginning, I drew illustrations using colored pencils, but later I switched to using Copic markers. I like their characteristic blurring and their beautiful colors.

Also being interested in digital, I tried it out, but the operation was hard and I failed (laughs). Now, I import the illustrations to my computer after drawing them so that I can grasp the image of the colors.

TOM: Since they are analog, Copic markers seem to have a hard side to them, don’t they?
Fuumi: This goes without saying, but since they are analog, it is hard to make corrections after. That’s why you need to concentrate and finish drawing it in one go. Furthermore, when I was creating bigger pictures like B2 size, the coloring took a long time and I had difficulty with it.

As a problem unique to Copic markers, there is the issue that sometimes the color fades in fluorescent light. I would want to show my original pictures to someone, but I become afraid when I think that they might change color.

TOM: Coming up with ideas also seems difficult, how do you come up with them?
Fuumi: I often start by thinking about the season. Spring, summer, autumn, winter - they all have different impressions to them; it’s very interesting. I start building up the image from the season, then think about the item and character settings, and construct the world of the picture.

For example, creating this picture, “The Summer is Coming,” also took some time. I started from “summer,” then went on extending it to “sea” and “boat.”

TOM: The use of shiny, sparkling colors and the composition of your work is amazing. Do you have a favorite work?

Fuumi: It’s this one, the “Golden Garage.” I portrayed a world where science and magic argue with each other. This girl is Jenna-chan, a magician who is also a model.

TOM: What kind of works do you want to create from now on?
Fuumi: I drew a lot of different worlds until now, but I think I’d like to make various works in the world of “Golden Garage,” the one I just showed you.

Also, I want to make prettier doujinshi! At present, if I conform to a procedure of importing my works digitally and then printing them, the colors will change. Since it has to be possible to print it nicely with some clever tricks, I want to acquire skills in that field.

Check out our picture collection of the talented Fuumi, and don’t forget to SUKI her! Keep it here for even more interviews with some of the most prominent creators in the otaku world!

Copic Official Site on Too.com:
http://www.too.com/copic/ (Japanese)

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.

"Signpost"
"Signpost"
"Knight Girl"
"Knight Girl"
"Fragrant Flowers of Angel with One Wing"
"Fragrant Flowers of Angel with One Wing"
"You Can Fly, Too"
"You Can Fly, Too"
"Summer is Coming"
"Summer is Coming"
"Golden Garage"
"Golden Garage"
Creator Interview: Fuumi 7
Creator Interview: Fuumi 8

These are your people. Join the TOM Fan Club to meet more fun, friendly otaku: https://otakumode.com/fb/8it