Manga/Anime Spotlight is a weekly feature that highlights the different artists across the deviantART's Manga/Anime community, and is a portal to get to know a bit more about them and their works.

This week's feature is Soen

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1.) To start off, what is your favorite medium and tools to use?

I don't think I really have a favorite tool to use. I like to work traditionally as well as digitally. But if I had to name one, I'd say: ink. Just black ink.

2.) When you draw, do you plan everything out first, or do you just see where the drawing takes you?

Most of the time I roughly plan the illustrations in my head before drawing them because they have a certain purpose or are even commissions. But from time to time – or in livestreams when I'm not working on something specific – I like to just start doodling something and see where it takes me.

3.) On average, how long do you spend on a drawing?

That depends on the drawing itself, how much detailed it is, the medium, how I feel. I can't really give an answer to that.

4.) When did you first start drawing, and what made you start to draw in the manga/anime style?

I started drawing the moment I could holt a crayon, I guess. XD
My interest in manga / anime was awakened by “Sailor Moon”. It was aired in 1996 and I saw it “accidentally”. I liked it and started copying the drawings, reading the manga that was published soon after and again copied the drawings and style from them, then made my own characters and stories. In 2001 we got our very first internet connection and I found a  community of German manga / anime fans and (fan)artists. I joined and got so much input I lost track of what influenced me after Naoko Takeuchi and Akira Toriyama.

5.) What are your inspirations for drawing?

Everything. Mostly music, but other illustrations, poster, movies, series, books or life itself hold so much inspiration you can't and shouldn't try to take it from just one source.

6.) Do you have any artists that you look up to?

It's more liking the works of other artists, than really looking up to anyone in particular. Or should I say I'm looking up to many artists?
For example: I like Ayano Yamane's sexy art. But lately her stories are lacking. But I still like her work. Oh, I really really like Fusanosuke Inariya's works as well. (I should stop just naming yaoi artists. XD) I do like many webcomics - Jayd Aït-Kaci's and Alex Singer's “Sfeer Theory” for example. I hope someday I will be able draw as dynamically and expressive as Jayd.

7.) Out of the works in your gallery, what are your five favorite pieces?

Breathe Me, :thumb257505634:
900 favourites, :thumb243926364:
shut up and reload, :thumb190475823:
excellent fool, :thumb148816415:
Gabriel, :thumb105863400:

8.) Do you have any tips for young aspiring artists?

Practice, practice, practice. And think outside of the box. Just because you're drawing this or that style doesn't mean you can't profit from something different.

9.) Are there any other types of art that enjoy?

Comic in general and sometimes typography, 3D works and architecture.

10.) Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Always look on the bright side of everything. ;D

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Some other works from Soen

:thumb156523797: :thumb284304873: :thumb248410009:
:thumb213244688: :thumb200783637: :thumb197637128:

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Previous Features

Miss-It-Girl | SenjoVal | aoi-hoshi | wbd | DiMoo | Tajii-Chan | GoddessOfCake | veroro | AmythestViolet | Gigicom | Barbicaty | izka197 | Awsumz | Russian-Lullaby | azarath | Lyricanna | touchedvenus | Jyinxe | juusan13 | TeamRAKENZAN | KikaiSaigono | Fading-Night |

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Until next week when we feature: WhytManga