Creator Interviews: SparkleArts Collabs

Hello everyone! Today we've got our Creator Interview for July, everyone welcome @SparkleArts creator of Celestis.  She is sitting down with us today to talk about collaborations that she has organized in the past and future collabs with GlobalComix creators. This is a really fun interview, so let's get started!

1. Tell me about yourself and how you got started in the web/comics community?

I work in the creative arts; I'm an instrumental music teacher by day, specializing in classical strings. I have always loved writing stories, and when the pandemic hit, I had to be extra careful about lockdown as I have a chronic illness. I discovered webcomics to keep myself entertained, and then thought hey! I could totally draw my stories like this! When I started Celestis, I got into looking for art friends to share support with and made some amazing buddies!!!

Up until then, I only really drew animals for infographic posters about positive reinforcement training for horses. I started drawing people January 2021 and launched Celestis later that year.


 

2. You’re here to tell us about some of the collaborations you’ve done in the past and new ones you're working on. They take a lot of effort to organize, so it’s amazing that you do this for others. My question for you is what  made you decide to put these together?

They are hard work for sure, but they're totally worth it.

I joined a couple of collabs when I first started out, but I just couldn't find any with themes that really captured my imagination. I didn't want to draw my alt fantasy characters enjoying a game of volleyball on the beach! I wanted something magical, and unusual, and a little bit witchy - something that had me itching to draw. After a bit of asking around, I couldn't find what I wanted, so the answer was to run it myself.

My first one was run with a more experienced creator than me - I'm still such a baby creator!!! My wonderful friend Carolyn Fallon (Loki, Lord Of Chaos) agreed to run one with me, and it was so fun! I got to know a lot of other creators, making lots of friends and contacts, and I learned a tonne of new skills in lots of areas. Art, organization, graphic design—it was so useful!

The next project I tackled alone, and the artists invited were just fabulous. There's a Charles Rennie Mackintosh museum in our nearest town, and it inspired an Art Nouveau theme. It was SO popular and well received, and the artists really pulled it out of the bag! It's a gorgeous collaborative work! The amount of talent and variety in our community is absolutely astonishing, and being able to showcase this brings genuine joy to me! It's a celebration of our community!

3. On the topic of collabs, why don’t you tell me about the current collaboration that you are working on for the summer!

Summer collabs are usually beachy or holiday themed... But that's not for me! We recently moved to the English countryside and the stars are SO different out here! You can see so many more with the lack of light pollution, and the sky goes all kinds of wonderful shades at dusk.



That's what inspired the summer Collab - Summer Stargazing! A perfect excuse for sparkly stars, an interesting palette, and the mythological influences of the constellations. The awesome Fried Rice volunteered to help me run it, as with 25 participants it's a big project. I definitely benefit from her experience! The background for each participant are unique, all painted by myself. Each one also has its own constellation, and I created a variety of environments to make sure there was something for everyone! The participants are a fantastic bunch, and really show the variety, talent, and passion that GlobalComix creators have. Submissions to the Summer Collab are closed, but we have a Calendar and plans for more!


 

4. I can see that here is more for later this year, can you tell us a little about it? A teaser perhaps?

The next project will be a Samhain (Halloween) release – my most favorite time of year! Samhain is the point at which the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, and it's traditionally a time for divination and communicating with the worlds beyond our own.

The theme of the Samhain Collab will be divination in all its glory. Not just the regular crystal ball and tarot, but we will be delving into the realms of folk magic from all over the world. Did you know tossing apple peels can reveal the name of your one true love? Or that a regular pack of playing cards can provide you with a detailed reading?

This will all be wrapped up in an early 1900s mysticism aesthetic. Applications will open up in August, so it’s just around the corner!


 

5. You also have made many little memes and cute little art challenges for GlobalComix users. How do you get ideas for these? They are so much fun and are getting a lot of reactions on the discord server.

I love interacting with other creators and finding out about the worlds that they create. Sometimes I'll see something on social media and think “that'd be cool if only it fitted comics” or other times I'll be asked a question, and it will spark an idea.

GlobalComix works a little differently to other webcomic apps, so sometimes it's just a case of showing people how easy it is to use. If I'm very honest with you, I don't think I leave teacher mode very often. I'm always looking for inventive and memorable ways to share information!

You can find some of these memes here or on SparkleArt's Twitter Page as well as the GlobalComix Discord!
 

6. Reaching out to other creators, either for collabs or partnerships on projects can be really intimidating. Do you have any advice for reaching out to others or finding people to work with you?

It can be really daunting to spark up conversations, for sure! I totally get it! Firstly, don't underestimate the power of a smile – even from behind a screen! A big, friendly smile can help you feel more confident and relaxed whilst you type out those scary messages!

Secondly, join discussions on discord or Twitter, and you'll quickly find people that are right up your alley. When looking for people to potentially work with, I like to make a big effort to be friendly and supportive, but I also follow my gut. If someone gives you a funny vibe, that's ok, there are lots of other wonderful artists to work with! Don't be afraid to mix and match experience levels, art styles, genres etc. There's so much to learn from everyone, and in the comic community there are so many people that are generous with their time! Don't be afraid to ask – the worst that could happen is a “No, thank you”, so there's nothing to lose, only friends to gain.
 

7. On that same thought, do you have any tips for multi-project managing? You have your own Celestis comic, your collaborations, all the cute little GlobalComix memes that you make... That’s got to eat up a lot of your time in addition to life and work. How do you manage your time so well?

I'm very lucky to only work part-time due to my health, which means I have a little more drawing time than many creators do. The secret is breaking things down into small, manageable chunks. I draw Celestis one "page" at a time, which is approx ten or so panels. In between pages I let myself do something different to keep from burnout, so that's when I like to do the fun bits!

In the last couple of months, I've adopted a different mentality about my schedule. I basically draw at my speed! Your fans will happily wait for your work because they enjoy your story. We all focus too much on the algorithm of various places, but you'll be amazed at how happy and productive you can be without worrying about your next upload date!

Also, tea. Lots and lots of tea.

8. Last Question: You have a rather steady foothold in the webcomic and webtoon communities. How important do you think it is to participate in events, collabs, contests and other community activities? It’s a lot of extra effort to do these things.

I think being part of the community is super important, even if you aren't able to dedicate much time to contributing art. A little support for artists goes a very long way, and people absolutely take notice of those who are giving a little thumbs up!

I don't think you need to worry if you don't participate in everything, but I would encourage all of you to try something once in a while! There's so much that can be learned and gained from our community! And I promise, everyone else is just as nervous as you are about putting their work out in the world! You're gonna do a great job because you tried!
 

Thank you so much for being here with us @SparkleArts and giving us the low-down on collabs that are coming up and advice on setting up your own. As SparkleArts stated, being active in the community is a key factor for success, and we need to participate. Networking and social activity is one of the best ways to advertise your work.

Please be sure to read her comic as well as checking out their Twitter and Instagram!

Celestis, 57 pages - Published by SparkleArts, (cc/ @SparkleArts)

Yana thought she had left her life as a Celestian warrior behind. As her friendship with the Knights of Nosheau grows stronger by the day, so does imposing the threat of the Oashum Empire. Called to face the consequences of her past, her present grows more complex. As for the future - will she follow her destiny, or forge a path of her own?

Story and Art by SparkleArts