I recently had the opportunity to sit down with a highly regarded artist named Eric Proctor, known to many by his online handle TsaoShin. His work has appeared in magazines, as well as many sites, including Kotaku and Smosh, and he's received the distinction of "daily deviation" multiple times on DeviantArt. His gallery on DeviantArt has received over 700,000 views, with nearly 60,000 favorites. He sells his work at conventions, primarily Otakon — where this year he'll be teaching a course on digital painting (taking a break from selling).
By day, Eric is a graphic designer, making a career out of his skill with visual media. Though the techniques used in painting and in design are different, both pursuits aid his growth as an artist.
He's shared with us some of his views on art, his inspirations, and his advice to others out there wanting to find joy in art. Let's get started:
Any text noted beside the orange line is Eric's response, while text above it contains my comments or questions.
Hello.