Title: Join The Journey Artist: Arian Rahmatzai
About the artwork: Take the risk and embark on a journey into the unknown.
For my internship assignment, I created a piece of art that explored the themes of "Japan" and "Back to the Forest." While I was thinking about how to tie these two different topics together, I was reminded of the bamboo forests I had visited just a few days earlier in Kyoto, Japan. The bamboo forests were so beautiful and endless, it was like a boundless sea of green. I decided to draw that impressive landscape as the background of my artwork.
I visited many parts of Japan on the Japan Exchange Program and I was especially inspired by my trip to Kyoto. The shrines and temples that can be seen throughout the city are truly remarkable. The character holding out her hand, as if inviting you into a beautiful bamboo forest, is inspired by a shrine maiden. On the advice of a team member at Wacom, I incorporated elements resembling a white fox into her hair, creating a character who lives in the forest. I enjoyed the process of drawing the hair and had a great time bringing this piece to life.
About the artist: Born in Bonn, Germany, Arian works as a project manager for Dokomi, the largest anime and manga convention in Germany, while also pursuing her passion as an artist. Her artistic journey began after watching "Sailor Moon," as a child and her favorite subjects to draw are charming characters and birds. She is a fervent admirer of Japanese anime and manga, especially those with poignant narratives.
Her favorite creative tool to work with is the Cintiq Companion2, allowing her the flexibility to draw wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. Currently in search of a new display pen tablet, she worked with a Wacom Cintiq Pro 22 and a Wacom One 13 Touch to create this piece of art.