Colors Gallery, meet OliviaSativaBlu!
@OliviaSativaBlu is both a passionate artist & music lover whose artwork is often inspired by their favorite lyrics in the songs they listen to! Let's all stuff some headphones in our ears, listen to our favorite tunes and get to know them a little better!
Who are you as an artist? How long have you been drawing?
"I'm a traditional and digital artist, although I feel more comfortable when drawing traditionally. Most times I draw fanart or my ocs and roleplay scenarios, but I draw tons of different things. It sort of just depends on my mood! I started drawing when I was young, I always wanted to draw and color and I always had an interest in it."
"However I never knew what I wanted to make or draw really until I was about 12 and was more involved in fandoms and had more friends to talk to about art. Even as a kid though I had always drawn my favorite characters from a show, or my own characters I would make as a kid and I genuinely enjoyed and enjoy doing that. I'd say I got more interested in it and took it more seriously when I was 12 though."
What or who inspired you? Any favorite franchises?
"I actually had a lot of inspiration growing up, colors was a huge part in me being able to share my art early on and still to this day is my favorite way of digitizing my artwork. I also had artists in the family and friends that drew that I looked up to as I got older that supported me."
"I mostly find my inspiration from stuff I enjoy, like fandoms, characters, roleplay and other artists! If there were any fandoms that inspired me early on I'd say Creepypasta, Homestuck, Hetalia, Undertale, Fnaf, Warrior Cats, and Phantom of the Opera lol, but mostly it was thing around me I enjoyed that inspired me to want to vent, or express my thoughts and ideas, and to draw my own ideas and make my own art!"" :>
"Music is also a extremely huge inspiration and I rarely am not listening to music while I draw, and I'd kinda feel silly leaving it out because its one of my main inspirations, and it's even a huge part of my colors gallery as like half my posts have a song title/song lyrics in them."
She is always in a dream by OliviaSativaBlu
What're the origins of your username?
"I originally went my MelodyBlu on here and most social media, it was my one of my first oc's names and often am still referred to as Melody or MelodyBlu, but I changed the name back I think in 2016 or 2017 to go with another one of my characters (Olivia) although her last name isn't Blu, blue is my favorite color still and I thought it was fun to still have Blu in the name in remembrance to the old username, and I thought it rolled off the tongue. Long story short I mostly changed it to have a better username/gamertag for something new." :>
Glad to see another Psychonauts fan! How did you discover it?
"Like I said before I love fandoms, games, stories, you name it, so when I was younger and still sometimes now if I can't afford a game or if it's a singleplayer game that I'm interested in the story, but don't think I'll have time to play or be able to play or afford it, then I will watch playthroughs or game plays of youtubers I enjoy playing it, and I was curious about psychonauts a couple years ago, I'm not sure exactly what year probably 2016, and I really enjoyed it! "
"It's such a fun and interesting game. I love the concept of being able to go into another's mind and the whole game for me is fun with the levels and characters all being entertaining, although I'd have to say I still prefer the first game over the second even though they're both great."
What's your drawing process? A lot of people want to know how you draw smoke so well in particular.
"Honestly I usually draw and sketch traditionally as it's just more comfortable for me and I often get more details in sketches, but I still love drawing digitally, colors being my favorite way to digitize. I'll sometimes use my phone to digitalize art but very rarely. In most cases for traditional I start with a sketch, then build up with inking then coloring, then I work on shading and highlights and sometimes will do a background. With digital both sketch digitally and traditionally, then transfer it to digital."
"Once I have the base sketch down for digital, I'll do the line art, then color certain parts, like skin and hair will be a layer until I clean the layers up and combine them to continue. Once I have my base colors down I'll work on shading and lighting and adding small details to it, and if it doesn't already have a background I'll add in a simple or complex one depending on what I drew."
"As for smoke or anything I draw I usually look at irl reference and other artists interpretation and tips on what I'm trying to draw. For smoke as an example, I smoke so I'm familiar with how it looks, as well there are some really cool videos you can watch on the way it moves, and even specifically tips on how to draw different types of smoke."
"Although I'd say the best way to do it is find references, watch other people do it in speed draws or find art tips on what your trying to draw and practice a bit before you try and put your idea into a final piece, It's incredible the many different ways you can learn to draw something but there are so many tips and tricks out there, I might make a few tutorials at some point myself if it seems like a lot of people are interested haha."
Is Colors your primary way of making art? How does it complement your workflow?
"I'm more used to drawing traditionally although I love both digital and traditional, so usually I do draw or sketch on paper, but will often digitize it if I think it looks good enough or would look better digitally than traditional. Colors may not be my main way to draw but it is my favorite and main way to draw digitally. I just wish I was better at digital and often discourage myself and don't post the art I make, which is the only reason my colors gallery isn't full of more art. However it is my favorite and main way I draw anything digitally, sometimes I'll use my phone to draw but not very often, the 3DS colors is definitely my favorite and best option."
Which artwork(s) on Colors are you the most proud of?
"I actually have a few I'm proud of on colors, again it's by far my favorite way to digitize and I genuinely enjoy the process I'm probably most proud of Cruel so cruel, Trash Magic, Bluecloud and my latest Meet the artist because they were a bit more difficult for me to make as I'm newer at drawing cats and I've planned on making those for a while, but I also was happy how Rock 'n' roll star, Human sadness, Turbotastic and Boyd Cooper came out as they were all very fun to draw and I had also wanted to for a while." •♡•
Trash Magic by OliviaSativaBlu
What do you like best about Colors and the Colors Gallery? Any changes you would like to see?
"I love the community, I wish it was bigger and I wish more people knew about it as it's such a fun app and when I get my own switch I dream of getting it on there with the pen and everything it would be so cool, I adore the new features they've added even if I'm unable to use some of them as I only have colors on my 3DS, using colors has always inspired me and I love having something to draw with."
"I haven't had the confidence or time to enter any of the weekly challenges although I hope to soon, and adore seeing the community get together and see what everyone creates for each topic, plus the app is easy to use. If anything maybe just adding more challenges and ways to interact with each other I think is a big part of the app that helps it grow, but honestly I'm not sure what you could add to it to make it better and I know they can't update the 3DS version due to Nintendo closing its shop so I'm not sure if me asking to change or add anything matters haha."
Favorite artists on and off Colors?
"There are so many but they're all worth checking out, some on colors are now inactive but were a huge inspiration for me, but here we go, also this is in no particular order. On colors, @gorgonzola, @-Star-, @Neruru, @Strangzinger, @Typho, @BiniBean, @st5rb0und, @Syrup_ , @treetrunks, @JellyRabbit, @soap_shoes, @FunnyKlown, @soap_shoes, @TNAS-max, @Hellsfawn, @hailsss, @Baninaa_, @xX_V1r4L_Xx, @Oboii, @BlueBerryMilk, @BUG_GUTZ_EXE, @Deceased_Grandpa, @Kuromori, @wack-, @SugarSkulllz, @ClockwiseLeon and tons more obviously but I'm already rambling haha."
"On Instagram I really enjoy litchikitti, 00gahb00gah, gizembozkurt_art, kiddopls, 6simp_nuudel9, honeypaws.art, royalcalavera, lilasya.art, lesmestiar, doekawaii, soulsinashell, susitse.art, imleesan, madstrashbru, _bloody_kitsune_, and more! Check them out they're all great artists."
Art goals for the future?
"Yes of course, I really want to continue to draw and post more, specifically on colors. I mainly just wanna make sure the art looks good before I post it and I'm nitpicky about it. I also want to sketch digitally more and try new things out and also have been trying to focus on backgrounds, and drawing a scene more than just headshots and stuff as I want to be able to make comics and hopefully amvs one day!"♡♡♡
Top 3 favorite Colors artworks?
"There is literally no way for me to pick a favorite, I've been trying to settle on 3 for like an hour now so I decided I'll choose my most recent 3 favorites!"♡♡♡
She♡ by soap_shoes
Among Us Furry Glitch On Roblox At 3AM!!! By Deceased_Grandpa
Loss by TNAS-max
Discord Question from @Lilyofthe328Valley: How did you discover the Warrior Cats Fandom?
"My fiance who was my best friend back in 2012 showed me the fandom mainly through amvs, up until I had the chance to read the books, I adore warriors and have read quite a lot of the books but no longer have access to them, so I know what happens later but I had to stop after the first book into the fourth apprentice series!"♡♡♡
Discord Question from @DeavorBoopz: How do you come up with your username?
"Originally I went by MelodyBlu, Melody was an oc I created same as Olivia, and blue is my favorite color and I thought it fit well, then changed it to OliviaSativaBlu for a gamertag and new look, I stil often switch between the usernames but lately have settled on OliviaSativaBlu."
Discord Question from @GomiCoon: I've heard you're in a lot of fandoms! What are some of your favorites to draw/paint for?
"I started heavily into Creepypasta, Homestuck, and animes like Hetalia and stuff and honestly my fandom list is way too large its ridiculous tbh, so I'll just say my favorite to draw/ what I draw most/fandoms I plan on drawing. I love and will probably never stop drawing fanart for Homestuck, Fnaf, Warriorcats, Don't hug me I'm scared, wreck it Ralph, Legend of Zelda, as well I'll always draw things for my oc's but I know there are many more fandoms I'll draw and be apart of as I continue." ♡♡♡
"I hope this helps a bit, if there are any other questions feel free to tag me I really appreciate the support and am super happy you guys seem to enjoy my silly art :>" ♡♡♡
Discord Question from @razrdrawz: How in the world do you achieve such an intriguing design with your characters! Every single one seems to be so charming yet still maintaining the given aesthetic!
"Oh thank you! I really appreciate that a lot, I actually have a few characters that I designed a long time ago which I put into different fandoms and often do little redesigns. Melody, Grimm, Olivia, Victor, Elizabeth and Oliver are all from 2012 and have changed a tiny bit through the years. I have many ocs but those are my mains that I often will put in different fandoms for roleplay, art and for fun."
"As well I have many ocs I'll create for my own story's or as an addition to a fandom again for fun and all. As for how I come up with designs I take a lot of inspiration from my own interests and people I know and try to create well rounded characters, then I usually come up with a design after having an idea of what type of character I'd like to make, but I often try and create fun aesthetics with every design. I'm glad it fits the aesthetic, tbh the best advice I'd give is learning how movies and other artists use color and perspective to convey certain scenes or aesthetics."
"I'm honestly not sure how to answer this cause I'm flattered and I'm not sure how I do it either, I mainly come up with a scene in my head and listen to music and look at references to motivate and inspire me more, idk if that makes sense Haha but I'm really thankful for the questions and compliments! I'm super flattered thank you!" •♡•
Any Colors artist you would like to shoutout? Not necessarily a friend or a favorite.
BlueBerryMilk
Siblings by BlueBerryMilk
That concludes our interview with @OliviaSativaBlu ! It was a pleasure getting to know much more about you and we at The Colors Team thank you for being so awesome! Everyone here on the Colors Gallery be sure to keep an eye on them and watch them continue to grow!
Our interview with the 3rd first artist of the week @ChimaeraArts can be checked out here http://colorslive.com/page/Meet-ChimaeraArts
For those who may need a reminder
The Artist of the week will be posted every Friday so be sure to tune in! Prior to that, the artist may be contacted via email or other means at least a week or more in advance so be sure to check your emails( and spam) so you don't miss out on a chance to be featured. If you don't reply within 48 hours another artist may be chosen to be featured for that week instead and you will be in a future artist of the week update.
The announcement of who is the upcoming featured artist will be announced at least 2-3 days in advance or eariler so look out for that too! If you would like for any of your questions or comments to be featured in an upcoming interview please check out colorslive.com/discord and visit the official artist of the week channel to submit questions/commentary for a chance for those to be answered before Friday.
Don't forget about #wc498 The Easter Bunny vs The Energizer Bunny! The showdown ends on Sunday April 16th, 2023
Stay creative!
Zyik & The Colors Team
