Colors Gallery, meet latiparfaite
A returning artist from the Colors!3D era with a brand new perspective to go along with their much improved art skills, @latiparfaite powered through their inner-doubts after reintroducing themselves into the art world. Their eyes now looking looking forward, eager to keep on learning and improving!
I think we all could benefit from learing a new, interesting perspective, so what better way to do that than learning about a new artist? Let's get to know them!
It's time to look into @latiparfaite! What's your story? Care to enlighten us?
Uh… it's kind of a long one, but I'll do my best.
I was active on Colors!3D about a decade ago. I went by many names back then: Trainer Orange, Chaosbang, Toxiphobe, etc. There came a point when I grew to resent all the art I had made. Every OC, every blatantly traced piece, every ounce of creativity felt wrong.
I felt shame, regret, and hatred. I hated myself and hated my art being made fun of for how cringey it all seemed. I was insecure and tried so hard to be cool. That resulted in me deleting everything and abandoning that part of my life. I saw it all as nothing more than a mistake, and I let myself conform to the expectations of others. I fell down and lost myself, going down a very dark path.
It wasn't until a few years ago that I started picking art back up again. One day I had the chance to catch up with an old friend of mine—she's the reason I learned Colors was on the Switch. She had always been a positive influence and an inspiration for me, and by that point in my life, I had changed a lot. I was still learning: learning to open up to others, learning to find myself, learning to forgive myself—always learning.
It took a long time, but I'm at a point now where I realize how much I regret deleting those accounts and drawings. If I could undo my mistake, I would. Those drawings meant a lot to my younger self; they were part of me, no matter how bad or embarrassing they seemed. It took me a long time to realize that I never needed the validation or approval of others. I never needed to pretend to be someone I wasn't. I am who I am, and all I had been doing was running away from that truth. I love my art, and I love drawing. It makes me smile, no matter how old I was when I drew it.
Art is an expression of the self, and that's something I struggled to find for most of my life. It was never about being the best. It was about loving yourself enough to be true to who you are, no matter who judges you for it.
With that, I'm glad I'm back now.
Your style is so sharp and distinguished! I also love how well you take advantage of the effects you're able to create in Colors Live in create art that stands out! What inspired such a cool, and recognizable style? What were your biggest inspirations when developing yourself as an artist?
Thank you. Honestly, I still struggle to identify a style for myself.
When I draw, I let all the emotions and passion pour out, which can lead to inconsistencies. As for inspiration, it’s usually whatever fuels me in the moment, like music. I’m exposed to creativity every day, so I always try to learn something new from different works.
What do they make me feel, and how can I channel those same feelings through my perspective? High energy, low energy, happiness, love, death, pain, sadness — what do they all mean to me? It’s like allowing yourself to be possessed. That’s how I like to think.
overlapping souls by latiparfaite
More on your style! What's your initial process? What goes through your head when coming up with cool things to draw?
Similarly to the second answer, I go by whatever comes to mind. When that burst of creativity hits, I can vividly imagine what I want to illustrate.
However, I know that no matter how much effort I put into a drawing, it will never fully match the image in my mind. I’m okay with that because I know I’m doing my best and am happy with the result. I’ll get closer and improve with every attempt.
lookalike by latiparfaite
How did a humble artist such as yourself come across Colors Live? What drew you to the community and what do you like the most about it?
The first answer mostly explains this, as my friend is partly why I bought Colors Live. I was hesitant to rejoin the online scene because I had been comfortable drawing offline and to myself, but I decided one day that if I was going to come back, my first upload had to be the best I could do.
We hope to receive switch 2 dev kits from nintendo soon we can really ramp up development on a switch 2 edition of Colors Live or a Colors Live 2! For these potential iterations of Colors is there any cool new features that you'd like to see?
I used to want to see more tools added to Colors Live, but nowadays I’ve changed my mind. I’ve used many drawing programs before coming back to this one, so I had grown spoiled by the tools and brushes they offered.
Something I’ve come to appreciate about Colors Live is its simplicity and limitations. They force and challenge me to be more creative and less complacent, which is something I’ve come to value more and more over time. Everyone is different, however, and new features are always welcome. Some additional customization for the bucket/fill tool’s tolerance level would be nice.
You have so much cool Sonic, Mario, and Earthbound fanart! Out of all the artworks of yours, which were the most fun to work on? Which are your favorites and why?
Favorites..? I'd have to think on that one. Looking back on everything makes you forget how fast time flies. Scary.
1.) Supreme by latiparfaite
What's there to say about this one? Sonic Frontiers was the newest Sonic game at the time, and I had just finished it. As my first upload and a test of how well acquainted I had become with the app, it holds a special place in my heart.
2.) uh-oh, in the back seat by latiparfaite
I really like Gwen Stefani's music — that's it.
3.) ah, amita by latiparfaite
I got rather emotional with this one. It's meant to be a reflection of my past: who I used to be, who I became, and who I am today. I had to dig up drawings from the 3DS days just to see how I used to depict myself. Style‑wise, it's heavily inspired by a song I really like called "Karma" by Dareharu.
What are your top 3 favorite artworks in the Colors gallery? How do they inspire you?
I can think of a few that come to mind from the time I’ve been around.
DAWN OF THE FINAL DAY by Prisma_Nano
I don’t remember when I first came across this, but I was moved by how beautifully cohesive it looked — a perfect blend of line work and rendering that comes together to form something lifelike yet still fantastical.
I cried-- by Day
A nostalgic masterpiece from the 3DS era, if I remember correctly. Back then, I couldn't imagine myself being anywhere near as good as this. Nowadays, I learn something new each time I revisit it.
sunset beach by loidforger
A mesmerizing painting. I was going through a bad depression when I first saw this, and I was enamored by its vivid use of warm and cool colors. It conveyed bittersweet emotions that really resonated with me.
How do you get your art to be so dynamic? What should one practice to achieve art that not only has interesting colors but perspective as well?
I only discovered this recently, but if you're struggling with how fast you can draw, try doing traditional art.
There's a correlation between your confidence and your speed, and I believe that confidence can lead to more ambitious posing and angles. I haven't used references in a very long time because I'm so used to rushing into a drawing to get the idea out.
Sketch first; worry about accuracy and perfection later. Doing traditional art with a pen trains your brain into this mentality, allowing you to attempt things you never thought possible.
OPPRESSION by latiparfaite
Goals and plans? What're you looking forward to in the future?
Goals? Well, I guess there are a lot of things I still want to do before I disappear. I want to be the best artist I can be, write all sorts of stories and fanfiction, and focus next year on finishing a game I’ve been slacking on for almost a decade. I’m also releasing a fanfic in a few days.
it's just not worth it by latiparfaite
Is Colors Live your only software or do you use other software/mediums? How does Colors Live suit your process?
I used to use Paint Tool SAI until I eventually bought Clip Studio Paint. Neither suited me as much as Colors Live, simply because of the accessibility Colors provides.
Being able to instantly grab my Switch and start drawing is so much more gratifying than having to set up my laptop and tablet, and it goes to show that spending money on the more expensive option isn't everything. I always wanted to get better, but it takes more than tools and stronger hardware to improve yourself.
That was a valuable lesson I learned, even if it came at a financial cost.
What does an artist need in order to achieve a style that stands the test of time? How do you develop a style that inspires others?
I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer that, but in my opinion it's about what you bring to the table. Even though there are a lot of people in this world, everyone has something that makes them unique.
Everyone has a distinct way of expressing who they are, and art is just one of many ways to show that. Developing a style comes from knowing who you are and embracing it with love.
You might be inspired by someone else's style and want to copy it, but it also matters what you want. It takes valuing yourself and learning to love the parts of you that make you who you are, even if nobody else understands them. That uniqueness is your style. It's you.
thousand year reunion by latiparfaite
Strengths and weaknesses? What qualities of yours do you think define you the most?
In terms of strengths, I’m not entirely sure. I enjoy analyzing stories and characters, and I have a strangely philosophical mind. I think a lot — maybe too much.
As for weaknesses, I’m not very good at communicating. If I don't respond, don’t take it personally; I have a hard time understanding other people's intentions.
wrathful:decay by latiparfaite
How do you go about dealing with burnout? When your artistic fire is smothered, how do you rediscover your passions?
Burnout usually happens the day after I go on a drawing marathon. I’ve had times where I’ve drawn more than three pieces in a day because my mind was burning with passion for one reason or another. After it’s all gone, I usually get art block and can’t draw for a day or two, but afterwards I’m usually fine.
Creativity strikes me out of nowhere — when I see other artists or listen to music that resonates with me. That’s all it takes for the spark to come back, whether I’m fueled by happiness, love, sadness, or anger.
ashes to ashes by latiparfaite
Advice for new artist? What's something you've learned that's been the most useful for you?
If you're new to drawing, you’ll often hear "practice" — it's sound advice, and you won't grow without it. However, people often misunderstand what that actually means. Repetition is meaningless if you aren't learning during the process.
When you seek improvement, always strive to learn something new, whether it's a technique or something about yourself. The real goal of practice should be to learn. Learn, learn, learn — and don't stop there. Understand. Understand why shapes and lines work the way they do.
Understand why certain colors on a canvas look beautiful to you. Learn the hows as much as the whys, because that is how you build fundamentals. Develop those fundamentals and you'll see growth like never before.
That means learning to be uncomfortable. Be ambitious and take risks. Try things you don't yet know how to do. Don't be afraid. Embrace the possibilities and find joy in the attempts. It won't always look pretty, but the work you put in will someday speak for itself.
Time for a shout-out! Who do you think deserves some clout?
Oh boy — shout-outs. As for the friend who introduced me to Colors Live, some of you might know her from a previous artist of the week: @ponopzop. She’s been a very supportive and positive friend for as long as I’ve known her, so it’s only natural that I mention her.
maor and mars by ponopzop
There’s another person I’d like to mention, but it’s rather personal. All I can say is that they mean the world to me, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without them in my life. I love them — truly.
That wraps up our interview with @latiparfaite! The Colors Team would like to thank you for your time! Now that you've lapped up their inteview- check'em out!
Check out all of our previous interviews here:
For those who may need a reminder
The Artist of the week will be posted Friday or on weekends 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.
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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.
Suggest a new artist for artist of the week on the forum post in my gallery or by posting with the #heyzyik tag.
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Stay creative!
Zyik & The Colors Team
