About Tessalation illustrator Maima Widya Adiputri

I count myself over-the-moon to have found a wonderful illustrator for my book project, Tessalation! And since I really feel connected to her, despite her living in Indonesia and never having actually met her, I thought I'd do a Q & A with her about her illustration work.

Q:  How long have you been doing illustrations?

A: I started to do illustrations for others --not only for my self doodles-- in junior high school. I joined a journalistic club and became reporter as well as illustrator. I joined a similar club in senior high school and university as well. I love journalism!

Q: How did you get into drawing?

A: It just happened! Hahaha. I found that drawing helps me to express my feeling. I wasn't really good in expressing my thoughts and feelings verbally, then I just realized that I've doodled here and there and felt so refreshed by doing that :)

Q: Tell me where you are in your illustrating and art career.

A: Learning art is like a life time journey. It is endless. Artists are influenced and influencing their art work and it shapes their work throughout their life span. I love to learn new techniques and knowing new styles. As for my career, I'm just in the beginning of it! I hope I can do my own solo exhibition and make series of comics and children books!

Q: What’s your process like in creating a character?

A: There are two important parts in character design: character inner personality and outer appearance. The former will determine the character's facial expression and gestures. The latter will define how the character's physical shape, the clothes their wear and so on. I usually sketch several times and do it through trial and error :)

Q: What did you think about Tessalation! when I reached out to you?

A: Tessalation! is a very interesting story! It is fun and convey the children's spirit and curiosity in exploring things! I used to play in my home backyard (it is a paddy field). I played with mud, bugs, flowers, frogs. That was amazing! Children's need for adventure is always amazing! I think Tessa really represents it :)

Q: What was it like to create the tessellations for the book?

A: Not easy but so much fun! Unlike arabesque, which are made using thumbscrew compass and ruler, tessellations are more dynamic. It's not easy at first but the more you try, the more you want to do it!

Q: Where can we find more of your work?

A: I have a page in an art studio called reeham.co but it's still under construction... The good news is that you can check my work in a facebook page named "Taiga Bluet" and in my personal fb page named "Maima Widya Adiputri". You can visit the albums and there you will fine a bunch of my doodles and my work. I hope you will enjoy them!

Thanks, Maima, for your talent and your spirit! I'm so excited to have found you!

This illustration by Maima wasn't made for me, but I sure feel like this little girl when I look at the illustrations for my book!