Rachel roberts and artist(Shiei)
Rachel Roberts is the author of Avalon: Web of Magic, including Secret of the Unicorn, Cry of the Wolf and All That Glitters. The Warlock Diaries is her first manga work. Roberts, who lives in Southern California, enjoys meeting her readers.
Shiei is the artist for Aoi House. She is the most prolific Original English Language manga artist in the US, having completed 4 volumes of Aoi House and 5 volumes of Amazing Agent Luna so far.Shiei is currently wrapping up work on the third Avalon: The Warlock Diaries manga and will soon begin working on the next two installments of the Amazing Agent Luna series. Shiei resides in Southern California.
Info on Rachel Roberts
BIRTHPLACE: Northern California
HAIR: Blond
EYES: Blue-green
FAVORITE FOOD: Pancakes
FAVORITE COLOR: All of them!
FAVORITE BOOKS: A Wrinkle in Time, Where the Wild Things Are, The Island Stallion,Calvin and Hobbes, to name a few.
FAVORITE MOVIES: Enchanted, Finding Nemo, Lilo & Stitch, and Whale Rider. I also love Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.
FAVORITE PASSTIMES: Hiking, playing music, reading, playing with my animal friends.
FASCINATING FACT: I never go anywhere without a pack of gel pens. You never know when you might get an idea you need to write down - or what color you'll need to use.
HAIR: Blond
EYES: Blue-green
FAVORITE FOOD: Pancakes
FAVORITE COLOR: All of them!
FAVORITE BOOKS: A Wrinkle in Time, Where the Wild Things Are, The Island Stallion,Calvin and Hobbes, to name a few.
FAVORITE MOVIES: Enchanted, Finding Nemo, Lilo & Stitch, and Whale Rider. I also love Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.
FAVORITE PASSTIMES: Hiking, playing music, reading, playing with my animal friends.
FASCINATING FACT: I never go anywhere without a pack of gel pens. You never know when you might get an idea you need to write down - or what color you'll need to use.
More about the avalon manga series
Team Magic manga artist, Shiei, answers all your questions about the amazing art of Avalon: The Warlock Diaries!
Shiei FAQ
1) How long does it take to draw a full page of manga?
It depends on how complicated a page is. I usually draw a couple of pages a day. Thinking of where each panel should go on the page takes most of my time, and the occasional artist block.
2) How do you approach laying out the panels to make them look so cool?
I close my eyes and imagine what they would look like if they were animated! I think of what angle would work, how I can make them easy for the eyes of the reader, and how to make it not so complicated that the idea gets lost.
I try my best to draw pages that you can understand even if there are no words on it yet.
3) What are your drawing materials and supplies?
I sketch and ink pages using a graphics tablet that lets me hand draw images that go directly into my computer; Photoshop is my program of choice.
4) How long have you been drawing?
Since childhood, probably when I learned how to grab a pencil/crayon/marker and use the wall as an oversized canvas. (My parents were not too happy about that.)
5) Did you go to an art school?
Yes, I studied Fine Arts in college, and majored in Advertising arts. I also studied graphic design.
6) What made you decide to draw manga?
It's something that I really like to do and it helps me grow as an artist. At first I wasn't confident with my art skills, but with the encouragement of friends I gave it a go and was surprised by the positive feedback I received.
Drawing manga makes me happy and other people happy, so it's worth it. Meeting new friends along the way is a nice bonus, too.
7) What do you like most about drawing the Avalon: The Warlock Diaries manga?
I'm an animal lover, so Avalon's cute and cuddly critters are my favorite! Everybody needs a brimbee or two! :)
Shiei FAQ
1) How long does it take to draw a full page of manga?
It depends on how complicated a page is. I usually draw a couple of pages a day. Thinking of where each panel should go on the page takes most of my time, and the occasional artist block.
2) How do you approach laying out the panels to make them look so cool?
I close my eyes and imagine what they would look like if they were animated! I think of what angle would work, how I can make them easy for the eyes of the reader, and how to make it not so complicated that the idea gets lost.
I try my best to draw pages that you can understand even if there are no words on it yet.
3) What are your drawing materials and supplies?
I sketch and ink pages using a graphics tablet that lets me hand draw images that go directly into my computer; Photoshop is my program of choice.
4) How long have you been drawing?
Since childhood, probably when I learned how to grab a pencil/crayon/marker and use the wall as an oversized canvas. (My parents were not too happy about that.)
5) Did you go to an art school?
Yes, I studied Fine Arts in college, and majored in Advertising arts. I also studied graphic design.
6) What made you decide to draw manga?
It's something that I really like to do and it helps me grow as an artist. At first I wasn't confident with my art skills, but with the encouragement of friends I gave it a go and was surprised by the positive feedback I received.
Drawing manga makes me happy and other people happy, so it's worth it. Meeting new friends along the way is a nice bonus, too.
7) What do you like most about drawing the Avalon: The Warlock Diaries manga?
I'm an animal lover, so Avalon's cute and cuddly critters are my favorite! Everybody needs a brimbee or two! :)