Hailing from Atlanta, USA, Angela Sasser is a multi-passionate artist, writer, and mask-maker. Raised a military brat, she traveled widely in her childhood and fell in love with fairy tales in Germany. She’s been collecting stories ever since. Angela Sasser authored the book Angelic Visions, which teaches how to illustrate fantasy angels. Stay tuned to Kickstarter, where she’ll be launching more coloring projects in the upcoming months! You can also join her artistic journey on Patreon where she shares advice and sneak peeks with her Patrons.
How long have you been illustrating and what made you start?
I decided I wanted to be an illustrator at around 8 years old! As soon as I learned to read and write, I was devouring stories and creating my own kooky little fairy tales. I used to love reading Saint George and the Dragon illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. The art haunted me. It was so beautiful! I loved the faeries hidden in the knotwork in every nook. That book was the first book that had me asking who did the art. Realising that a specific person made the art made me realise I want to BE that person.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I take much of my inspiration from folklore, fairy tales, and researching master painters like Alphonse Mucha, Donato Giancola, John Jude Palencar, and so many others. I also enjoy comic books, which was some of my earliest exposure to beautiful and expressive line art. Jim Lee, Michael Turner, and Joe Benitez were strong influences in my younger years.
Where is your favourite place to illustrate?
Nothing gets me more excited to draw than being around other friends who are artists and just hanging out in a cafe somewhere and drawing! Keep the caffeine and sugar going and we will NEVER leave your establishment.
What are your illustrating/colouring material essentials?
My weapons of choice are a lead pencil holder for fine detailed graphite work, micron pens for ink (they have the most coloured inks), Prismacolor colour pencils for colouring, and Daniel Smith/M Graham watercolours for painting. I also enjoy working digitally, where my art program of choice is currently Photoshop!
What’s the piece of work that you’re most proud of or enjoyed doing the most?
Lady of November from my birthstone set is simultaneously one of the most challenging paintings I've ever done, but also one of the most fun! I enjoyed researching the Aztec goddess of the underworld that inspired her concept, as well as the beautiful story of the monarch butterflies that return to Mexico every year for the Day of the Dead. With such a unique and inspiring concept, I did not want to skimp on those butterflies! I painstakingly drew and inked 39 butterflies in that image, not to mention every petal of the endless chrysanthemums at her feet. I have never pushed myself so hard for an image and lost so many nights of sleep over it. She's set the bar for every painting to come after her!
Prismacolor colour pencils are my favourite colouring tools! The Prismacolor clear marker blenders make for a great smoothing tool which breaks down the pigment so you can smooth out your strokes and blend colours together. You can also use the white vinyl erasers to strip off some layers if you need to. Try putting the colour pencils on top of marker sometime. The effect is really neat!
