
Our featured maker this week is a dear and sweet friend of mine,
Tonia. Not only is she one of the most pleasant people to work with, she also has an eye for all things adorable! If you are unfamiliar with her work, definitely check it out her galleries at
Luvkins.
Q&A
Q: 1. What was your initial interest in designing?
A: 8 or 9 years ago I made a journal on deadjournal and saw people making blinkies so I wanted to learn how to make them. I taught myself how to make them using box brushes until I figured out how to make the boxes on my own. Then I just started playing around in Photoshop making different things for myself (Myspace layouts, banners, icons, etc). I enjoy making blinkies more than anything else though.
Q: 2. Who would you say inspires you the most?
A: I’d have to say the people that request graphics from me and my online friends. Also, seeing all of the awesome stuff other makers put together.
Q: 3. I know you are a mother to a wonderful and perfect baby boy, what advice can you give to designers who want to have children?
A: Aw, thank you Ash! My advice graphics-wise would be to not take on a lot of online responsibilities if you do get pregnant until you know for sure you can handle it. I had morning sickness my entire pregnancy so I barely ever felt like being on the computer, but I felt like I had to because of everything I had committed to do online. Don’t think that after birth you’ll be able to go back to everything either haha! I didn’t have the time to start making again until about two or three months after my son was born. The mommy thing was very overwhelming to me at first because I’m a first-time mom and my husband was in Iraq when he was born so I was doing everything alone. Many, many kudos to single mothers!
Q: 4. What programs do you love and what programs do you love to hate?
A: Photoshop! I use Adobe PS CS3 and lalalove it! I’ve never used PaintShop other than using it to convert psp files. I tried once but couldn’t really get the hang of it like I did with Photoshop.
Q:5. If you were given an assignment, to pick one celebrity and use them for inspiration for your work for an entire month, who would you, why would you pick them?
A: Honestly, I’ve never been ga-ga over any celebrities so using anyone famous for inspiration for a whole month would be hard for me! That would probably only last a few days lol. If I had to pick someone right now I’d say Megan Fox because she’s nice to look at.
Examples of her work:
One lucky commenter will win 15 gallery blinkies from Tonia!