Today’s short interview is with Mikey (he/him), an incredible visdev artist and illustrator from the US that specializes in character design. Check out Mikey’s work on his website, Twitter, and Bluesky!
What is your favourite city in the world?
Toronto! Being from Western NY, I live very close to Ontario, CA – and I love the atmosphere there. I haven’t been in a long time, but the city has a special place in my heart regarding its culture and being the first place I traveled to with my best friend.
What’s the most unusual item you take everywhere you go?
I don’t bring much with me when I go places! Too many items on hand stress me out, and I’m prone to forgetting things, so I keep it as light as possible. I like those phone cases that can hold all my important cards, though!
Why do you do what you do?
To tell stories and draw things that resonate with me and others. When I think about the things I’ve created, it seems like they were always made during the lowest points in my life. The need for comfort and escapism fueled my drive to create, whether it was conceptualizing new ideas or drawing my favorite characters. Art has always been there to help me express those tough and complex emotions that I couldn’t put into words. Funnily enough, there have been several times I’ve been approached where people told me my Sonic the Hedgehog art reignited their childhood love for the series. It made me realize why I like doing what I do, and that’s resonating with people!
..Oh, and to also pay the bills.
Where do you go to relax?
I play Splatoon a lot and also go to the gym!
69, 280, or 420?
420
How do you say goodbye in your culture(s)?
We just say “Bye” or “Goodbye” to one another – It’s very casual for the most part, haha!