Personal Questions -

-Asher :: What are you working on RIGHT now?

MayShing :: I am currently working on a doujinshi to publish online before the June 17th anime convention. I still plan to finish Edepth but my schedules have been thrown off for 2 months, so I will take sometime to reorganize. I am also submitting my work to a publisher in Taiwan, Challengers magazine and hopefully one day I will become partners with them.

-Asher :: Are you happy with what your doing recently?

MayShing :: Yes, I am in fact. I have been learning alot of different things, alot of different methods of drawing, paintings, and just started a whole collection project (which is supported greatly within DA community) I am also still studying on my own to make my stories more interesting to read. I am always learning.

-Asher :: Are you excited about anything new coming out?

MayShing :: Yes, I am on a checklist style in finding out new things. Right now I am into Death Note, Avatar-the last air bender, 12 Kingdoms and others, I finished watching FMA anime... they are all really good shows. I generally keep some updates to the manga and anime genre, and some fine arts.
For my own work, I have many plans... plans that take time to complete, I am trying to organize them in my mind so I can finish all of them accordingly.

-Asher :: What company's have you worked with?

MayShing :: Honestly, not yet. I have done various commissions with very good clients (thank God) and earn my living as a freelance artist right now.

-Asher :: Who do you wish you could be working with?

MayShing :: I am hoping to work with Maxium Publishing, a new publisher in Taiwan that want to raise up Taiwan's manga standard, it was where I lived for 9 years. I have attachment to it, and the submission system they use there for manga artists fit me more than what USA offers now.
But most of all, I really hope to work with companies who actually care about the artists. Too many are just using artists like tools, the reason why I chose to support Maxium Publishing even though they are small and just starting, it's because they would take the time to critic every submissions that has been sent to them, turned down or not, to help the artists to better themselves. And I believe they will keep doing so for as long as they can. I researched over 20 companies in USA, none of them do anything like that, which is still understandable with their schedules.

-Asher :: Do you think DA was a huge inspiration or help with finding readers?

MayShing :: DA definitely is a place of learning for me, it's a window to the world, I have learned greatly while staying here. Popularity contest, the jealousy, the skills of others, the different types of medium and clubs... I have also learned how to deal with attention, or no attention, to take rest and stop striving, to teach others while I learn from them. DA provided a place where I can learn many life lessons for the future. For that I am thankful.

And yes, it's a big community, a well designed, reliable one. The system allow someone to become known, watched, and the way links are provided everywhere makes it convenient to trace for good works in this big pool, thus those designs contributed to helping me to find good readers, supporters and occasionally, some flamers' challenges.

Comic Questions -

-Asher :: How long do you think Edepth will go on for, is their a huge final scene that your working for, or just going with the flow?

MayShing :: My plan for it is 360 pages in total, I hope I can meet that soon by the end of next year. Yes, I plan all my stories, I already designed the final scene, and most of the important plots in between.

-Asher :: Lien the main character (one of my favorites!), is he modeled after anyone you know, or inspired by another character or did he just come up one day of inspiration?

MayShing :: Ah ha.... yes, he is modeled after someone I know, and ALSO was inspired by another manga artist, dated way back when I was in middle school. lol~ They look so different now you can't tell he is from that other character. Lien is quite a complex character, he is modeled out of various trouble-family-teen resources... what can I say... I have seen troubled people.

-Asher :: How did you come up with the name "Angel Love" for the cute nurse character?

MayShing :: She was made the moment Lien was made, they practically came out together, just because I needed a girl character, lol~ but she wasn't always as thoughtful and loving, she is modeled out of the blue... really.... and the hair, referenced a bit from Sailor Moon. Right now, she is continuously being modeled, and ever changing, you will see her more than just in Edepth. That one is certain.

-Asher :: What truely inspired Edepth?

MayShing :: Ah, good question. Edepth was originally inspired by the idea of "Loving the Unlovable." After watching some films and documentaries on how a brave nurse took care of disfigured patients, and how a disfigured woman trying to encourage others to live their lives with courage, I was inspired to make a story... "What if the person really doesn't look like he needs help, how would you help him?" "What if the main character is a jerk, will anyone be able to see his need?"

Those are my starting questions for the series.

-Asher :: Edepth is written Right to Left, have you ever considered changing this in the future?

MayShing :: NOPE. XD I am confident many readers will choose to get used to it, plus many already have been train to read that way... and actually prefer to read that way.

About your art, style and business? -

-Asher :: What tools do you use? And why?

MayShing ::
Penciling: Prang, ($-24) Prisma. ($ 48 ) set and HB, 2B, 3B, 4B, 6B pencils
For inking: Micro Sakura pens, with thiness of .005 to .08 (1.5 dollar each) dip pen and brushes
CGing: Photoshop majorly, sometimes also Open Canvas 2.3
Painting: Watercolor, acrylic.

-Asher :: Do you do Commissions? If so where can we find your prices?

MayShing :: Yes, and prize range depends on complexity + investment on the materials and shipping, contact me at mayshing@gmail.com

black and white pencil piece-20-60 dollars
inked: 25-60 dollars
pencil + colored - 40-80 dollars
pencil + CGed- 40-60 dollars

Watercolor paintings:
9X 12- 20-45 dollars
11X14 - 40-60 dollars
1 ft by 1.5 ft - 100-200 dollars

If you are outside of USA: Shipping fee +12
If you live in USA: shipping fee +7

-Asher :: How long does it take to do a full page?

MayShing :: The classical question. 20-40 mins for drawing, 20-40 for inking, 2-3 hours for coloring for Edepth. @_@ At most I can finish 2 pages per day if I rush, without breaks... of course. And for other ones, like another serie 2Masters... although black and white... it costs about 8 hours average to make one page.

-Asher :: Do you intend on getting your comic printed, if so where?

MayShing :: Yes. I do. Wherever source that offers me a good deal, that can allow publicity, and pay me on time. lol~ And offer good format to deal with. Right now I look at lulu, and have other shops like on Cafepress, if DA get a printing comic program, I won't hesitate to use it either.

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Now, if this was not enough, I would also like to point out MayShing has MANY lessons and tips on how to improve YOUR art work! I have always admired the expression MayShing was able to capture with her anime eyes.