Hi! Tell us a little bit about you.
Hi! My name is Manda. I’m originally from the east coast but currently reside in Seattle, Washington. I just started up Ika Ink this past year but I’ve been painting and drawing all my life. I decided to pursue more artistic endeavours after quitting my job as a web developer. I thought I found my dream job with development, but after many years in tech I became tired and burnt out. With the pandemic situation it seemed like a good time to make a change and focus on something that felt more meaningful.
What was the first type of "art" you made?
You have such a gorgeous illustration style and we've noticed a bit of a dark witchy vibe in some of your drawings. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I would say my own personal style is a bit dark and witchy, which is where a lot of that comes from. Otherwise I draw a ton of inspiration from nature, most notably deep oceans and dark night skies. I could spend hours staring up at the night sky filled with billions of stars and thinking about how small we all are in the vastness of the universe. I find myself incorporating space themes into so many things. The ocean is kinda the opposite though. It’s beautiful but I’m absolutely terrified of it! I find myself drawn in by both fear and fascination. There are so many parallels between our oceans and space that are fun to think about and play with creatively.
We love your bunnies! What inspired you to create artwork that's 100% bunnies 100% of the time?Well, I love bunnies! Specifically though, I decided to dedicate myself to drawing bunnies this year in honor of my own rescue rabbit, BunnBun, who passed away in 2019. I use bunny art to inspire and help fund rabbit rescue efforts in her memory. I’ve been able to support some wonderful organizations and have met so many very lovely people with their own inspiring bunny stories. I think this year has brought me a lot of peace. Next year I plan to move on to other subjects, but of course there will always be bunnies!
Have you had any creative or selling roadblocks? What advice can you give to an aspiring artist who wants to get into selling their items?
Got any pets?I sure do! I have a dog and two birds. Soma is my shiba dog and the golden child of the family. She's quite, chill and surprisingly affectionate for a shiba. Everyone loves her and I seriously could not have asked for a more perfect pup! Kiwi is a elderly pacific parrotlet living out his golden years as a spoiled, demanding little bird (if you have a parrotlet you know). Zeus is a green cheek conure who sticks to me like a shadow. He wants to be a part of everything and anything I do all day, including showering, napping and sharing meals. Just part of life with birds, nothing is your own anymore.
What's something that most people don't know about you?