Today we’d like to introduce you to Ena Miranda.
Ena, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been drawing since I was one year old and have been influenced by Archie Comics, various European comics like Asterix and Obelix, Spirou, etc. throughout my childhood. I moved to Georgia at five years old from Madrid, Spain, where I was born.
I drew freelance for most of my early 20’s while caring for my sick father, which kept me from attending, then landed my current job at HiRez Studios. I do concept art, illustrations, and overall cartoony stuff, which I consider myself lucky to be able to do in this specific industry. I get to draw for a living, which I never expected would be a possibility for me. In my free time, I do commissions for friends, family, and friends of friends. I enjoy drawing Fan art the most but have some ambitious graphic novels and short stories in the works that are purely my own.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A lot of my journey has been and still is riddled with what is known as “Imposter Syndrome.” I second guess myself and my skills on a near-daily basis. Thankfully I’m well versed in feeling like doody when I look at my work, so I get over it by simply drawing something else or stepping away and post-mating an entire bakery. Also, a prominent obstacle in my earlier days was when I was freelancing. I definitely considered my lack of college experience as a hindrance for any future plans I had as an artist. It turns out that it was the best thing for me. Practice and networking ultimately led me to my dream job, where I learned to refine my process. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have a job that confided in me and trusted me to grow alongside them. The game industry (or any industry for that matter) can be so severe to non-college-educated artists. I am VERY lucky.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
I open commissions every couple months or so to overwhelming support, and have some characters that my small following really enjoy! I do well for myself as an artist in Atlanta and that’s all I could ever ask for! I’m mostly digital, utilizing photoshop, or procreate, but keep a foot planted in my original preferred medium, traditional i.e., sketchbook, pen, pencil, markers. I’m currently collecting comics I’ve drawn of my dog for a future coffee book and hope to release more comic books (webcomic or physical) within the next couple of years. Working full time as an artist, plus drawing commissions, PLUS trying to put out personal projects is a lot sometimes for my left hand to handle (left-handers unite!).
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Humility and a deep connection to your childhood are vital qualities. If you look at your portfolio and think there is nothing another artist can teach you, you’re not giving yourself the opportunity to learn or grow. I’ve learned to always embrace being humbled by other artists’ works but never letting it dissuade me.
A deep connection to my childhood has been vital in keeping me grounded to what it is I enjoy most about being an artist. The long hours, the criticisms, even imposter syndrome, are drowned out by memories of how it felt the first time I drew something important to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artstation.com/enabuns
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enabuns/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnaBuns
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
