Hello everybody! Mya here, and bringing to you as close as we can get to a live interview! We have with us today deathspeaker , creator of several graphic shops including "Goddess; Craft - Cover Shop" and of course most recently, "This God Is Mine - Graphics." It's Kishia, right? How are you doing today?

Yup! That's my real name, though everyone can also address me with my pseudonym. I'm doing great, though!

Glad to hear that! Anyway, we brought you here today because deep within this GuildofInsanity a couple of our members took some of their founding inspiration from you (mainly me and Alli). I don't even remember how many years ago that was, but both me and Alli were around during that great age of Percy Jackson fanfiction (and their iconic cover designs; many of which were designed by you). We started in that time and are still kicking out the graphics today. We wouldn't have been started off in this graphicing world if not for people like you and the others of the era. That's what fired us up, so what got you into designing graphics for the first time?

Thanks, and I'm really glad I had inspired a lot of peeps, tbh. I never thought I could be influential to a point... And for how I started, it's a bit of a long story...? Anyway, I started out mainly on anime-based graphics. Back in 2012, it was all the rage over the anime community on Facebook. And I was in awe in all the beauty of scrapbook-themed designs, the darkness of grunge-themed ones, and everything in between, so I decided to go for it!

Anime based designs are very interesting. I wish we could see more of them around here. There are so many things to do with them and it has its own art style. On that topic of different types of graphics, what would you say is your favorite type of graphic to design and why?

I practically grew up with anime graphics so I'd definitely say it's my favorite. I love how easier it is to make and manage one compared to making manips--those take more time and resources to be good at (which I sort of lacked, given my circumstances at the moment).

Manips are definitely a whole other land of insanity and skill. I ogle at those of us that can pull them off. Then onto a slightly different topic, what's your favorite part about graphic design?

My favorite part is making all the colors go well together, in a way that it sets the overall mood of the piece just right. It isn't easy at first and when you are trying to make two contrasting colors fall in harmony. I feel very happy and accomplished when I nail a combination, because sometimes it is what makes or breaks a graphic.

I agree. Color combinations are difficult; they can make or break a cover, but they are definitely something fun to mess with. I feel like I'm using the word graphic too much, but meh. How long does a graphic typically take you? I sometimes note that you can motor through a queue or am I seeing things?

It depends a lot on if I'm feeling motivated or no, plus the types of resources I'll take (because some thing are *hard* to find even on my favorites tab on DeviantArt) but for estimates about 30 minutes to two hours. I go through my queue fast if I'm handling anything as light as doing icons and simple covers--a few minimalist/icon sets can be ready within 30 minutes. For anything that's detailed and is in need of Photoshop magic (like Raging Shadows and Deluge) it takes up to two hours.

Still, wow, two hours is not too bad at all. Personally I find that some of my graphics take up to five hours to complete.

I've learned how to work in crunch time thanks to impromptu contests on Facebook. I wouldn't recommend it always, though. Take all the time you need to think about the design as much as possible!

This next question probably goes hand in hand with how long it takes to make a graphic and that inspiration we all need more off. Where do you get your inspiration?

For the inspiration... I really don't know where, exactly. From the graphics I've seen before? From the ones I'm looking at every now and then? From movies/shows? Anime? The songs that I play in the background while editing? A lot of things can influence me in editing, aside from the resources, so I guess it's safer to say that my inspiration's all over the place.

I feel you. And I guess it wouldn't be a guild interview without a little bit of randomness, so can you tell us a random something about yourself?

I don't know if there's still anything that I haven't volunteered just yet but I love how my dog "pets" me instead of me petting her. I pet her, of course, but it seems like the other way around most of the time!

Oh gods, I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. Anyway, thank you for sitting down with me for this. I hope it wasn't TOO long and tedious.

I don't have any randomness or funny quirks, to be honest xD And always welcome! You guys are a great lot :)

Well that's a wrap folks! Once again I'd like to thank Kishia, deathspeaker, for joining us in this weird beta test. Make sure you check out her graphics in her "This God Is Mine - Graphic shop" over in the external link. We always like hearing back from you so tell us what you think of this new format in the comments! 

Until next time, this is Mya, signing off from the Guild of Graphics!