The Featured Artist of the Week-Flurrin
This weeks featured artist is someone who has always impressed us. She has been on DoInk for a long time (well in DoInk time, for a long time :) and we have always loved her work. Last week however she completely blew us all away with her amazing animation. The style and the story, based on a video game, was just spectacular. (She has chosen that for her spotlight clip, so you can see it again if you have not seen it yet.) She has amazing talent that always inspires us and she is a wonderful community member too. This weeks featured artist is Flurrin. 
Tell us about yourself, what is a typical day like?
I usually wake up at 8 o’clock. Then I have breakfast, get dressed, sometimes work on a DoInk project or check my email, and then do school. DoInk is considered a school subject, so I get to animate during school hours! Anyway, then I have the rest of the day free. Most often if I’m bored I’ll watch a movie, read a book, or draw. Anything else in my day is probably what every other kid does.
How old were you when you started drawing? Ever animated anything before?
When I actually started animating things, it was because I discovered a button on my remote that allowed me to fast forward in slow motion. I was watching Peter Pan 2, not exactly an animated classic, but with good animation. I used it to watch Jane and she spontaneously runs up and hugs Peter in one scene. (You should see their faces!! XD)
I’ve been drawing since I was about four (After watching a Reading Rainbow show on drawing in perspective, I came up to my very surprised mom with a drawing of a train coming towards the viewer.) Then when I was probably 12-13, I realized that animating was a way to bring my drawings to life, and I decided that that’s what I wanted to do for a living. Then I found DoInk. =D
Do you have a favorite artist or animator?
Not in particular, I like a bunch of varied artists. For art, J. R. R. Tolkien, Jessica Peffer or “Neondragon”, and Jennifer Miller or “Nambroth”. (They’re all fantasy artists, as you can probably tell.) For animation, Disney, Don Bluth, and a few other ‘unnoficials’ on youtube.
What inspires you?
Usually movies or books. When I’m watching a movie and a character or thing goes by really fast, I’ll pause and hit the “step to next frame” [or next] button on my DVD player remote. The I’ll keep hitting it and think, Hey, I can animate that. Of course I never really animate any of these, but they are good for measuring how long I need to take between frames if I want something to move fast or slow.
Do you have a favorite cartoon and/or anime character?
I love the Redwall TV show’s characters (naturally. Rose and Martin are my favorites). My favorite Disney comic relief is Dr. Delbert Doppler from Treasure Planet (because he isn’t a typical comic relief character…he’s not fat or short or stupid.) and I don’t watch any manga or anime shows, so, none there.
What is your favorite musician or band, what are you listening to?
I listen to instrumentals. Yeah, I’m pretty much the weirdest teen on the planet. And proud of it. :D
What are your Favorite websites, outside of DoInk?
I go on youtube a lot while I’m on DoInk (did you know they have pretty much every movie on the planet up on there? And that the screen size on a laptop is perfect so you can watch the movie and draw on DoInk at the same time?) I go to whitsend.org and listen to the daily AiO episode (:D). I play neopets. I’m on CoE (Council of Elrond). I have a facebook account, though under an alias. And a whole lot of other sites.
What are your hobbies?
Drawing, voice acting (I read out of books with my cousin into a mic on her computer. It’s fun!), emailing, facebooking…etc.
What are your favorite Computer Game?
Does this include console games, too? My favorite computer games of all time are Monkey Island, Spore, The Hobbit (I’ve beaten it about ten times, and I still love it!!!) and KotOR. Non-computer (namely, Xbox) would be Spyro: a Hero’s Tale.
How did you find DoInk and what is your experience so far?
I googled “free online animating program” one day because I was bored. Moments later I had set up my account and was doodling the first frame of “Tsarmina’s Reaction to Martin the Warrior”.
I love DoInk. I’ve tried using Pencil, Gimp and other programs to animate, but DoInk is the best I have tried.
Any advice for other DoInk users?
Trial and error and time and practice are the best teachers. They shape talent.
Usually your style chooses you and not the other way around, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait for it to find you.
Animation should be the creation of inspiration and not necessarily boredom.
Your favorite clip that you have done?
The Curse of Monkey Island Intro (Watch!) by Flurrin, made at DoInk.com
