We are back with another episode of Sheen Show. And our guest for today is a digital illustrator. She is the epitome of beauty, talent, kindness, and the list goes on...
People, Dana Bucur in the house!
Hello Dana! Hope you are doing good. Can you tell us where you are from and how does that affects your work?
Hello! I'm from Romania! I would say that my location doesn't affect my digital work that much but it affects the logistics. You can be successful on social media no matter where you live, but once you start shipping products it can be complicated. In my case, I struggled a lot in the beginning with international shipping so, I tried to find solutions to fix that. Now I fully rely on a Dropshipping company that fulfills and ships the products for me, and it's a lifesaver!
Interesting. Moving ahead, how did you choose your creative outlet? What inspires you?🤔
I have been drawing since I was little, and I have always been a creative person. I discovered digital illustrations in the middle of the pandemic when I also decided to start my Instagram page. The experiences I've been through, the people I met, things that I wish I had known in certain periods of my life are all things that inspire me the most. Whenever I create, I always ask myself, "What message do I want to send with this?". I don't want my art to be just beautiful. I want it to be food for thought, empowering, inspiring, and to make people see the bright side of life.
Wow. We can conclude that the pandemic has helped people discover and nurture their talent! Creating art can sometimes drain you out. So how do you manage to stay both personal and original in your creative endeavours?
Being personal in my illustrations didn't come easily, but it's also crucial in this industry. I love drawing or writing about things that I have been through. Sometimes it's very hard to be vulnerable in front of so many people, but I remind myself that we are all in this together, and maybe someone needs to hear what I have to say. When it comes to originality, we don't live the same lives, and no one had the same experiences as someone else, so we are all unique in our ways.
Indeed, people do afraid to try out something new or show up as themselves owing to fear of "what people might think?" I hope your answer helps them! Moving ahead, do you create hidden meanings or messages in your art?
I do! In almost every piece I make! There is the main quote in every illustration, but because we see life through our lenses, everyone interprets it in different ways. And it's so beautiful!
Beautifully said! I love how your posts give us a sense of serenity and faith that we all are in this together, as you said. Having said that, how has your art style changed over time?
In the beginning, it was way less personal and more "common." I was drawing things that everyone else was drawing - no quotes, no messages, nothing unique. Over time I started being more intentional in my art. I started writing my quotes/poems, started drawing about personal things, and I also changed my style and colour palette.
About the quotes, you deserve a chef's kiss! 😇
Dana, have you ever doubted your talent? If so, how did you work through your doubt?
Yes! And believe it or not, I still doubt myself sometimes. I wanted to give up on drawing so many times! Whenever I feel down, I try to remind myself how far I've come from where I was even a few months ago. This always does the trick! Whenever I felt like I wanted to give up, I kept creating 2-3 more pieces just to see what happens. And one day, one post went viral and it changed the game for me. So please, if you feel like you didn't come that far, just wait! Be patient and trust your divine timing.
I'm pretty sure this helps everyone who is reading it now! Trust the process, people! Dana, if you could change one aspect of our society through your work, what would it be?
This is so hard because there are so many things I would change! But the most important one, I think, is normalizing healing your mental health. Mental health is as important as if not more important than your physical health! (I say "more" because we can heal our body if the mind is well). So many people need help, and I want them to feel safe, to see that they're never alone and that it's okay to ask for help!
I love how you put your thought into your art and create beautiful illustrations which give us hope. Thank you for that! So Dana, let's change the aura. So here is the scenario. You are a new addition to the crayon box. What colour would you be and why?
Ahh, I think I would be light pink! It's my favourite colour, and I think it also represents my personality haha!
Indeed, your presence brightens the surroundings! Another trivial question. If you could choose a theme song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oh wow, this is hard! I think it would be "Don't stop me now" by Queen, it gives me so much energy!
New song added to my wish-list😉. And if your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?
Strawberries! And all the other berries, haha!
Yummy! So, Dana, the last question for you. What are your words of wisdom for someone starting in your field?
If you want to succeed in this field (and any other field), you have to be intentional and strategic with your work. Create pieces that are relatable and sharable but also have your own unique and personal touch. Create pieces that YOU would love to see in your feed, that would help you, that would make you share them. Post consistently, especially in the beginning. And of course, don't give up! Trust your divine timing!
Thank you for the advice, Dana. I'm glad you could spend some time to share your kind words and inspire people out there. Thanks a tonne! People, trust your divine timing!💖
