Nintendo Gamer Chats With Donna Evans

Nintendo Gamer: So, alongside original doodles you draw a lot of fan art and, excluding the excessive Beetle juice and Burton, you feature a lot of Zelda based works, amongst other games. What is it about Zelda that inspires you?

Zelda is one of the only series that has stuck with me through my college and University days. The characters and storyline of every Zelda game have me gripped. I just want to draw and create things from the games because I love them so much.

Nintendo Gamer: Nintendo!
Game Boy!

Nintendo Gamer: Zelda!
Oracle of Seasons!

Nintendo Gamer: Nintendo!
You lose, you aren’t supposed to repeat!

Nintendo Gamer: Now that the obligatory word association is over, hello Donna Evans!
Hello, there!

Nintendo Gamer: So, alongside original doodles you draw a lot of fan art and, excluding the excessive Beetle juice and Burton, you feature a lot of Zelda based works, amongst other games. What is it about Zelda that inspires you?
Zelda is one of the only series that has stuck with me through my college and University days. The characters and storyline of every Zelda game have me gripped. I just want to draw and create things from the games because I love them so much.

Nintendo Gamer: Roll the clock back. How did you get into art? And why fanart?
Art has always been a major subject throughout my school, college and University studies, but fan art was never the main focus in my actual studies. I did it in my spare time to get away from the coursework! [laughs]

Nintendo Gamer: What drives you as an artist?
Mainly a passion for a subject I love. Characters, movies, films and games have a big influence, which is why a lot of my work is primarily fan-based.

Nintendo Gamer: Favourite artists? And why?
They are mainly friends and people who have helped me in the past and also introduced me to new techniques and materials. Donna L Bond introduced me to Prismacolor pencils many years ago and I will be forever grateful for that. There are many artists I admire for many different reasons, though far too many to mention!

Nintendo Gamer: What about the plushies and models? Was the initial idea to add more strings to your Hero’s bow or were you just looking for a different artistic challenge?
Yeah, just looking for something a little different to make! I did study textiles at college, but I had never made doll or plush before! I love looking around all the fabric shops for new materials for my dolls! With the models and sculptures, after being influenced by friends on deviantART, I decided to give it a try myself. I hadn’t used polymer clay before, but even now, after about a year, I’m still learning new techniques and tricks.

Nintendo Gamer: Right, geek out for a minute – Aonuma-san himself has put you in charge of the next big Zelda. You could redesign Zelda in any style, be it artistic or even thematic, where would you take it?
Oooh! Let’s go underground. A whole city living below the surface, and a new race of people! We’ve all been on land, in the air, under the sea, so how about beneath the surface, that could be interesting. A Zelda game with realistic visuals like the WiiU demo would be amazing to see! I’ll patent that now, thanks.

Nintendo Gamer: Your plushies and models always have something extra, such as voice boxes or glow in the dark elements, do you plan them or do they just happen as you make them?
I kind of just think of these ideas as I go along! But I do like to something a little different or unusual from time to time. The clear resin is the newest experiment for me. Sometimes I just go around my local art shops and go “ooh that would be interesting to use” and pick it up and try it out.

Nintendo Gamer: Which piece of art are you most proud of and why?
Oh gosh, there are so, so many, and for many different reasons. There are pieces that are popular on my deviantART page, and others not so much, but I am proud of them more.

As far as plushies go, my huge Ganondorf doll. He’s become quite the celebrity at UK conventions and got a bit of attention at the Zelda 25thAnniversary Symphony last year in London.

Drawing wise, my Beetlejuice portrait from 2007 and realistic Jack Skellington. I sent prints of these to Tim Burton himself and was so pleased that he liked them and my artwork!

Nintendo Gamer: Why no Tingle love? Not that we blame you, sorry for reminding you of his perverse existence, but even Groose has seen your attention as of late so why no affection for the Rosy one?
It will happen, I promise you. Not sure when yet, but it will…it will.

Nintendo Gamer: What’s the hardest thing about starting and producing any piece of art, and fanart in particular.
Getting the idea and then putting it from brain to paper/plush/clay. Sometimes things don’t exactly work out as planned. For plush projects however it’s a little harder. Imagine it as cosplay in miniature. You have to go searching for the right materials for your doll, and it does take a lot longer than a clay piece or drawing, definitely.

Nintendo Gamer: Have you got any dream projects lurking in the back of your mind that you’re yet to start?
Oh I always do! Some of them are years overdue, too.

A dream project would probably consist of a cosplay though. Something I can spend a lot of time on (if I had it!)

Nintendo Gamer: What does your 3DS Streetpass Mii say?
My Mii says “^___^ Why hello!”

Nintendo Gamer: What words would you give any aspiring artists?
Keep practicing and love what you do. Your friends will always be there to help and guide you. If you aren’t part of an artistic community, I highly suggest being part of one. You’ll learn a lot from other people and more about yourself, too.

Nintendo Gamer: Lastly, what’s with the Ganon infatuation?He frequently visits Nintendo Gamer to judge Ganon’s Gallery, is it his love of fine art?
I have…no words. He’s just…um *blush* amazing.

My favourite Zelda character of all time. I just love him. My newest blog is a prime example of this! (You can find Donna’s new blog here: www.ask-mr-dragmire.tumblr.com)