Vikuha

My work is digital drawing rooted in anime and manga. It began with studies of eyes, a nose and a still life, moved through fan art of existing characters, and increasingly turned to characters of my own.

Those original characters are the centre of the work. Most are girls who are not quite human. They have horns, tails, antennae, wings, or a sheep's ears and wool, and they wear a mix of scene fashion, striped stockings and Lolita frills. I am interested in the point where something cute becomes unsettling: oversized or empty eyes, stitched mouths, limbs stretched beyond natural proportion, a pastel palette set beside a knife. The aim is ambiguity rather than shock: figures that draw sympathy and unease at the same time.

Technically, the work moves between two modes. Finished pieces use soft painted shading, saturated or pastel colour, and collaged textures to build atmosphere. Recent work is mostly linear: sketches and character designs where gesture, silhouette and costume carry the idea.

Throughout, drawing is both practice and play: a way to study form, to try out designs, and sometimes simply to make a joke.