Manga/Anime / Digital Media / Drawings&Paintings / Photoshop
Hello wonderful deviants out there!
Here I am again, and for the sixth issue of our bi-monthly interview series I bring to the spotlight the most loved twins of our Manga/Anime dA community: Valentina and Marina, aka Valentina-Remenar!
As many of you may know, they own a huge ammount of talent and their artworks are most completely stunning and considered by many being among the best art our community has to offer, and besides all that, they are really sweet and kind girls. Thanks for letting me interview you. 
I hope you guys like this, and right after this interview, don't miss the chance to drop by their page if you haven't already, and go through
their beautiful gallery
So, to the interview!
Please note: All the artworks featured on this article were chosen by the deviants themselves, and are considered by them their most meaningful pieces.
So, why don’t you start this interview presenting yourselves to our friends here and telling us a bit about you?
Firstly, thanks for choosing us for the interview. We feel delighted. 
Let's get back to interviewing 
Well, like some of you probably know, we're twins Valentina (who is mostly the one on dA) and Marina. Now we're 21 years old and we draw (and have been liking it) since we were 3 years old. And for the past 6 years we draw almost everyday. Yea, we're twins, but we don't look the same or act the same... we don't like the same things and even our art styles are different 
. I (Valentina) mostly draw anime (though I also draw realistic, matte paintings, semi-realistic...and 3D stuff sometimes). My sis Marina mostly draw traditional, lately also digital. She draws realistic and she likes black and white (she mostly have B&W pics)
"This one is special for me, cuz I drew it when I had health problems. So I went to hospitals all the time for few months, and from pills which I took I already started to hallucinate a bit. So I decided to make a character with dual personality."
Okay! Now let’s start the interview for good. Why did you choose the Manga/Anime style as your 'arting' style to begin with?
If you would tell me 3 years back that I'd draw anime drawings, I would just laugh 
As a kid I mostly drew realistic things, but around 2010 I decided to experiment with styles. I enjoyed the simplicity of anime style, but at the same time it looked awesome. So I tried to draw it, and I still enjoy it. When I drew realistic I was too bothered with details, so I never looked at figure and its anatomy. But with anime I didn't have to draw all the pores and wrinkles, so like that I learned a lot about creating a character and body figure. It helped me to not using references and I also mix it with other art styles 
On the follow-up of this question, what is your story with Digital art, and why did you choose to work with this media? And when it comes to Traditional, do you work ever work with it, or you're exclusively digital artists?
Hahaha...it's pretty funny. Few years back I even didn't know that digital art exists, cuz I mostly drew traditional whole my life. But I know how I drew with my mouse in MS Paint (these were my first steps into digital art)...slowly I started to use Photoshop, but I mostly did manipulations, cuz I didn't have a tablet. And when my dad saw how I struggled with the mouse, he surprised me one day with my first tablet (around 2007). And since then I draw digitally I love how you can draw digitally much faster. You can experiment more with techniques and I was never afraid to try something different (there's always Ctrl+Z option 
). In traditional, when I drew with oils, the progress was so slow, cuz I needed to let my paint to dry first and only then I could paint over. Like that my experimenting was limited, cuz I was too afraid that I would ruin my whole drawing which I drew so long. And yes...I still draw traditionally. I actually paint one canvas for far too long At college, sketches I also draw traditionally, so I'll never let that style completely
"After long time I drew animals again...and because I usually draw in my dreams I decided to draw one "dream" themed piece. And while I drew this I also combined Manga Studio with Photoshop, so I was impressed with each program's functions."
How was your journey into becoming who you are today, as an artist? Feel free to share any stories you might have, as well. 
Oh...long 
At the beginning (and now) I could sit for whole day painting only one drawing. Only that before I had patience of "3 days". If I didn't finish one drawing in that time limit, then I'd never finish it Now I learned to be more patient, so I can draw one drawing for months. But, it's always hard at the beginning. No one can change overnight. dA, community and friends which I found here inspired me over the years and I tried to be better. I listened critiques and tried too keep them in my mind while I painted my new stuff. Over the years I also "tested" my progress of painting... I simply repainted my old drawings and it was easiest way to see the results (and it's fun to see how you drew few years back while you compare it with new work ). And now we're honoured to have an opportunity to work with amazing people, companies, studios... and paint for them. Before we never imagined that we could achieve that.
It is said that digital art is “taking over the world”, per say, and it is indeed the medium used by most of the Manga/Anime artists nowadays. Many say it’s even easier to work with it than with traditional tools. Do you agree with that statement or not, and why?
In traditional...like I said before. Advantages are its originality, uniqueness and it's obviously that you have to spend for traditional work more time, so it's even more special. Disadvantages are the long drawing progress and for me (cuz I mostly draw digitally ) are hard fixing...like, when you mess up with pen somewhere, and there's no way how to erase that *hits with head into a wall* 
And diiiiiiiiiiigitally...Advantages are laaaaaaaaayers, Ctrl+Z, faster painting, easy tools, move tool (oh man, I wish that one would exist in real life...without scissors) 
...and I can count it for you till tomorrow But disadvantages are uniqueness, and that drawing only exists as an "image" on the screen. There is just original .jpg work which you have and when you print it, it just doesn't feel the same. So for me is kinda sad when I can't actually hold picture in my hands 
. And it's easier to steal, loose files like this (too many hackers tried to steal our works...not cool 
).
So, on the subject 'tools of the trade' . Which is your program of choice to do art, and why? Have you ever tried working with other programs besides this one, and if so, what's your opinion on them?
My first choice is Photoshop. I work in it for many years and it's just easiest for me to use. It was hard to learn to use it at the beginning, but after few months and years of experience is just the best for me. It has eeeeeeeeeverything And yes, I used many other programs also. Another great program is also Manga Studio. I just started to use it recently (it's similar to Paint Tool SAI) and I like how the brushes look like SAI ones and settings, options... look like in Photoshop (I never knew to use SAI, just cuz it was too much different than PS ). It's great for painting anime/manga. Also Corel Painter...it's really great program for achieving traditional look on digital paintings. Their brushes are simply perfect for that.
"This was my first matte painting... yaaaaaay. I never used textures before, but I always enjoyed in game concept arts and their matte paintings. So when I saw Tomb Raider contest I simply had to try this technique"
We'd like to know: how, and when have you found deviantART for the first time?
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeell...we found it around 4-5 years ago. I remember that we just watched some pics on the internet, and we clicked on this site. It seemed really cool, so after few days we decided to create an account This was first site where we ever created an account, so it was something special
On the topic of influences, what is the importance deviantART had to your art, since you joined this site as members?
When I firstly saw art on this site, it simply wowed me. When I saw how people around here can be so original and talented it simply must inspire you. Firstly I painted mostly by using references photos, but after what I saw here, I tried to make my own original work and I will never regret that decision.
"This was my first anthro piece which I ever did...so I'll never forget the experience while I drew it. And I must say...it was awesome."
"I did this for cover of my edited artbook. I rarely draw more than 2 characters in one piece, so I'm totally proud cuz I made something different. I remember how I struggled with composition, colors and overall look of this (it was landscape format first)."
"This painting I drew for poster, for Japanese event in Slovenia. It was my first painting which I ever did for poster so I was so happy when I saw this printed also "
As we can see, you have already gotten 7 Daily Deviations! You know, for the people who never had one, and also for those who already have one (or more), it is always interesting to know about how others feel when getting this prestigious feature. So, how was it for you? Did that help or motivate you in any way?
Yea...even we hardly believe sometimes But yea, it's really something special (I believe I speak for everyone who got a DD ). I'll never forget the day when we firstly got a DD. I simply posted my new art, and the next day when I checked account I saw huge amount of pageviews...alright...that was suspicious When I checked messages, then I saw huge amounts of faves and all congrats comments. Then the shock came 
I literary couldn't believe it...my hands were shaking and I can't express how happy I was Hahaha...it was so amazing. It absolutely motivates you. You want to make more and more art and you want to get better each time. Because of that I even decided to keep suggesting DD's and make other talented person featured and happier. I simply want to thank to all amazing people and CV's who suggested and featured our works Now on the creativity field… What inspires you to create, and where do you get ideas from? Also, I'd like you to tell us a bit about 'external motivations'. Friends, family, etc., do they motivate you in any way, artistically speaking?
EVERYTHING From movies, images, art all around dA, internet, games (like Final Fantasy, Devil May Cry, Assassin's Creed...just to name a few)...and much more. And of course they motivate me also...they motivate me while I make characters, their personalities...and I get motivation even from my drams. I dreamt so many times how I painted my paintings, sketches, drawings, how I looked in the sketchbooks...and only thing which I have to say it...someone have to INVENT CAMERA WHICH CAN RECORD DREAMS...that's my final
As I couldn't leave out of this interview, now it's time to ask about… Artists who influenced and inspired you! We all have them. On and off dA, tell us about them!
Now I try to design and make my next artbook (with tutorials) and also bunch of tutorials (image and Flash ones...aaaaaand video progresses). So these projects kinda take a lot of time till finish. I better not tell how many unfinished paintings I still have I can say that more than 30 (I lost count ) Ok, that's it! now, tell us something random about yourselves!
Hahaha...prepare for total random stuff Well, as twins we mostly fight with each other or laugh...every few minutes our mood changes, haha. Normally (in public) we're calm, silent persons...but at home...man, like that hell has opened 
When we don't draw we play electric guitar, or electric piano. We listen to rock, metal, classic, pop...almost all kinds of music. 
We study graphic design and we both don't like pink color (I don't know why I put it in my works though ). We like fantasy stuff, and Marina is totally obsessed with Assassin's Creed (when I say obsessed I toooooootally mean it 
).
Bonus question! Have you ever done a collab work between yourselves? And if yes, is it posted on dA, and if no, is that in your plans?
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeea...we did collabs. Few times actually. And it's on dA also. One of latest collabs were F A R E W E L L
and +colorful madness+ 
. Marina painted pieces and I did coloring and edits. Like I said before...she would leave them black and white We don't have similar style at all, so we rarely do collabs
Thank you so much Valentina-Remenar for your time to answer those questions, you rock! 
I hope you all liked the interview. 'Till next time!
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