Conducted by Bill Kendrick. Posted July 8, 2023.

About Nana

What's your name?

I go by Nana or Nyuji! My current handle for social media is NYANAB00 :3

How old are you?

I'm an adult in my early twenties!

What do you do for a living?

I'm currently a student in Univesity studying Multi-media Arts.

Do you have other artistic endeavors?

I like to sew! Have been doing so since I was in grade school since I wanted to own some plushies I couldn't get a hold of at the time.

What are your other hobbies?

I'd like to think I'm something of a gamer when I manage to get the time. Most of that gaming time goes into Hello Sweet Days, a little dress-up and interior decorating game that I play everyday. I also like to read books, manga, and fanfiction! Another significant hobby that I do is journalling; which makes up a large part of my sketchbooks I must admit. Really fun!

Where can people find you online?

• Twitter - @NYANAB00
• Tumblr - https://www.tumblr.com/nyanab00

🖼 View Nana's artwork in the Tux Paint Gallery

Discovering and Using Tux Paint

How and when did you first learn about Tux Paint?

I discovered it when I was in Fourth Grade during my first computer class. When the class would be done with our typing exercises, we were given free rein to use any other app in our free time until the class officially ended. I would cycle through every app until I landed on Tux Paint; an app I didn't recognize. As I played around with it, I fell in love; especially with how noisy it was. It was my favorite past time, I looked forward to it after every computer class. :3

Did you stop using Tux Paint and come back to it later?

I didn't really have access to computers other than those in the lab. When I got older and had computer classes again, I didn't see Tux Paint in the computers at school anymore, leading me to eventually forget about it. I believe around 2020, I found a TikTok of someone drawing on Tux Paint. The memories rushed back to me, prompting me to go and check it out. At the time, I was looking for fun programs to draw in my spare time that seemed interesting to me. Imagine my delight when I found out it was still being maintained and the fact that it's on so many platforms! It was as fun as I remembered too so I felt it was awesome to have it on both my iPad and my Android phone.

How do you usually interact with Tux Paint?

I use my phone and stylus, my XP-PEN screen tablet, and my iPad! Really fun to draw with them.

What are your "go-to" tools in Tux Paint?

I have to immediately nominate the new paint-mixing feature as my favorite tool. I base my whole process on traditional painting methods for digital work so it was awesome to see a feature like that. The eyedropper is really neat when I'd like to blend colors. The brushes I like to use are both hard and soft round brushes. Other tools that I like to use are the magic tools; particularly the Noise, blocks, 3D glasses, bloom, and color separation! I actually find their utilization here to be super fun and honestly, much better than even some 'professional' programs that I use.

Is there something you wish Tux Paint could do that it can't?

I think Tux Paint is perfect the way that it is and wants to be. Not too complicated, easy to understand, and very accessible! It's not too busy or overwhelming to get to know. Tux Paint is just very inviting and my little sister likes it too! 10/10 would have dinner with again.

What other kinds of art tools do you use?

I use pencils, pens, markers, highlighters, crayons, watercolors, and acrylic paint! I don't know if that's all of it but if I can make something out of it, I can probably list it down as a tool to use. I try to be flexible in the mediums that I use no matter the 'restrictions' there are.

Do you ever edit your Tux Paint art in other drawing programs or vice-versa?

I don't edit them aside from that one time that I did but I found that the way I drew in Tux Paint looked better so I never considered it again. There's just a charm in Tux Paint and the lack of the "usual" art program features that bring out the best in me I feel.

What tips or tricks would you like to share with other aspiring artists?

Just have fun with it! Tux Paint is THE program to experiment and test all sorts of things with all the tools and features that it has! Don't think about it too much and just create what you FEEL like making!

What piece of art, or other creation, are you most proud of?

This is my favorite one that I've made so far! A bit old but I really like how I painted here. Plus it's my favorite character, Itadori Yuji!

Style and Inspiration

What would you call your art style?

In Tux Paint, I like to think it's kid core aesthetic. As for my more "regular" art styles, I don't actually know how to describe them >< I've been told it can be "dreamy" and decorative! But my art style is just all over the place! I like a lot of things after all.

Are there certain topics or fandoms that you like to focus on in your art?

Just anything that I'm interested in at the moment. Jujutsu Kaisen is a long time interest now, and it hasn't gone away after 2 or 3 years. Stardew Valley is my more current interest! However, at the time of writing, my favorite fandom to draw for is Hello Sweet Days, the dress-up mobile game I like to play. I love drawing not only my own outfits but, also the outfits of the community and my friends. Every fit that people come up with is so cute and so so very fun to draw!

What artists do you look up to?

I look up to Komunhorangi, Jie Finch, Pako-San, BWUsagi, Kimeyngo, PrawnSun, and Daifei! They all have such nice and vibrant colors in addition to stunning lines. I just aspire to make such lovely artwork like them.

Have you ever published or exhibited your art?

I've had my artwork exhibited in the Blanco Family Museum once, which is awesome! My teacher was Peter Paul Blanco and it was really neat that my skill was recognized by someone as cool and amazing as him; especially after knowing how young the skill in the family is exhibited. They really know their stuff!

Wrap-up

If you could interview me, or someone else who works on the Tux Paint project, what would you ask us?

How are you guys so awesome?!

Bill: I think because we don't take it too seriously!

"Hanguin"

"Nanami"