I'm a professional comic artist and illustrator specialising in the Anime/Manga style. My first graphic novel was Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (SelfMadeHero). My awards include Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) 2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Reader and Best Books for Young Adults 2008 for Romeo and Juliet ; Winner in Tokyopop's UK Rising Stars of Manga competition (2005/06) and Winner in NEO Magazine's 2005 Manga Competition. I designed the official Catgirl mascot for Wacom-Europe's Manga campaign. My artwork features prominently in the British movie, Popcorn (2007)and also on the set of Channel 4’s popular sitcom The IT Crowd. I contributed to Comic Book Tattoo (Image Comics), Tales inspired by the musician Tori Amos. I've been involved in many instructional art books often co-authored with Sweatdrop Studios, the leading UK comic collaborative. I'm a core member of the group and my works with Sweatdrop include Once Upon a Time..., Cyborg Butterfly and Satan's Amazon; and in the anthologies Sugardrops, Pink is for Girls and Drop Dead Monstrous.
Currently I'm working with Infinite Ideas on the Manga Life series of self-help comic books, the first two titles being Find True Love and Be Creative. I'm the artist for Aya.Takeo, a full-colour comic published weekly online from April 2007-2010.
I work in a variety of mediums including watercolour, pen and ink, screentone, alcohol colour markers, pencils and computer software. I've exhibited artwork in the Kyoto International Manga Museum, London County Hall, London Cartoon Museum, Japanese Embassy and the Manchester URBIS Centre and provided product demonstrations (on behalf of Copic, Letraset and Wacom).
For a full summary of my publications, visit my website and download my biography on PDF: http://fyredrake.net/Bio-Sonia.pdf
HUUUUUGE UPDATE 2009~03posted Mar 24th 2009, 2:34PM
Mood: About to EXPLODE!
Music: Exit Trance - Speed techno version of Give a Reason, Slayers
Darlings, I am so so sorry for not updating this. Bad Sonia. My excuse is that I got horribly busy in November, then horribly ill in December, then abroad for most of January, then ridiculously busy over February. Forgive me? Now then, a big summary about what's been happening over the past few months.
First off, comic updates:
The first print run of Once Upon A Time... totally sold out within 1 month. But no fears, the reprint has been sorted and it looks gorgeous ♥ 160 pages of shoujo goodness in tall digest size (5.5" x 8.5") for UK£5.99! You can buy it from our stand at any event from now on, or online now from http://www.sweatdrop.com/products/onceuponatime.php
The Love Stuffing prequel also sold out! Thank you!!! Sorry about the delay in release schedule for this, my illness in December really set me back. The graphic novel volume 1 official launch is London MCM May Expo, sneak peeks to be viewed at Minami. Set to 192 pages!
AyaTakeo volume 1 has been sent to the printers!! This is a 64 page FULL COLOUR THROUGHOUT, silk stock, B5 (large format) comic for dual launch at both the London MCM Expo in May and at Anime Boston. Very exciting. UK£8.99 or US$12.99
Other projects:
The "How Manga Took Over the World" exhibition is touring the UK! Formerly at the Manchester URBIS centre, it is now at the Hub in Northampton until the 3rd May!
Randomly and very awesomely, Channel 4's award-winning sitcom The I.T.Crowd season 3 features some of my artwork in Jen's office, look out for it from episode 3 onwards!
Event update! After the October London MCM Expo, I went to the Thought Bubble in Leeds on the 15th November - this was a very wonderful event, thank you to my (literally) hordes of screaming fans!! Then I attended the Grand Cosplay Ball at the Clapham Grand on the 30th November. It was AWESOME, I was so pleased that my cosplay was well received!! Then in late January I was sponsored by the British Council to give Manga workshops at the Children and Young Peoples' Book Fair in Athens, Greece. I worked with some amazing people and was bowled over by the warm welcome I received! And then I attended the star-studded New York Comic Con which was heaving with attendees! After that was the Japanese Art Festival in Richmond/London! So now you know how ridiculously busy I've been, hehe.
I'll be spamming you all with lots of artwork shortly... be afraid, be very afraid! I'll get all of my photoshoot stuff up first though
NOTICE TO ALL VISITORS:
I check my SheezyArt maybe twice a month because my ridiculous workload takes priority. I truly appreciate it when you leave comments or friend me, from time to time I will try and get through my inbox and visit your pages too. But don't expect an instant response!
If you really want to grab my attention, please email me directly (sonia@fyredrake.net), or visit the Sweatdrop Studios forums to chat to me there (http://www.sweatdrop.com/) or visit my Livejournal, and leave me a comment there (http://sonia-leong.livejournal.com/).
You have a lovely art style, and your manga is obvisouly so much better than mine, I shall be emailing you to get some more information on the website and learn more about your webstie Sweatshop Studios. I'm quite interested
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