Zoe, the main character of Gemma’s The Witch of Taora, colored by her with Copic markers.
Gemma Sara d'Aniello
A driven manga artist and illustrator with a background in set design and a passion for the Persona series.
1. What drives you to create stories?
I like the feeling of creating new characters and universes where anything can happen.
2. What inspired the story published on Chronicles?
The story was written by someone else, but the idea was to create a story set in Italy, with a flawed protagonist readers could relate to and to have an intruiguing mystery to solve.
3. Describe your process for creating a character, including what you start with, what inspires you, and what challenges you.
It is important for me to understand the character’s personality so that I can convey the intended feeling through the drawing. I like to find at least one distinctive feature that makes the character recognisable at a glance. This is usually the shape of the face, the hairstyle or the outfit. I find clothes difficult to draw, which is why I have a personal gallery containing many different styles of clothing for inspiration.
4. What tools do you use the most?
I work digitally, so a graphic tablet and an iPad. On paper, I work a lot with ink and markers.
5. What kind of scenes move you the most when you’re drawing?
I am most engaged by scenes where the character experiences negative emotions, which must be reflected in the drawing.
6. Your main sources of inspiration right now:
Manga is still my biggest source of inspiration. After that, it’s definitely books and films, particularly psychological thrillers and horror.
7. Who would you choose to collaborate with if you could work with a Japanese professional artist / writer?
That would certainly be Katsura Hoshino!
As an illustrator, Gemma has worked on covers such as the Limited Edition Manga Version of Dungeon Slayers+
8. What do you want to convey with the story you’re publishing on Chronicles?
I’m not interested in conveying a particular emotion. I’m satisfied if the story sparks curiosity and is enjoyable to read.
9. How do you deal with work stress and creative blocks?
I find it helpful to make a list and use the ‘tomato method’ to tackle a large workload. When I’m feeling uninspired, I look for sources of inspiration, such as images, stories, music or movies. If that doesn’t work, I go shopping!
Gemma using Copic markers to complete a personal illustration.
10. Describe one of your typical workdays. Do you have any rituals to help you immerse yourself in the creative process? Is there a specific place or type of music that helps you?
I need a clean and organised workstation, so before a long work session, I clean the house first. All I need then is a table, an electrical outlet and access to tea. I find music essential for concentration and usually go for soundtracks, musicals and rock/grunge.
Gemma is not fond of having an online presence, but you can follow her on Instagram!
After graduating from the European Manga Academy and attending a short study trip in Tokyo, Gemma joined the Academy again – in a teaching capacity.
Although this takes away from her free time, she has created short stories and worked with others on projects she believes in.
You can read the published ones here:
• Sirenya (volume 01)
• Yuriko Tiger (volume 01 of the project that originated her Chronicles story)
Although Gemma is camera-shy, she is known to be an amazing teacher. She easily sparks a class’s enthusiasm with her passion, making learning that much easier. She has contributed to several volumes in the Manga Drawing Course series published by Hachette and, even before that, has recorded online tutorials to share with the public during the pandemic.
Coloring techniques:
• How to color different skin tones: watch (subtitles available)
• How to color manga-style eyes: watch (subtitles available)
• How to color different hair styles: watch (subtitles available)
Drawing techniques:
• How to draw a female character’s face: watch
• How to draw a male character’s face: watch
Speed drawings:
Copic realistic style technique – Copic anime style technique – Holiday card