Welcome to the brand story of akumarations!

I am a freelance digital artist based in Sydney that makes little fan merchandise of my favourite games and entertainment from childhood to adulthood! These include Final Fantasy, Nier: Automata and many more soon to be released after I finish con tabling in March! (Kirby, Card Captor Sakura, Gintama, Barbie, Pikachu, Ponyo & Poppy Hill)

As a child, I have always felt the magic of animation and how much it meant to me growing up. Fast forward to the adult I am now, I believe the magic is still here within me. That's why when I worked hard enough on my art skills, I finally found the courage to open my online store for the world to see the fruits of my labor. I work mainly on Sai Paint Tool but I have also recently learnt how to use Clip Studio Paint & Affinity Designer. Finding my own 'style' was certainly the hardest part of my journey but the power of the internet has allowed me to go on all different platforms (e.g. Twitter, Instagram) to gather the inspiration I need!

I started off with a Storenvy store (now moving on to Etsy!) and it has really opened me up to countless possibilities I have never dreamed of ever being able to have. I was able to use the experience I had with managing an online store to table at my very first convention in 2019 successfully! It was not always smooth sail but I can certainly say that the things you learn will be so much of use to you that you can use them throughout your lifetime!

The many hours of setting up the storefront, getting my very first orders, packaging them nicely then sending them off to their new homes is something no educational institute I believe can offer. It is one of the most valuable things I have ever learnt in the 24 years of being on this earth. There is just something so special about being hands on from start to finish. I have learnt that to sustain as a freelance artist, you require not just art skills but how to be a good business man/woman is just as important.

It has also allowed me to discover my truest passion in design & packaging as I have always enjoyed coming up with quirky ways to pack gifts for my family and friends. All products in my online store are hand packed by me from start to finish and it really is one thing I find that makes me truly happy. There is nothing more heartwarming when a customer messages me saying how much love they feel when receiving my package and that is what keeps me going. I think the world needs more love from person to person and I am thankful every day for all the support I have received both financially and non-financially.

With the progress you see now, I really have come a long way from where I started. When all my peers were going straight ahead to university after high school, I chose to take a detour and decided to work on my own self. I was met with a lot of criticism but I knew I needed to believe in my own intuition. I hope anybody reading this can feel reassured that there is always a reason why you chose the path you walk on now. Every little action you take no matter the size can lead to unimaginable opportunities and experiences.

I was also very honored to lead a zine consisting of 40 artists and cosplayers all around the world called [STARCROSSED Lunoct Zine] and again, having the previous online store experience has really equipped me well to handle real life project scenarios. From there, I learnt how to manage a large group of people, make sure I communicate my vision to them well and how to ensure each participant comes out feeling satisfied and respected in their roles. Opportunities like this that happened just because I took the courage and opened up my online store was like a threaded needle continuously threading new chances for me to explore and grow as an artist & leader.

Although I may not have any certificates, diplomas or degrees in my field, I believe that there are always different routes to reach your final desired destination. I hope that through my story I can inspire everyone and not just young girls & boys that there is never a set path or time needed to reach the goal you wish to obtain. I've learnt that there is no need to fear whether you are 'on the right path' or not as there really is no right or wrong in this world and thinking it only does so. The very fact that you have the goal in mind is already a good indication that your brain's search engine is already in process. Never feel bad that you take longer to 'buffer' as you are merely loading a clearer image of your future. I too am still on the journey hoping to make something solely of my own someday or even become a concept artist, a game developer and an inspiration to aspiring artists. Let's all keep striving for our goals and surely we will see to our ultimate destinations very soon!