Isis Sousa – Art Vampire, Illustrator, Painter

What is the best thing that I love about my work?
A) That is a tough question. I love creating worlds, moods, characters with both digital and traditional tools. Within each brush, pencil or ink stroke I am putting together the pieces of those beings and realities. I love being in flow – one with art, in the zone. It is a godly experience.

What is my idea of perfect happiness?
A) Happiness is balance. Having all that I need in life, having wonderful people in my life, being able to hear, feel, see, talk, walk, the simple things. Being able to appreciate and create art in its many forms and enjoy people’s companies and stories. Being able to appreciate nature, the weather, the moment.

What is my greatest fear?
A) I am fearless, except for one thing: I dread the thought that I can lose someone close to me, a family member, friend or someone I know. I have almost lost several of the closest people I have in life and experienced loss of a close family member a few years back. The pain of loss leaves marks.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
A) Not giving myself the right value. Many times I have undermined myself and recently I have been on a learning curve to outgrow that tendency.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?
A) There are so many great artists, so many wonderful people whose work I admire and I also had been fortunate to meet some of them personally or be friends on social media. They are many. The list is loooong, but I can name a few: Luis Royo, Brian Flora, Jama Jurabaev, George Hul, Col Price, Fausto and João de Martini, Kris Costa, Patrice Leymarie, Emmanuel Shiu, Eddie del Rio, Cris de Lara, Suzanne Helmigh, Ismail inceoglu, Raluca Fratean, and many, many more…

What is my greatest extravagance?
A) Existing.

On what occasion would I lie? 
A) To hold someone alive, or spare someone from extreme pain on a difficult situation.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
A) When the process has come to an end. I love the journey, when I come up with the ideas, the drafts, the process, and the finishing. I normally dislike my artworks once I am done with them.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?
A) When I have been free to take decisions and create, opposed to being micromanaged. Also when the stakes were high and when there were obstacles but despite the difficulties, I managed to deliver. 

If I could, what would I change about myself? 
A) I believe I can change anything I want in myself. So can anyone else. Right now I am working towards being more in tune with what I ‘really’ want in life.

What is my greatest achievement in work? 
A) Each work that I have done has been a stepping stone, the paveway to me being a better artist and person. My greatest achievement thus has been the journey so far, all the wonderful things I have discovered and skills I have acquired. The people I met and learned from.

Where would I most like to live? 
A) In a multicultural city, in a very small apartment, with only the essential.

What is my most treasured possession?
A) My brain.

What is my most marked characteristic? 
A) Hm… I hear people saying things like I am positive, supportive, that I have a cool style, that I get things done and change things to better… But I think my most remarkable characteristic is that I enjoy appreciating people and helping them if I can.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?
A) I live in a remote area amidst nature at the moment… But when I lived in a city, I loved being in museums, art galleries and parks 🙂

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?
A) Any place suitable or apt for the moment. But mostly, my home.

What books influenced my life and how?
A) Dracula, Frankenstein, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective people, many art books, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, The Secret, many books on psychology, leadership and self-improvement.

Who are my favorite writers?
Mary Shelley, Oscar Wilde, , Carl Jung, Nietzsche, John C. Maxwell, Robin Sharma, and so many others…

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?
A) Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth! Ha!

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
A) It sounds weird, I don’t have one specific fictional character I identify more with, however, in general, I love the dark, evil or grey characters, because they are the most authentic. While most ‘good’ characters are like cardboard archetypes, dull and boring. 

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
A) In my life circumstances… I don’t have any. However, I do find inspiration on my peers and in general, histories of people that overcome difficulties or those who are charitable, helping others.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?
A) Metropolis, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Blade Runner, LOTR,  there are so many great movies!

What role plays art in my life and work? 
A) There is no life without art. I don’t know where it ends and I begin.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? 
A) There have been different people, on different occasions of my journey. On each moment of my life, the universe has gifted me with beautiful, supportive human beings.

Whom would I like to work with in 2019? 
A) This is a tricky question, because I’d definitely like to work with certain companies, but I don’t know how they are in terms of culture, and certain artists I met briefly that seems nice but how are them to work on long term projects… In other words: I don’t care for big names, but how approachable, synergetic and supportive the person or company is.

Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2019? 
A) They are so many, basically everyone I admire and also most artists I have met before personally. I’d love to see them again!

What project, in 2019, am I looking forward to work on?
A)  I am looking forward to do some work related to films. I am looking forward to try that industry and see where that leads.

Where can you see me or my work in 2019?
A) You can check out my ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/isissousa and my website: http://isissousa.art Other than that, there are products being launched along the year such as CD’s and games, etc with my artworks on them! 🙂 Maybe I will be able to publish a new book as well.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?
A) As Robin Sharma says, this is ‘brain tattoo’. This is truth written in stone. A sacrament.

Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?
A) Suzanne Helmigh, Marta Nael, Sara Saeed, Jessica Rossier.

How can you contact me?
A) Via LinkedIn, ArtStation or my website.