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WHO AM I

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Jayd "Chira" Aït-Kaci

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Quick and Nerdy:

Taurus | Fire Rabbit | INFJ

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Long and Pretentious:

A Berber/Venezuelan mix agender millennial born in Austin, Texas, grew up in Paris, France, and currently residing in Vancouver, Canada.

I'm perpetually learning about history so I can make sense of my future. When I was young I wanted to grow up to be an anime, and unfortunately I succeeded. As a kid I learned astrology in intense detail just so I can play Final Fantasy Tactics better. I think the secret to world peace is through cheesy 80's synth friendship power ballads and shounen openings. I am destined to own a chow chow and I will love that dumb face with all my heart.

My only goal in life was to not be an artist under any circumstances, so clearly I'm nailing it and know exactly what I'm doing.

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What I Do:

I'm an independent artist.

The majority of my time and attention is devoted to my original work. The label Little Foolery is a collaborative venture between myself and writer Alex Singer, best friend and creative partner of many years now. I love her writing, and I ended up making it a mission to convince you to love it too.

Flagship Little Foolery titles I draw for include Sfeer Theory, Libertus Rubedo, Small Town Witch, and Song of the Bull Rider -- and there's many more besides that. Please check them stories out.

I regard fan art as a very fun and low stakes ground to practice, study, and experiment. I very often do fan art to warm-up or cool down between my artistic assignments, or just because I really like to celebrate the things that entertain and delight me.

I do commercial freelance on occasion, though most of my paid work is NDA. I don't often have a lot to share in this regard, but it keeps me busy. Most of my freelance work is being an on-demand satellite assistant concept/design merch artist to various studios and projects. Less frequently, I do illustrations or comics for hire.

If you're interested in hiring me, please know: I'm very rarely available for new clients, I am avoidant of long-term full time commitments and tight deadlines, and I am expensive -- but if all that doesn't deter you then please feel free to take a chance and inquire me with your project pitch.

When my schedule isn't dedicated to drawing, I make myself available for a one-on-one mentorship for artists looking to workshop improvement in their work, or a different and healthier approach to their process. Scope that out if you're interested.

That's about it.

Thank you very much for taking interest in me and my work.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Q: What are your preferred pronouns?

I encourage she/her as default, but I am also all right with they/them.

Q: How do you pronounce your name? Where is it from?

Jayd : "JADE"
(my parents wanted to be unique)

Aït-Kaci : "AH-EET-KAH-SEE"
(It’s Algerian)

Q: Where did your nickname “Chira” come from?

It’s the nickname I gave myself when I was a young'un clicking around the internet. It stuck.

Q: Which name do you prefer being called?

I go by either Jayd or Chira equally.

Jayd is my legal name, Chira is my pen name. Basically, this means all my freelance work and official publishings are credited under my legal name, and my pen name is associated with my personal/fandom work.

How people address me typically is dictated by which avenue they were introduced to me by, but it's entirely your preference which name you prefer to use with me.

Q: What are your astrology signs?

• Ascendant Scorpio
  
• Sun Taurus
  
• Moon Virgo
  
• Mercury Taurus
  
• Venus Aries
  
• Mars Gemini

Q: What art programs/tools do you use?

I use a 8x6” Wacom Intuos 3 tablet, I draw primarily in openCanvas 4.06E Plus, and color in Adobe Photoshop CS6.

I tend to use the default brush settings available in both of these programs, but occasionally use Kyle T. Webster’s brushes.

Q: Can I repost your work?

No.

Please do not repost my artwork on any social media or compilations without direct written permission.

Additionally, do not use my art for videos or projects (even non-profit) without direct written permission.

If you are unsure how to share my work, then please contact me first to clarify.

Q: Do you mind if I use your art for reference?

I don't mind being used for personal studies at all, but when publicly displayed please be considerate and source if heavily used for reference.

If used for academic homework, please cite me appropriately.

Q: Did you go to art school?

I'm fully self-taught. The most formal creative education I've had was three months of animation (just long enough to draw my bouncing ball!) before I dropped out and never looked back, and that’s about the beginning and end of my art studies.

Ironically, I've quit or dropped out of every attempt at art training in my life.

Q: Do you work in animation?

Nope. Never have. Not even a little bit. But I'm determined to convince you otherwise.

Most of my industry/studio experience has been through merch concept and design.

Q: What is your art process like?

I'm a big believer in structure and method to cope with how nitpicky I am by nature.

You're always welcome to subscribe to my picarto channel and catch how I draw in real time when I stream. I listen to rad music.

Q: How long does it take you to draw?

The actual labor of creating/drawing/etc, I'm actually pretty fast.

However, the creative experience of being a neurotic obsessive compulsive perfectionistic artist, it's a roll of the dice.

Basically, I work fast, but I'm creatively slow.

I stopped pretending deadlines exist a long time ago.

Q: Your gestures and character acting is so expressive, how do you achieve that?

After a bit of time teaching how to evoke emotional vibrancy in art to other people I've just accepted it's because I overthink literally everything to a degree that is perhaps a touch egregious.

Q: How do you keep yourself motivated and confident about your art?

I remember when I was 5-6 years old staring at all the animation and comics and illustrations for hours and hours. The gulf between my crayon drawings and the art that mesmerized me seemed so wide it seemed like two different dimensions of reality. Magic.

I often sit at my desk thinking: "I'm drawing the art that would've blown that little kid's mind."

It's really hard to be down on your work when you know so deeply a younger you would've been your biggest fan. I work hard to impress that kid, you know? Her opinion on my work is the only one I care about.

Q: How do you deal with art blocks?

I've stopped believing art blocks exist after I realized if I was given the choice to draw or do anything else, I literally have always chosen drawing. If my number one obsession to my life is art, then the times I don't want to do it or can't do it means it's for a very good reason, and I'm hurting myself ignoring it.

So, I put my pen down and I take care of myself. I know I'll be back to work as soon as I'm okay enough to.

Q: Would you be willing to look at my art and tell me what you think?

I don't offer critiques openly, but I do offer a mentorship workshop experience.

If you're interested in hiring me to tutor you for your artistic improvement or creative healing, please contact me.

Q: Any general art advice you can offer?

Do everything you can to remember creating is supposed to feel fun and exciting. It's easy to forget. Remind yourself if you do.

Q: I have a question that isn't answered in this FAQ?

Contact me! I'll do my best to answer!