Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stavroula Zigouris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stavroula , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I really enjoy telling stories which explore the relation between the human and inhuman; a theme which I believe has stuck with me all my life through my fascination with mythology. It is an elusive theme but it keeps transforming as I mature and open myself to more knowledge and experience. Apart from my main career goals, my dream is to one day create a series of graphic novels in which I can fully embrace that theme and build a story, world and characters around it. I’m currently still in the conceptual stage, but I believe the time will finally come where the last page will finally be completed. I’d say that this series of graphic novels is also what I hope my creative legacy will be; but I definitely have a very long way to go.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Stavroula and I am a Greek visual development artist based in Los Angeles, California. Specifics to my profession include the creation of characters, creatures, props, environments, as well as story beats all with the purpose of enforcing compelling storytelling for the world of entertainment; but the storytelling topic I like to explore most revolves around designing the human and inhuman, and the relationship which binds and separates the two.

Growing up in Greece, I was exposed to the mythology of my culture from a very young age through school. My fascination for all things mythical cultivated to an obsession with beasts and fantastical creatures of all kinds, eventually allowing me to explore the best way to bring my creations to life. Illustration after illustration, I just wouldn’t stop drawing and painting silly little dragons; but that could only take me so far.

I eventually moved from Greece to California with my family right when I was entering my Sophomore year of high school. I remember the week before school began I also signed up for the Art Center College of Design teens program and took my first character design class. I fell in love; I realized just how much more I could enrich my creative ambitions and most importantly, how I could turn this into a future profession. Just three years laters, I joined Art Center as a college student and recently graduated as a visual development artist for games and live action, still obsessed with all things mythical. What I hope to offer to my clients are thoughtful and fantastical assets which challenge the way we design fantasy.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

When it came to building my technical, conceptual, and presentation skills, my education at Art Center was pivotal to my experience; but a resource I wish I had learned about earlier in the game would be networking. After entering my senior year, attending more graduation shows, and learning from graduates as well as mentors, made me realize that you can have the greatest skillset or brand in the world; but it means nothing if you know no one. Not just knowing people, but also understanding how to navigate yourself around the industry you wish to enter. I find myself struggling with networking as a recent graduate, and I really wish I knew to cultivate this skill maybe two years back. Even as a senior, it took time to build familiarity and less intimidation around approaching professionals or even just asking for help.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Every single time I draw something or witness the art of others, I realize that artists and creatives are quite super. We tend to take such things for granted, but if you think about it, taking an idea from your head and materializing it through any medium is actually a miracle. Like many artists, I tend to beat myself down whenever I make mistakes or feel stuck; but then I remember that being an artist is so much more than that. Art is soulful, thoughtful, cultural, emotional and ingrained in every aspect of our lives. It’s extremely important and without artists and creatives, our world would be bleak. The fact that I can draw in order to bring my stories and characters to life is what makes art rewarding to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stavieart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stavieart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavieart

Image Credits

Mei Kobayashi