On Tuesday, July 23, 2013, Manic Street Walkers (MSW), a walking club that is part of c2o’s regular programming, explored Kampung Arab Surabaya. Inspired by this activity, Nitchii, an illustrator from LOS (Surabaya Illustrator Collective), churned out a few fun illustrations about Kampung Arab. With her friend Tinta, the club leader of Manic Street Walkers, she also created a map of the walking path. What is the process behind the making of these illustrations? How can Nitchii transform various visualizations from these walks into illustrations? Check out our interview with her!

Can you tell us a little bit about each of the illustrations? We’re interested in your interpretation of the walking activity.

It was my first time walking together with MSW. Actually, I have done a lot of trips to the Ampel Religious Site. Usually, I’m either just passing by or spiking my cholesterol with baked lamb. However, I experienced many new things by walking around together with MSW.

1. Fish Market
It has a very similar feel to pasar kaget (seasonal market), where market activities, traffic, and daily life all blend into one. While we were walking along Jl. Sasak, we were welcomed with rows of basins and bowls bountifully filled with seafood. The buyers and vendors bantered and haggled with one another while a little kid showered outside her house and cats roamed around freely. It was very unique. I think that as long as our life is not threatened by incoming motorcycles/cars, almost every moment is a “Kodak” moment. :p

2. Maduranese
In Java (and maybe everywhere in Indonesia), this view can be commonly seen in the evening around 3-4pm: The kampung (urban village) kids finish their showers, and their mothers excessively apply powder on their face and body. They play in groups with their peers while their mothers sit by their side feeding them their evening meals. I always enjoy this view.

While we were walking along Jl. Kalimas Timur, I saw four Maduranese children, each of them was wearing thick eyeliner, which is characteristic of female Maduranese. They were also wearing nice dresses. All of them were sitting prettily on the banks of the river next to a young mother. I like the motif, the color, and the combination of the clothes that they wore.

3. Food
Food is, of course, my favorite subject! This sketch is just to acknowledge and report the things I ate together with my MSW friends. For me, all four of those meals were delicious!

4. MSW
An ode to MSW! You guys rock!

5. Map
My first collaboration with Tinta!!! Tinta made the map while I added the illustrations.

6. Langgar Sagipoddin
From the outside, this place looked tiny and dirty. However, as soon as we entered inside I was mesmerized. We saw an old lady chanting a prayer, illuminated by the evening sun rays that entered from the large windows and the rock stairs. It really made the building look dramatic.

How about the process? Did you make the sketches while you were walking, by using your memory only, or by using pictures?

For someone who often forgets like I do, taking pictures and notes while walking is the smartest combination. Pictures for the visual, and notes for details, information, and stories behind the scene.

You seem to use a lot of watercolor paint? Do you use other mediums? Can you explain the steps, from “observation” to sketch making to the finished illustration?

Yep, I just use watercolor paint. The steps are quite regular. I use my cell phone camera to document interesting things (or even the uninteresting things). After the trip, I review my photo collection, because sometimes you miss things. For example, the architectural details that went unnoticed during the walk, etc.

Do you recommend making a sketch at the spot?

Sure, if you want to. Live drawing is the best! But for me, let’s just be practical. Sometimes, we won’t be able to find a spot conducive for making live drawings during our trip.

Do you have any tips and tricks that you can share during this adaptation process?

• Use a sketchbook with a thick cover. It will come in handy when you can’t find a desk or drawing pad.
• Bring some drawing kits.
• Don’t be overly ambitious (for example: don’t aim to sketch a finished drawing complete with shading and color, etc). Drawing is capturing a moment. Don’t let the moment disappear because you’re too focused on your paper.
• The small things can capture the heart. Don’t forget to include the small details from the surroundings.

What object is the most interesting to draw while walking and sketching (human interest, food, architecture, others)?

It could be anything. Anything that I see, feel, and experience (including chewing) can be an idea for a drawing.

You previously worked in an office until 2012. Since then you have become a full time illustrator and designer with your own brand. Can you share your experience, tips and tricks for surviving as a full time illustrator/designer?

In 2012, I resigned from a creative agency and braced myself to be a self-proclaimed freelance illustrator and designer. After more than 5 years as a salaried office worker, I experienced a tremendous joy, especially in regards to time. For a couple of months, I excitedly fattened my portfolio. It’s a good thing, as long as we’re disciplined.

Here are some things I do:

1. Fix your schedule
I decide my working hours every day and follow them. It might sound simple, but it’s not as easy as it seems, at least, for me (hehe). It doesn’t have to be very strict, I can still be flexible. If there’s no looming deadline, I set my schedule for four working hours a day. But if a deadline is near, sometimes I sacrifice my sleeping hours.

2. Online Portfolio
From here, I can make new friends, receive invitations for collaborations, and even get local and foreign clients.

3. Online Job/Freelance Site
There are a lot of sites with thousands of companies that are looking for creative services that are open opportunities for everyone to contribute. With a pitching system, they provide quite a short deadline. But if my work is selected, the nominal fee is not bad. For example: freelancer.com, odesk.com, elance.com, sribu.com, etc

4. Plenty of exploration
Come on, we’re no longer restricted in time and are free to do anything. It’s be a good idea to spend some time being more adventurous and doing a lot of fun projects with new friends. We can learn new things and produce new works that we didn’t expect before.

How do you think Surabaya compares to other cities (for example: Yogyakarta)?

Speaking from the perspective of art and the creative scene, I think Surabaya is a “still-figuring-it-out” city. We are already aware of the ‘progress’ of other creative cities. However, in terms of the execution, there are still only a few that are willing to do it independently. As an industrial/metropolis city, Surabaya’s way of thinking is still stuck on only appreciating the material form. We have not thought about the purpose of making art. Aside from all that, Surabaya has great potential to grow. There needs to be a lot of hands and heads involved to realize and achieve this.

Interested in making more illustrations based on the surroundings?

Most definitely!

This English version edited by Joseph Taylor.

This post is also available in: Indonesian