Bored Panda reached out to Esther to learn more about the evolution of her comics, the comic’s name, and more.
It's been a while since we had miss.pad_thai comics featured on our page, so we asked Esther to tell us what has changed. “I think that my style has gotten more detailed and colorful over the years. I have also changed my work tool to an iPad (I started inking by hand with rotrings and paper, scanning and finishing it on the computer, while today I draw almost everything digitally). The topics have also evolved a little bit (just like my life). Before, I used to make more comics about couples because I lived with a partner, now I live on my own, and I focus more on other day-to-day things, friends, plants, hobbies... My comics are still humor-based, exploring day-to-day situations, that’s for sure,” shared Esther.
The name 'miss.pad_thai' is quite distinctive and intriguing. We were curious to learn the story behind the name and if it holds any special significance to Esther. She wrote: 'Miss Pad Thai' is a nickname that a hotelier gave me in Thailand while I lived there for a few months, just before moving to Barcelona. I used to eat pad thai almost every day (it's a Thai food dish) and he was very amused that I liked it so much that he named me that. Every time he saw me appear at the door of the hostel he smiled at me and called out: 'Miss Pad Thai!! Miss Pad Thai!!'. In the end, I took affection for the nickname. I chose it for the Instagram account because I didn't know what else to pick. I didn't think that it would end up becoming the name of my character, but the truth is that I'm happy that it is, and I think it fits.”
Esther also shared how she finds the balance between keeping the comics light-hearted while still depicting the ups and downs of life in a relatable manner: “I think that the way I see the world helps and also all the influences from art that I had throughout my life. I enjoy seeing the humor in everyday situations that many of us share, so I try to make comics that bring a little joy and make us laugh more at ourselves or at the face of those little day-to-day dramas.”
We were also curious to know how Esther approaches the creative process of crafting a new comic. She replied: “Firstly, I dedicate time to thinking a lot and getting ideas from experiences or from what I see or think. When something occurs to me that I think is funny, I write it down on my mobile or in a notebook. Then I draw mini sketches that help me visualize those ideas as comics, and I don't stop until I have a 'visually powerful' schematic drawing with annotations. At that point, I draw the idea in pencil in much more detail on paper, and from there, I transfer it to the iPad to ink digitally.”
Webcomics provide a unique platform for artists to reach a global audience. Therefore we asked Esther to tell us how the online community and feedback from her readers influenced her work and her growth as an illustrator.“The truth is that they influence the work a lot. For example, with their comments online they can inform the merchandise I decide to create, as even the stories I cover with my comics.
Over the years, you get to know your community (those who really value your work, especially those who have followed you from the beginning). Well, just by their reactions and interactions you end up knowing what they like, their favorite topics, what they don't like so much... In addition, they comment on each Instagram comic, and they give me their opinions and share their experiences with me, you get to know their background and be more connected to the audience directly. So in the end, almost unintentionally, they influence what you do a lot, because you want to make them happy and still have their support. Also, they have helped me improve many things over the years and to be aware of some bad ideas/comics, they have given me wise lessons, and that helps me grow as a person.
The different platforms influence how I present my comics visually. I began uploading to TikTok recently, and it’s very different. I think that creators like me need to adapt to the different social media platforms because similar to real-life experiences, the presentation influences everything too,” shared Esther.
And lastly, she added: “Follow and support my work if you like it on Instagram or TikTok. Thank you.”
