Bored Panda reached out to Mohamed El Mayati with even more questions regarding him and his work! First, we asked if the artist perhaps was working on some new projects we could be looking forward to.
"I want to try out a new route with my comics and challenge myself with longer and more story-driven episodes with recurring characters and a constructed world. So besides this ongoing webcomic series, I’m working on a comic series titled 'Postboy Adventures', which revolves around a postboy in a fantasy medieval setting, in its most basic form. I plan on releasing several comic strips, encapsulated episodes that span several pages and a big story split up into chapters available as physical copies and on webcomic sites like Webtoons and Tapas. There is no release date yet, but I will post updates about the project on my social media."
We also wanted to know if the artist had a comic he was proud of, and we thought it was only fair if he'd share his thoughts with us!
"This is a hard one. There are some I really like, some I just like and some I’m not too proud of. But there is this one comic strip I titled 'Ambush' I really really like, for which I first planned on creating a series called 'LVLUP', with this mute, weak but compassionate knight and his dog, that basically 'LVLUP' with each new comic strip in some way. I never worked on it again, though, at the time it was too hard for me to do, I guess. Maybe he’ll return at some point."
Artists go through a few art phases trying to find the art style they could call their own, however, it seems like VeryCereals is pretty settled in that area, however, that doesn't mean the artist wouldn't like to try something new.
"I want to try oil painting at some point. The only painting I have done is digital painting so far, but I imagine, just like a pencil on paper, using real paint on a canvas feels way better than a stylus to display tablet. Also, I have thought about doing a big mural in my room."
Starting out with comics (or art in general) isn't easy, so we asked the artist if he had any tips to share.
"Don’t worry about it and just keep working. If I regret one thing, it’s the countless hours where I just dwelled on doing something but often went on not doing it. There were always these distractions I let myself indulge in, whether it was video games, watching TV shows, or stuff like that. I think I feared creating things that turn out bad, but that’s a crucial part of the process. So yeah, just keep on working on what you like, don’t get distracted, and don’t worry about what you want to create in the moment. Also, read comics and watch artists get inspiration. Take some time off sometimes, but not too often, be realistic about your goals. Go exercise and eat your veggies."
When it comes to people having opinions on his comics, here's what the artist thinks, "Sometimes I read a comic strip and think to myself 'oh, how clever!' It’s weird, these little comic strips can strike you out of nowhere. I want to hit readers with the unexpected, with this 'Aha' moment where you connect the dots and suddenly make sense of what’s going on."
For some people, art is not only a hobby, but something way more, something that helps them to cope with whatever life might throw at them.
"Making art has helped me find focus and gave me some room for myself. I grew up in a big family, so having a sheet of paper all by myself where I could fully decide on what it’s going to turn into was a crucial change of pace for my development as a teenager growing up, I believe. It’s also really relaxing after a long day of work."
