@maglishnima

Instagram: @maglishnima

1. What’s your story? Where are you from?

Hi, my name is Ni Ma, I grew up in a Northern city in China named Taiyuan. Currently, I am studying in Savannah, Ga. My major was illustration, and I graduated in March 2020. With not many jobs on the market at the time, I decided to continue my study. So now, I am a motion media design student studying for a Master of Arts degree. 

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I always believe that art and design can change lives and make life better. I love to draw girls, flowers, and everything bright that bring a smile to people's face. I also love using illustrations to send positive energy to all viewers. I feel like this is what we need every day.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I love to draw on my iPad, using Procreate. It's very convenient to use it while watching TV or travelling around. I like to use drawing to relax, so using the iPad, I don't have to sit in front of the computer. 

4. What is your artistic process like?

Little things always inspire me in little, and maybe something watched on TV or some little items in real life. I like to write my ideas down first, collect them, and then draw those short sentences out as illustrations. 

5. Who and/or what inspires your work? 

My friends, and our conversation. Sometimes I feel my negative feeling only exists in me, and then through talking, I realized that everyone feels it, and we all need something to change the mood and turn negative to positive energy.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

I would say 80% of the time, I am dealing with art and design, it gives me a brain to solve the problem with the design, also make it better with art. When I look around, I always ask myself: what could be a better design than the existing ones, and could art make it even more beautiful?

7. Where did you study?

I am currently studying at Savannah College of Art and Design as a Motion graphic MA student.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would probably work full-time as a motion graphic designer, maybe working part-time as an illustrator.

9. What about in ten?

That's hard to tell. Mostly the same as the 5-year plan, but maybe I could be a freelance motion designer to work on anything I want.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

I don't wish for big achievements, changing the world is not my thing. I do hope my work could inspire and bring good mood for more and more people.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

Umm... that's hard, I love good and tasty food. I would say the food that I missed the most is my grandma's food. 

12. Favourite book?

Recently, my favorite book is Made for Love, a funny novel that is also a TV show now on HBO. Also, another book I think is very inspiring is True Style is What's Underneath, a collection of cool women and their choice of being themselves and wearing cloth as they are. 

13. Favourite genre of music? 

I am not professional with music haha, maybe Sam Smith plus rock music would be my thing if that makes sense to anyone. 

14. What are your hobbies? 

Jogging, cooking, and home DIY projects. I love doing little things that can switch my mood and take my mind off daily work. 

15. If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

I would probably be a real estate agent or a cook? These are two jobs I think are not that easy, but would also be fun.