Name: Susan Estelle Kwas
Location: Milwaukee
Website: www.susanestellekwas.com

How about a brief introduction?
I’ve illustrated eight books for children. I also teach illustration part time at the art school here. I like to spend time drawing in my journal, riding my Electra, watching movies and seeing more of the world whenever I get the chance.

What made Gocco so special for you?
The design of the gocco printer is so elegant. Its ease of use is Japanese design brilliance. Gocco limits the mess and commitment. I can hatch an idea and a couple of fun, fast hours later, I have a new image.

Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share?
I read this tip from a fellow on Flicker and I’m afraid that I can’t credit the idea properly. When using the foamy blocking material, put down a sliver of Scotch tape first. It peels up off the screen easily and makes clean-up a million times easier. Also, I think it’s important to let a gocco BE what it is…. delight in the imperfections of the image.

What’s your biggest accomplishment to date?
Hmmmmm-maybe just being able to live as an artist but, I’ve had tons of help.

Share something random with us!
My horoscope said I can talk the birds down from the trees, I’m going to try that today.

Name: Amaranta Martinez aka Piktorama
Hometown: Caracas
Location: Miami
Website: www.piktorama.com

How about a brief introduction?
Piktorama is a colorful person, an artist, illustrator, a good friend and a good big sister. All of those things make her happy. That’s what inspires her to make her magic, detailed and playful world come to life. Favorite things to draw are patterns and cupcakes. She is from Caracas and loves chocolate.

What made Gocco so special for you?
What makes Gocco so special is that is very crafty and you really have to get your hands dirty. Is like being a kid again, just have fun and it doesn’t really matter if is not perfect, because you’ll always get a beautiful result.

Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share?
The best tip is play, play, and play and not only follow what you have in mind. You wouldn’t believe all the amazing results you can get if you experiment with different materials and many inks at the same time. Just try to have fun and relax!

What’s your biggest accomplishment to date?
All the amazing people that love my work and they the take time to share it with me. It’s very fulfilling to receive an email with amazing words from people all over the world. That’s what inspires me and helps me to create more work.

Share something random with us!
I’m having twins… ooops! TMI? jeje 🙂

Name: Moira Millman
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Website: www.moiramillman.co.uk

How about a brief introduction?
I’m an illustrator living in the Cambridgeshire countryside with my illustrator husband and our grey and white cat. I love to create quirky and colourful illustrations using my favourite tools of pencil, scanner and Mac. I’ve been illustrating for many years but have only recently started making prints from my designs to sell online. I’m inspired by 1950’s and 60’s design and I’m an avid collector of pottery, books and ephemera and enjoy searching for vintage ‘treasure’ in charity shops and antique markets. I also love to drink copious amounts of rooibos tea and eat too much dark chocolate!

What made Gocco so special for you?
It’s a great little machine and the process is fun with a little frustration thrown in! I love the quality of the prints and the process is also quite addictive, I can’t wait to start printing some more designs…

Any tips on using a Gocco that you’d like to share?
I always use the blue filter with a photocopy to burn my screens and I use kids glue spreaders to apply the ink which I find more controllable than inking straight out of the tube.

What’s your biggest accomplishment to date?
Working successfully as a freelance illustrator since graduating in the early 90’s.

Share something random with us!
I have an irrational fear of dragonflies!