Kasaix: Hello Doujin Army! I had a chance to hang out with a really cool artist, the one and only Mitsu. I really like her work. The shading is just great, the girls are cute and sexy, and things are, by the artist’s own words, ‘softer’ compared to the rest. This is true, the girls are just hanging out in these great poses. Soft, serene images that are just nice to look at.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Thanks for taking the time to hang out. How’s it going, Mitsu?
Mitsu: Hello doujiin lovers ! I'm honored to participate to this interview
Kasaix: It’s my pleasure. Let’s start at the top, could you tell me how you first got into art?
Mitsu: Since I was little I always drew a lot. If we're talking professionally then I started in the video game industry. After doing a bit of web design I got a job in a studio to be a 3D artist. I liked it a lot and it helped me understanding volumes and shapes as I was doing cities and characters. But after a year or so I got the opportunity to become a 2D artist in the same studio, so I took the shot ! That was long ago ^^
Kasaix: That’s amazing! Could you tell us the name of the studio or what projects you worked on, or are you under an NDA?
Mitsu: The studio doesn't exist anymore, and nothing is under NDA it was really long ago ^^
The studio name was Wizarbox (SoBlonde, Grey Matter...), then I had some contract in the film industry as I became a concept artist and art director, and for Ubisoft a few years later, and then back to the film industry. Recently I also worked on JRPG game mainly on art direction for environments (Super Neptunia RPG)
I feel like I'm describing my resume I hope it's not too boring
Kasaix: Holy crap that's awesome! I mean seriously awesome! Did you go to school to learn all these really cool skills, or are you self taught?
Mitsu: Thank you ! Actually I'm self taught, I learned first with books, and now even more with youtube and online tutorials
School in Art are really expensive and I couldn't afford it
I would have lot to go to art school, but that wasn't really an option.
Kasaix: Having a resume like that and still being self taught is incredible.
What are your favorite characters and themes to draw?
Mitsu: Thank you
I just love nekomimi girls... haha but yeah fantasy stuff and environments that can't exist in our world. For a specific character I would say I really like Tamamo and Shuten douji from FGO. And for character I didn't draw yet hummm I'd say I would love to do some Kill la Kill characters. But what I like the most is creating my own characters.
Kasaix: I like nekomimi girls too. The girls of Kill la Kill are practically made for lewd artworks. Do you have any original characters you use as a mascot?
Mitsu: I have this Mitsu avatar that is representing me, but I'm working on newer versions ^^ My original character is Eyri, which is part of a story I'm working on
Those are two sisters, and the story I have in mind would revolve around her
Haha, yeah Kill la Kill shows that japan is the only country to do this kind of stuff, funny sexy, overly exaggerated but still really great and moving
Kasaix: That looks amazing. Can you tell us a bit about the story you have planned for them?
Mitsu: Thanks!
Nope sorry ! This is something I have to develop a lot more but I'm actively working on it !
Kasaix: Fair enough. I look forward to seeing it when it’s done.
Where do you get the inspiration for all your projects?
Mitsu: I love anime and manga, I also play games or watch people play it. Of course a lot of other artists works are really inspiring.
And a good part happens sometime when I'm dreaming, I tend to remember easily the scenery I dream about.
Kasaix: That’s nice, I like that.
How long does it typically take you to finish a project?
Mitsu: Like an illustration ? This days the type of work I publish and put on patreon are made in 3/4 days in average. Which are detailed and polish illustration. But I worked on projects for studios that took months or years, Doing the full art direction for a project can take a long time.
Kasaix: Haha yeah, I meant a regular illustration for patreon and such. Big budget stuff can take way longer, I know that much.
What do you feel is your best picture yet, and why?
Mitsu: I think it would be this crossover between Tamamo (Fate Grand Order) and Raphtalia (Rising of the shield Hero)
I think it's because it's my first crossover, between two characters I really like, and I like the render and shadow I did on this one. I also think I stopped at the right time. Sometimes I love an illustration but going forward and adding details I just start to get bored and see too many things that didn't go as well as I had in mind. This one I stopped before it happened.
Kasaix: That looks great.
Is there a project you'd really like to work on in the future?
Mitsu: You mean an character illustration ? or a big project ?
For an illustration, right now I'm having a poll on my patreon page to let people decide what I will draw next, and I secretly hope Nitocris from FGO will win... For a big project, definitely my story with the two elven sisters is the big thing I want to work on. Having some support online opens so much opportunity to work on more personal stuff, being able to put more time in those projects is just an opportunity that I don't want to waste.
Kasaix: Let’s hope your patrons vote for Nitocris then. 
What setup do you use to draw? I’m genuinely curious to know what a pro like yourself, who has worked in the big industry, uses to work.
Mitsu: I have a PC, with a Wacom Cintinq 24HD Touch from a few years ago with a second screen. Last year I also bought an iPad pro that completely changed my workflow, now I do almost all sketches on it, avoiding back pain, and being able to go outside in a café to sketch. I usually use Procreate or Clip Studio Paint on iPad for the sketches, then Photoshop / Clip Studio Paint to line / polish the piece.
I should also mention that I have a big artbook collection that I treasure... my precious
Kasaix: Nice. The tech is great, but that artbook sounds cool too.
Where does your username come from?
Mitsu: I was a big fan of the Dark Angel serie when I was younger, and as a japanese culture lover, it became Mitsukai-inki, as a japanese friend told me would be the correct translation. Buuuuut when I met other japanese people they told me ... that it was correct but would never be used to describe an angel... Either way I prefer to keep it short, so Mitsu is just better for me now ^.^ Make sure to double check the meaning when you want to use a cool name from a language you don't understand Lesson learn
Kasaix: Haha nice. Let’s wrap it up here for now. Do you have any final words to all your fans?
Mitsu: Thank you for interviewing me, and thank to the Doujins.com community for reading this.
I want to thank people that supports, shares and likes my work. it's a something magical for me to be directly in touch with people instead of working for a big studio, and I wish to be able to continue to work like that for a very long time
I’d like to thank Mitsu again for taking the time to hang out. If you’d like to follow more of her work, check out the sites below:
http://www.hentai-foundry.com/user/Mitsuart/profile
https://www.patreon.com/mitsu_art
https://www.artstation.com/mitsukai-inki
https://www.instagram.com/mitsu.art.official/
