13 Questions with Ace Artist, Isabel Scheck

Elessar Younglove (they/fae)

Today I had the privilege to interview queer author and artist Isabel Scheck (she/her), or Izzy for short. Izzy is pan and ace, and at 23 years old she’s already a published writer! Her latest work, “Ace of Arts”, an ace spec art book, showcases her talent. The author describes her work as “a collection of artworks containing the different aspects of asexual, aromantic and other a-spec identities within the LGBTQ* community as a whole, shown in the form of abstract and aesthetic art pieces.”

Ace art pour. Artistic credit to Isabel Scheck @isabels_artwork.

An accomplished author, she has also written “Ellie Everlasting.” She has self-published 18 works (nine poetry books, one children’s book, one art book, five short stories, one novel and one novella). You can purchase Izzy’s work with the link  at the bottom of the article! 
 
Do you have a favorite piece or piece that means a lot to you? This can be a story you wrote, a painting of yours, etc.
I’m quite pleased with my ace-spec character drawings, which are included in my art book “Ace of Arts,” and I’m currently writing the first draft.
What’s your background? Can you tell me more about your education and personal preferences in art?
Now I’m 23, but at school I took as many art classes as I could, including traditional art, graphic design, and photography. Recently I’ve started doing digital art on my iPad.
 
Did your upbringing prompt a specific reference point within your work?
I was at a school where academics were important, but not the most important thing and we had a lot of other choices (e.g., music, arts, drama, creative writing, etc.). Luckily, my family and friends are always supportive of my art and creativity. My friends are also creative.
Is your work informed by certain concepts or themes from your childhood, background, socio-economic status, or where you lived or were raised? How does this impact how you see the world and create art?
I tend to draw/write about LGBTQ+ characters. I relate to them the most.
 
Why do you make this style of art? Does your art represent something about you?
 
I like to draw pride art because it gives me an opportunity to show my support for other LGBTQ+/queer people While also having a set of colors to work with.
 
What does your work aim to say? What would you like viewers to take away from your work?
 
I’m hoping that my art will help raise awareness for lesser-known sexualities or romantic orientations, such as asexuality, aromanticism and pan, panromantic, amongst others. I include sexualities and romantic orientations other than asexual and aromantic because some people use the split attraction model which means that your sexual orientation doesn’t match up with your romantic one. (For example, I’m panromantic asexual which means I can be romantically attracted to all genders but not sexually attracted to those people.)
 
Who are your biggest influences and why? Is there a particular artist that inspired you to pursue art? Whose techniques do you study or admire?
 
I don’t really have a one specific artist, but I see a lot of different art styles online and in real life that I love the style of or that I relate to. My grandpa was a graphic designer who painted a lot, and my dad is creative as well; my aunt is a traditionally published author, so I get my inspiration from all of them and the world around me such as space, stars, etc, nature and people. But Yasmin Benoit (@theyasminbenoit on Instagram) is a big influence. She was one of the inspirations for my art book and she’s an aroace British model and an Asexuality advocate.
 
What genre does your work fall into? Abstract Expressionism? Conceptual Art? Realism?
 
I’d describe my art in two different categories: attractive people/characters and pride art to be used as lock screens, wallpapers, designs, etc.
 
How have you developed your career?
 
Art and creative writing are my main hobbies, but I work as a pre-school teaching assistant four days a week.
 
How do you navigate the art world?
 
I try to support artists as much as I can by sharing their work and promoting their offers. I tend to post most of my own art works on Tumblr and Instagram.
 
Which current art world trends or artists are you following?
 
I follow Loish (Lois Van Baarle); she's a digital artist whose style of art I adore. I also enjoy @dragondoodleart on Instagram! She draws pride animals and characters (mainly a-spec) and they’re cute.
 
What has been your most recent, favorite experience or interaction with your art?
 
People’s reaction to my self-published a-spec art book “Ace of Arts”! It has been very well received and people have been very kind about it!
 
Are there any other questions you would like to answer, or things you would like to discuss regarding your artwork?
 
I self-published this book “Ace of Arts” (which is a play on words/pun of the playing cards, being cool and being part of the ace spectrum.) Also, I wanted to spread awareness of lesser-known sexualities and support the people who identify as such, to show them that they matter and they’re not alone. While the book is centred around aspec identities (both ace and aro) I have included some of my art of other sexualities/romantic orientations for people who use the split attraction model (pansexual aromantic or panromantic asexual, for example).
 
 
You can find Isabel’s work here:
Ellie Everlasting 
Ace of Arts

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