The origin of Michiru Maeda Studio
My first contact with Japanese manga was around the third grade when I read Candy Candy. I was so mesmerized by the artwork and had been copying the style ever since. In high school, I aspired to be a mangaka (Japanese comic artist). A few Indonesian had attempted to publish comic books using manga style. Their works were published using their Indonesian names or pen names. But those works gained insignificant interests from Indonesian readers. I was thinking, if I wanted to be a mangaka, possessing a Japanese nickname would be an advantage.
Finding the right nickname was quite easy. I was reading Sailor Moon at that time. Michiru Kaio or better known as her alternate identity, Sailor Neptune, has superpower to control water. My zodiac sign is Aquarius. It was a perfect fit. However, I didn’t want to copy the character’s name exactly. I wanted to be original. I came across another Japanese name, Miki Maeda, as I was flipping through newspaper. Couldn’t remember why she was featured on the paper. So, with the two names combined, Michiru Maeda was born.
I didn’t have strong drawing skills back then. But I wanted to have something to do with creativity, drawing and arts. Being a graphic designer was the path to be. I enrolled to Visual Communication Design undergraduate course. I was quite good in 3D modelling. My first freelance gigs were creating 3D models for my classmates’ final assignments. Yup, I helped them cheat! I got some pocket money. They got the passing credits. Throughout these years I had been using Michiru Maeda on all of my online profiles.
After graduation, I got full time job immediately. On occasions, I got side jobs too. Being a full-time freelance designer was a pipe dream at this time. The opportunity to establish my own creative studio came to me after graduating from my postgraduate studies. Despite possessing Australian work visa (valid for 2 years), I couldn’t secure a job offer. Prospective employers required a candidate with permanent visa. So, to close the gap in my resume, I created Michiru Maeda Studio. My main line of business is selling illustration, typography and photography to microstock agencies. I am contributing my artwork to 123RF, Adobe Stock, Bigstock, Dreamstime, iStock, Shutterstock and Vectorstock. In addition to these agencies, I sell artwork for print-in-demand products on Etsy and Redbubble. I still take commissioned works too creating branding / visual identity, websites and T-shirt designs. Through Michiru Maeda Studio, I could proudly say, I have turned the adversity in my past circumstances to launch my freelance career!
