The Art Of Being Kay
By The Fire-Kissed Lady
We sat with two delicious pints of butterbeer, smiling at each other in the dim, cozy light of the SOUP offices. Two staff members who had bumped into each other now and again and were now working, writing together for the same publication.
I'm sure most of you have felt both the admiration, respect and curiosity for the very talented Hex Pocahontas, whether expressed or not. She's been a friend, a wonderful designer, an ambitious writer and generally a lovely all around presence in this here Wizarding community.
But I'm going to let words speak for themselves and let you figure out what the Art of Being Kay means. My quills discreetly traces ink on parchment as the interview begins.
"Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What kind of person would you say you are? A little about your background and person basically. Think of it as an introduction for a person you've just met and you like, I inquire with a smile and a sip of butterbeer.
"My name is Kay. It's a nickname I coined on HEX that became my username. In real life, I'm Khaireen I'm 27 years old, hailing from Penang, Malaysia. I'm the oldest of four, raised in a conservative but supportive Muslim family. My father is a businessman/politician and my mum is a homemaker. I'm a final year med student and I'll be working soon."
"As for my background, I was told I was born with hair dark as night and lips red as blood and skin as white as snow. Now? Not so much", she laughs. "I realized early in life that I'm not pretty, so I wont be getting anything for my looks. I worked hard, knowing that I wanted to be a doctor since I was 6. Aced all three national exams and got full scholarship to pursue medicine."
The kind of person I am is still a mystery to me. I am a hopeless romantic but I've resigned myself to a life of solitude and practicality. I have a temper but I reign it in close. I rarely lose my temper, but when I do, it's monumental."
" I cherish family so very much. I'm also very opinionated but I channel my opinions in tactfully worded sentences. I have set in stone principles and I know what I want. So swaying me to side with anyone via flattery etc is just a wasted attempt."
"I don't have many friends, but those I do call friends are the ones that will stay with me forever. I love to read. I read a lot and live out the fantasy in my head. I also like to write. I pour all of life's pain in my writings. "
Would you care to share a tad about how you found Hex, why you joined, your experience with it and mayhaps even a highlight or two of your personal Hex-perience?
"Basically one day I was bored out of my mind. I keyed in Harry Potter sites in google and HEX was the first thing that popped. I clicked on it and never turned back."
She says all that with a grin, probably unaware of its charm.
"I joined HEX mainly because I love Harry Potter so much. I relate a lot to all the things he went through. I stayed because of my friends. The first was Khai - she's my friend even now. Then I met a few other people and I fell in love with the community. "
"Being online gives you a certain anonymity, makes it easier to tell a stranger about your bad day. HEX has a good support system for everyone if you are willing to look past all the BS."
"The best time of my life was when I was on Slytherin Staff. Mind you, I didn't get the job right away. I ran I lost, I said 'so be it', then the official GD resigned less than a week after getting the job."
"Rima, offered it to me 'cos I came second in what was a three way race. It was so much fun..no stress - nothing. Mary (sapphire smoke) made sure I was briefed and she coached me through it all. I was so excited I made the layouts and changed all of them without getting the OK from GM >.> Then, of course, I sobered up and did things by the book."
"The second best memory I had was actually joining IM. Getting my first item made and it was the Merton Graves cello. I love that thing to bits and I have been trying to get it back ever since."
"I was a pretty busy GD. I'm not saying this to show off, but I was busy all the time. Then I think that took the fun out of it all. It became a chore to me. Designing items wasn't so much fun anymore and honest to God, I couldn't keep up with what Nefa made," she says, chuckling and sipping her own butterbeer.
"..rather than humiliate myself, I said it's time to move on. There were some other personal reasons as well, but, well, let sleeping dogs lie..."
"So, from what I've gathered - your artistic spirit is both a big part of yourself and your experience on Hex. Were you always inclined towards the arts? How long have you been cultivating this talent? What is graphic-design for you and how has it helped you both personally and on Hex?
"Well I started dabbling in Photoshop when I got a laptop which was like 9 years ago. But it wasn't until I joined HEX it became a full-blown hobby. I saw people had art store and stuff, so I opened one. At that point it was more of learning on the job since I have no formal training. I figured my style is different to those that were on HEX at the time. I'm still not the GD to beat, but I found my niche and I'm grateful that customers are still coming in."
"Don't know why I took to Photoshop 'cos I can't draw to save my life, but I liked arts in different ways. For me baking is an art and I love doing that. I also love styling food. People say I have a good eye, but I guess it works on Photoshop only 'cos I don't have a lick of fashion sense in me."
"Graphics have brought me joy and pain all in one package. I found my other best friend through graphics, Lydia. We competed a lot back then. Sometimes I came first, sometimes she did. But it was always healthy. I'm happy to see where she is now and I don't have an ounce of jealousy because of that. She, in her weird way, has been one of my strongest supporters.
I see graphics as an escape. Sometimes words take a lot of work, so colours are my best tools to express myself. "
Since we're talking art - who are among your favourite graphic designers on Hex? Who do you look up to or who have you learned from? Is there a particular style which attracts you? How do you feel about the artistic community on Hex as a whole?
"I like Lydia's work a lot and fair_columbina's. Contra has some great work as well."
"Who do I look up to? Again, hard to answer. I must say then it has to be fair_columbina. She has interesting style and her portfolio is so diverse. I must say I've learned a lot from Lydia. She's blunt about her critiques on my work. Never sugar coating it - but she does it in a way that won't make me kill her."
"My style is not a mystery to everyone. I like a polished look - elegant. I play around with textures a lot, but lately I'm trying to break free from my old style. HNTGD has helped a lot."
"What I say might sound controversial, but I think HEX gives GDs too much stock. Highly trained GDs sometimes are full of themselves. But that's just a small part. Arts on HEX thrives well mainly because of the camaraderie all of us GDs feel for each other."
What would you advise someone who aspires to better themselves as a graphics designer on Hex? And any words or advice to the general Hex community? Feel free to express yourself freely and say whatever parting wishes you desire.
"Well, the answer to that question is easy. To be a better GD in general, not just on HEX, is to never compare yourself to other people. Admire - yes, worship - maybe, but never compare yourselves. Each of us has a different style, a different footing and different training. So don't compare. Just evolve naturally and take a day as it is."
"Second advice is to take your time. Great art doesn't happen in a day. Young GDs sometimes expect too much too quickly. It took all of us a long time to be where we are now. Enjoy the learning process and soak in everything you can find"
"To the HEX community, I say thank you for giving people like me a platform to contribute. Without you guys, picky or not, GDs cannot exist. I thank you again for trusting me with you art and for helping me grow with your requests. I appreciate it very much to the core of my being ."
My quill stops moving and I think I understand a little better what The Art of Being Kay truly is. Hint - the second word of this article's title.
Now, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my day in the company of this lovely lady. Be jealous.
Signing off,
The Fire-Kissed Lady