Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Artemis of Belgium

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Artemis. Check out our conversation below.

Artemis, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
While I think all three are important, if I had to pick one, I’d say integrity. Being honest and authentic are important to me. In the world we live in today, it’s not uncommon to feel like we have to know absolutely everything about what we’re doing, or like we have to hustle endlessly just to mean something. But it’s okay to admit when we don’t know something or when we’re too tired to continue. And building on that, I think that integrity in one’s work is essential. Especially for creatives. To me, that means crafting things that come from my heart, being open to learning, and saying NO to AI.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Artemis and I’m an animation production coordinator and screenwriter from LA who now lives in Belgium. In my free time, I’m also a digital illustrator and I’ve recently started to teach myself how to code. Right now, I’m creating a cozy, pacifist pixel video game that takes place in the realm of dreams, which has been taken over by nightmares. You play as an amnesiac dreamweaver trying to recover your memories and peacefully temper the nightmare creatures roaming the land, in order to restore balance. It’s a non-violent game about how we process our negative emotions/experiences through our dreams, and is full of mythological symbolism pertaining to sleep and the night. So instead of attacking the creatures, you have to find other means of dealing with them. It’s been a joy to work on thus far!

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was 3 years old, I’d tell everyone who would listen that I was going to be a butterfly when I grew up. Of course, I got older and realized that it wouldn’t pay the bills. But even though I’ve given up on that dream, I think it was the first indication of the kind of person I’d become. Maybe I didn’t sprout wings and start munching on flowers, but I’ve definitely transformed into a much more colorful and confident version of myself since my younger years. During high school and college, I was still trying to figure myself out and I didn’t have a clear vision of where I wanted to be post-graduation for quite a while. Now, though, I know who I am and where I’m going!

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I think I would definitely want to tell my younger self where we’d be in just a few years. How much our creative skills would grow. How much we would accomplish. Though I’ve always loved the arts, I didn’t realize just how possible it was to achieve a career in that space. Back when I was a student, thinking about my future would fill me with existential dread. I couldn’t envision myself in any of the jobs that my peers were striving for, but I also didn’t think that the arts were a feasible option for me. It wasn’t until I took a leap of faith after finishing my bachelor’s degree that I discovered just how wrong I was. If I could talk to my student-aged self, I’d do my best to allay those anxieties. I’ve gone so much further in just a few short years than I ever thought I would!

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Creating something new! Even when I take breaks from my big projects or other obligations, I’m almost always either writing or drawing. For as long as I can remember, these two things have been my happy place. I realize to some, that might come off as me being a workaholic, but I disagree. When working on something for a job versus for my own enjoyment, I find that I channel my energy in a completely different way! Creating for myself is a time when I can try new things, make mistakes, and set aside any fears of failure. Most of the time, when my friends send a message to see what I’m up to, it’s writing or drawing!

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. While accolades and recognition are nice, they’re not what I do this for. Creating, to me, is a need. It’s like breathing air or drinking water. I’m a very process-driven person. As important as the destination is, I really enjoy the journey. To not give each thing I work on my best, even if it doesn’t get me anywhere, would be futile. By sheer statistics alone, most of what I make likely won’t become famous. But that doesn’t make it any less important for me to give it my all! I make what I want to see in the world.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All artwork is my own.

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