WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 2022 – Community Spotlight on Assassy Art
As part of our continued celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we’re chatting with Assassy Art in today’s Community Spotlight. An incredible artist and Ratchet & Clank fan, Assassy has been an active member of the fan art community for quite some time and often shares her work on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. You might remember her work from our social media, or re-shared within the community – it’s a very distinct style!
In our chat, she shares her favorite art and some of her favorite things about Ratchet & Clank. Let’s get to know a bit more about the talent behind Assassy Art!
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Insomniac Games (IG): Hey Assassy! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Just to kick things off: whenever I think about artists in the Ratchet & Clank community, you’re among the first that come to mind. How long have you been doing Ratchet & Clank art? What is it about these characters that keeps you coming back to make content?
AssassyArt (AA): Hey!! I’ve been drawing Ratchet & Clank since about 2015-16! It was actually the movie/2016 game that rekindled my love for the series. I’ve always been pretty attached to the Ratchet games, but the recognizable designs and personalities inspire me to keep making art for the series!
IG: Your art style is so distinct, I can recognize your work without looking at the watermark. Are there any specific Ratchet & Clank pieces you’re most proud of?
AA: Definitely! Some of my favorites are these:
IG: So good! There are a lot of details that make your work standout, some that people may even miss! What is it about your style that makes it uniquely yours?
AA: Typically when doing the pupils of my drawings, I add shapes that correlate to the character’s emotions, like hearts if they’re next to someone they love or stars if they’re excited. Additionally, with Lombaxes in particular, I like to cut pieces of the lineart out to give an illusion of fuzziness!
IG: You’re also a bit of a storyteller (as seen here, here, and here). What inspires these bits of story? They’re all fantastic and always get a chuckle out of me. Sometimes, they make me a little sad…
AA: Sometimes I bounce ideas off with friends! Analyzing characters and their actions is one of my favorite pastimes. I love thinking of different scenarios with the characters, and one of my favorite things to do is to make people laugh! Though, I like making angsty pieces every now and then to shake things up.
IG: Your art has gotten the attention of Ratchet & Clank fans from every corner of the fandom. What do you enjoy most about being in the community?
AA: The Ratchet & Clank community is super friendly and open! I always look forward to posting just to see how excited people get! I love how interactive this community is.
IG: You’re a big Ratchet & Clank fan, so let’s dive into that! What are your favorite Ratchet & Clank games?
AA: When it comes to Ratchet & Clank games, I can’t stop talking about A Crack in Time. It’s got some of my favorite arcs and the storytelling is out of this world! The ending always brings me to tears, which probably explains some of my favorite characters as well.
IG: Ah, speaking of favorite characters, that’s my next question… who are they?
AA: I always find myself drawn to Ratchet, Talwyn Apogee, and Dr. Nefarious anytime they’re on screen. Ratchet’s charming personality and humor has me wrapped around his finger, while Talwyn’s dynamic with him just makes my heart swell. Dr. Nefarious’s complex character is never boring to watch when he’s on screen!
IG: Since we’re celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, do you have any other women in the Ratchet & Clank universe that you enjoy in addition to Talwyn?
AA: Over the years, I’ve become fond over pretty much all of the Ratchet & Clank gals! I’m definitely more attached to these girls in particular, though! Courtney Gears is a beautiful galactic popstar and I know the lyrics to her song like the back of my hand. Kit has such a sweet bond with the cast and relatable insecurities that I can’t help but adore her. Finally, Vendra Prog probably steals the spot for my favorite design of a female character in the series! I’m entranced by her role in the story overall, her parallels to Ratchet, and the creepy presence she holds in every scene.
IG: Very cool. Vendra’s one of my favorites as well! So, what about your favorite weapons?
AA: I’ve always been a big fan of the Groovitron for the goofy dances and the RYNO V for the beautiful weapon design!
IG: Two musical weapons! Any favorite lines or quotes from the series that you love?
AA: The quote that dances in my head is “The universe has a wonderful sense of humor. The trick is learning how to take a joke.” It’s a good parallel to Azimuth’s ideology, and I’ve definitely quoted it in everyday conversations.
IG: Awesome! Well, it’s been great seeing your work in our community, and I hope more people take a moment to check out your stuff. Where can people find you on social media if they’re interested in seeing your content?
AA: Thank you!! You can find me on Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram all under the name @AssassyArt!