KD: Hi Daisy! Thanks so much for taking the time to talk about your awesome artwork with our readers. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became interested in art?

DE: Hi there! Sure! I’m Daisy Ein, and I’m an illustrator and musician from the United States. I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t like to draw, and I’ve been a Nintendo fan since… as early as I can remember? I particularly loved Super Mario when I was really small, and I loved to draw fan art of the characters. Super Mario 2 was particularly special to me, and I loved to draw comics where Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach went on adventures together, haha.

DE: Even though I’ve always loved art and video games, there for a while I wanted to be a musician. I studied music for quite a while, growing up. My favorite instrument is the keytar, and I love covering video game tracks. I’m also writing the soundtrack for the indie games me and my bud @ZapLayden are working on. Here’s a sample, if you’d like a listen!

KD: What subject do you enjoy drawing the most?

DE: I’d say I like drawing characters the most. Other than that, my favorite subjects are kind of all over the place, haha.

KD: What is your favorite video game or series?

DE: Wow, this is a tough question. Some of my favorite games are Chrono Trigger, Animal Crossing, Mega Man 2, Super Mario RPG, Harvest Moon, Link’s Awakening, Ragnarok Online, Pokemon, Final Fantasy Tactics, and The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang. There are so many more I could add to that list, haha… like Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Slug, Link to the Past, Monster Hunter Tri… so many! It’s hard to say why. I guess I just like games with fun characters and an interesting world.

Daisy & Fletchling

KD: Would you say that video games are a big influence when it comes to your drawings?

DE: Definitely! I have really fond memories of drawing with an issue of Nintendo Power open beside me. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing Super Mario fan art —I’d rush home from school, watch the Super Mario Bros Super Show, and then spend the evening drawing either Mario or Zelda comics. The Nintendo comics Valiant published were really special to me too. I would say video games are probably what inspired me to start drawing in the first place.

Link Portrait

KD: What influenced you to create your adorable ‘Pokemon desserts’ series? I love it!

DE: Haha, thanks! I started that series because I wanted to practice painting in Photoshop. Originally, I was just going to paint desserts, but then I figured, hey, why not just add a Pokemon in there too? It just kind of made practicing more fun.

KD: I also really liked your Isabelle fan art series as well. She can really pull off all of those costumes! What influenced that, and what outfits do you have planned for the future?

DE: I just kind of randomly drew Isabelle in Peach’s dress one day, haha. Then, I figured, hey, let’s just go ahead and stick her in more cute outfits. She’s really fun to draw, haha. I’d like to try out Princess Daisy’s dress next, and maybe Mario’s overalls. Isabelle’s just a cutie patootie.

KD: What programs or apps would you recommend for all of the new and upcoming artists out there?

DE: That’s a tough question. Personally, I use Adobe Photoshop and I draw on a 22″ Cintiq. Photoshop can have kind of a steep learning curve, especially when you’re just starting out. But I think it’s worth the time and effort. If you’re looking for something less expensive that might be easier to dig right into, I’ve had good experiences with Paint Tool Sai and Portal Graphics Open Canvas. Generally speaking, I think practicing matters more than anything else. The software is just the icing on the cake.

Daisy’s Inkling in Splatoon, with a Zelda twist

KD: Have you done any collaborations or submitted to any contests that we could checkout online?

DE: Not really, but I am working on an indie game with @ZapLayden! We’re going to announce it soon on Twitter, so feel free to check us out! Our first title is a mobile game, and our second is a PC/Console title that’s inspired by games like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon. The artwork and sound design/music are largely my responsibility.

“Eyeball”

KD: That sounds awesome! Thanks so much Daisy! I really enjoyed hearing about your art and I’m excited to share it with our readers. Where can we go to see more of your work, or to purchase a print if they’re interested?

DE: Thanks so much! You can check me out at:

Wicke- Pokemon Sun/Moon

Any artist interested in having their artwork on PureNintendo.com or in PNM can contact me at Kaelyn@purenintendo.com. We love to see anything Nintendo themed from fan art to sculptures to baked goods. You could be the next Pure Nintendo featured artist! Also to see artwork from artists featured in our magazine, PNM, please head to PureNintendo.com/magazine to subscribe!  Thanks for reading!