Blending Fantasy with Reality: Serena Malyon on Art, Gen Con, and Geekdom

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Blending fantasy and reality in her vibrant illustrations, artist Serena Malyon was at Gen Con 2024, capturing hearts with her enchanting artwork and fresh perspective. In an exclusive chat, she shares the journey from her art-filled childhood to the creation of pieces inspired by beloved tales and games, like *Nevers* and *Mouse Guard Alphabet Book*. Her insights into the balance of personal expression, fan art, and fantasy storytelling bring a unique warmth to the world of geekdom. Dive into our conversation with Serena to discover the magic behind her art, inspirations, and geeky passions!

GeekPost: First off, how was Gen Con 2024? Did the convention and its attendees treat you well?

Serena: My Gen Con was amazing! It was my first time attending, and I had a wonderful time. Everyone was so supportive of my work, and I made many great connections with attendees and fellow artists. I hope to be back soon!

GeekPost: What inspired you to pursue a career in art, particularly in the fantasy genre?

Serena: I’ve always loved reading fantasy, fairy tales, and a bit of science fiction. I used to try and paint the characters from my books, but I never thought I would get to do it for a living! I also grew up around art, as my grandparents (Bernard and Adele Safran) were artists. So, I received a lot of encouragement from an early age and always considered art as a career.

GeekPost: How has growing up around art shaped your perspective on creativity and illustration?

Serena: I think it is a great privilege to grow up in a household where an interest in art is fostered and valued. I got to go to a lot of museums as a kid, I could pore over art books of the great masters, and I had the freedom to try a lot of different styles and mediums. As a result, I feel like my artistic expression is an integral part of me, and I wish more kids had that experience.

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GeekPost: Are there any specific stories or myths that inspire your illustrations?

Serena: I grew up reading fairy tales and Greek mythology, and I think those influences still appear in my personal work from time to time.

GeekPost: What was it like to illustrate “Nevers” and “Mouse Guard Alphabet Book”?

Serena: I had a wonderful time working on them. Anytime I get to dive into a story and show my love through illustration, I’m happy. Nevers was such a charming story, and I had a great time fitting all of the unique characters and locations into the cover. The Mouse Guard Alphabet Book was a great surprise. I had been a fan of Mouse Guard for years, and when I got an email from David Petersen about the children’s book, I was over the moon. David has created such a rich world, and it was a joy to get to play around in it.

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GeekPost: Do you consider yourself to be a geek? What does that mean to you?

Serena: Haha yeah, I have always been a bit of a geek, I guess. To me, it means that I’ve always been very passionate about the shows, games and books that I’ve loved. I love getting to paint fan art when I have the chance to be a bit self-indulgent. My favorite fan artworks I’ve painted reference Dark Souls, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones.

GeekPost: How do your hobbies influence your artwork?

Serena: Outside of the joy of painting fan art, a lot of my favorite pieces of media have strong art direction that end up inspiring me. When I need to rekindle my creative spark, watching a beautiful film (Pride and Prejudice, The Fall, LOTR…) or playing through a visually stimulating video game (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Breath of the Wild, Syberia)

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GeekPost: What are some of your favorite comedies to watch, and how do they inspire your creative process?

Serena: What We Do in the Shadows, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Brooklyn 99, Game Changer, Make Some Noise… I actually watch (or rather listen to) a lot of these while I work; they keep me from getting fatigued or stressed when painting. I don’t know if they inspire my creative process much, but I do think comedy plays an important role in my life, sometimes you just need to laugh away the stress.

GeekPost: What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?

Serena: Experiment, find what you like to paint, how you like to paint, and then make work that you really connect with. The paintings that got me the most attention were the weird illustrations I did for myself. The portfolio I left art school with was full of a bunch of industry-standard samples, but it didn’t shine until I started making works that felt authentic to me.

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GeekPost: Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know about you?

Serena: I quit Elden Ring when I played it last summer, mostly because it wasn’t fun to play on stream when you’re not very good at video games. But now that I am no longer streaming, and actually might have free time coming up, I’m giving it another shot. So, prepare for Elden Ring fan art.

Thank you to Serena Malyon for giving us the chance to learn more about her, her work, and inspirations.