#ask manta

[mantareidraws]

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR ART SO FREAKING MUCH OMG YOU'RE AMAZING

AWW THANK YOU SO MUCHH!! 🥺💞

[mantareidraws]

Hello! I read ur commission sheet and see that u had CTS? Im an artist too and a few days ago, i had a sore wrist that lasted 3 days. Ive been told drawing too much can damage my wrist but i never knew when it can actually hit me worse.

Can you share how you got diagnosed if you dont mind? And how to manage time in between art work and breaks?

Hello!! Long post ahead!! 😌💕

I started noticing my wrists acting up after a week of typing long lab reports while drawing in between breaks. It started off as sharp stabs of pain that turned into lingering periods of ache. Nerve pain and muscle pain feel very different, that was definitely a big hint that I had to get my wrists checked out. The characteristics of my discomfort were also very particular, the pain was mainly felt around my inner wrist, around the center, and my pinky finger would get numb from time to time. These two symptoms usually happened in the morning after waking up or when my hands were busy.

I had my wrists checked at a hospital and went through an electromyography (they stick very fine needles into various points of your arm and shock your nerves to check if they're working fine), and yeppp, that's how I got diagnosed. Based on my experience, this didn't hurt too much, it just felt strange and uncomfortable. I went through several rounds of occupational therapy afterwards. I think the best way to ease your concerns is to visit your physician; self-diagnosis can be dangerous, and it's always better to diagnose things early!! 👍✨✨

On how I manage my time during work/art breaks, I stretch my hands periodically and engage in other hobbies that don't require repetitive hand motions. I mainly do tendon gliding and median nerve gliding exercises, you can google these!! 💙 My therapist also told me that your hand position at night can be compressing your nerves, so they recommended me to use wrist splints whenever I sleep and/or anytime I'm able to wear them. Use a wrist rest when you type on your keyboard as well. And omggg tiger balm, this works like a charm sjfjsf 🙈❣️

Pace yourself when you draw, stretch, and learn to take breaks!! I hope this long post helps and I wish you all the best!! 😊👌✨✨

[mantareidraws]

omg congrats on getting into the iwaoi zinesidksjdjjsj and also your redbubble stickers!! you deserve it all uwu

shfjsjfs thank you so much!! you're too kind 😭❣️❣️ it's definitely out of my comfort zone, but i'm glad to say that i'm really enjoying the new experienceee ✨

the crowd here is so supportive!! i actually considered and ended up applying for the zine because of the previous anon ask. i think i needed that push, so to the lovely anon who sent that message, thank you so much (it worked hahaha) 🙈😂💕

[mantareidraws]

hi !! i recently found your art and i want to say that i think youre really talented and i adore your hq!! fanart !!!i know you dont take commissions, but i would be interested in somehow buying sme of your art, would you ever open a shop or join a zine? (theres a bunch of diff hq!! zines all over rn and also theres actually a supercute iwaoi zine thats been going around twitter and i think theyre currently accepting contributor apps!!!) thank you and have a nice day !! ^^

Ahhh thank you so much!! I've never been asked this before 😳❣️❣️ I don't have plans to open a shop as of now, but maybe in the future. International shipping is a bit complicated where I'm from, so I might look into printing services like redbubble for convenience. I'd love to join a zine, but ahhh i just need the courage to apply 🙈😶❤️

I'm not too sure if my art is worth turning into merch/prints yet, but I definitely have plans to try and make some soon!! Uni is taking up most of my time rn, so the plan will have to wait 😌❣️ If I make any good progress, I'll definitely post about it ✨✨

This was a lovely ask. Thank you so much!! ❤️❤️❤️

[mantareidraws]

To the lovely anon who messaged me again (the one who asked me stuff regarding merch and zines), thank you so much!! It really made my day!! ✨✨ I'm really glad I made progress and am extremely grateful for your encouraging messages 🥺💕

I chose not to answer your latest asks publicly because I'd like to keep your sweet messages personal. Once again, thank you so muchhh 🥰❣️❣️

[mantareidraws]

Will you ever draw more of the fe3h saints? Your art is amazing!!!!!

Hello!! Sjfhsjf awww thank you so muchhh!! I honestly didn't expect the positive feedback I received for my artworks on the nabatean saints!! 😳💕 I'm currently swamped with uni reqs and exams, but sjfhsjf I really do miss drawing them 🥺🤧❣️❣️

I definitely have a couple of unfinished wips of the cabbage patch brothers in my drive so I might just finish them whenever I'm free/feel like it 😊👌✨✨

[mantareidraws]

HI I JUST FOUND YOUR ACCOUNT AND FIRST OF ALL YOUR ART IS AMAZING I LOVE IT AND ALSO WHERE DID YOU GET THE PLUSHIES IN YOUR HEADER THEY'RE SO CUTE

SHFHSJFS AHHH THANK YOU!! 🙈💗 I get this question a lot and it gets me giddy because YES, I'm all for the seijoh love 💙

Long explanation ahead. I'm quite passionate about these cute plushies 😖💕

The plushies in my header are called nitotan, and they come in small keychains and larger plushies - mine are the keychain ones (they're quite small). I got mine through an online store based in the Philippines that provides shopping proxy services for anime merch from Japan. I got them pre-ordered so the process wasn't that difficult for me. They're pretty rare and pricey now, so if you really want to go merch hunting, I suggest you find a proxy service based in your country. Feel free to copy paste this ->

ハイキュー!! にとたん

when you search on Japanese online sites - searching in Japanese gets you more search results 😌. It says haikyuu nitotan btw.

I think they're available at surugaya jp. Hope that helps!! Good luck and happy hunting 💙

[mantareidraws]

Hey babes! Are we allowed to reblog your work? I just wanted to ask before I just did it 🥺

Hello!! Yes, of course!! Feel free to reblog my work. 🥰💕 Reposting would be a different story, so if that's what you're going for, please dm me!! ✨✨