This is a tough choice. I chose my burlesque name to include my real name just so that I continue to tie into my "established brand" with pamelaNeko. I was worried how the two would work together. It turns out that most ppl assume that Neko is my last name! So this works out great for me b/c not only does it keep my real identity secret (lol), people don't think it's weird at all that I'm known by two different monikers.
So I think that there must be a clever way for you to keep both.
Also, what kind of art are you going to be doing? If you're going to keep doing art in the vein of internet memes I say, definitely keep using Leechan. It's kind of tongue in cheek and I think it becomes part of the joke. I really think it depends on how you feel about your art. The name does not necessary evoke the "kawaii" bs that our little internet communities think of it. I thought I would run into the same problem w/ Neko, but the fact is that most ppl don't think of it the way we do.
Thanks Pam! Yours was one of the opinions I was hoping to get.
Yeah, if I'm going to continue art in any way, I want it to be art like memes, posters, lowbrow art. Things that will hopefully land me in Juxtapoz someday. And yeah, it would be nice to "hide" my real identity by continuing to use Leechan (or at least allow me some privacy).
PamelaNeko said what I had planned to in a very well spoken way, and then some, so I think she gave you great advice. I personally plan on having two different go-by names if need be, NellaNell or some variation thereof being one of them, which also began as an LJ name when I was in highschool, but somehow kept working and has helped make Nell a nickname within one group of people, while on a more "professional" note I guess? I'm still known as Danielle Bailey, so if you were looking to expand into different areas maybe then changing monikers or creating a new one is a good idea? But even then I don't think Leechan is obnoxious, especially as PamelaNeko said, because a lot of the population does not know to think of "chan" being that way. Plus the whole one word sounding like two is fun in my opinion, so that's working for you as well!
Nothing says natural like your given name. It bothers me when artists change their names. This is coming from someone with a stage name. It's my maiden name and will always be. Your name is beautiful and you should be proud of it.
Leechan is cute but I think maybe using something else would be better. Usually, when I see those names, I think of the anime outcast otaku (Not putting them down or anything, I used to be one to an extent) but for art purposes and getting somewhere, I think maybe your given name will be good!
Or maybe go by Lee or... mashing your names together.
I'm tempted to agree with salvanos on this one - since there's another established artist with a similar alias you may be compared or grouped together. That could work for you when you're starting out, but could become detrimental as your work evolves.
I like L Steward, but it does sound a lot more formal, and since you're so interested in "low art" you may want to go with something that's more accessable. I like the mashup idea, but you'll always be Leezard to me~
I'm a fan of any name that you could sign with a doodle of a lizard, though.
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So I think that there must be a clever way for you to keep both.
Also, what kind of art are you going to be doing? If you're going to keep doing art in the vein of internet memes I say, definitely keep using Leechan. It's kind of tongue in cheek and I think it becomes part of the joke. I really think it depends on how you feel about your art. The name does not necessary evoke the "kawaii" bs that our little internet communities think of it. I thought I would run into the same problem w/ Neko, but the fact is that most ppl don't think of it the way we do.
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Yeah, if I'm going to continue art in any way, I want it to be art like memes, posters, lowbrow art. Things that will hopefully land me in Juxtapoz someday. And yeah, it would be nice to "hide" my real identity by continuing to use Leechan (or at least allow me some privacy).
Thanks!
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Or maybe go by Lee or... mashing your names together.
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I like L Steward, but it does sound a lot more formal, and since you're so interested in "low art" you may want to go with something that's more accessable. I like the mashup idea, but you'll always be Leezard to me~
I'm a fan of any name that you could sign with a doodle of a lizard, though.
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