Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Theresa Ambat, Founder of Saint Sprites, via phone call on January 27th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. All the images about Saint Sprites, along with the headshot, are provided by Theresa … Continue reading A 896 Word Interview with Theresa Ambat from Saint Sprites The post A 896 Word Interview with Theresa Ambat from Saint Sprites appeared first on The Simple Catholic.
Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Theresa Ambat, Founder of Saint Sprites, via phone call on January 27th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. All the images about Saint Sprites, along with the headshot, are provided by Theresa and she allowed usage in this article.
Blessed Carlo Acutis clearly had a profound impact on your work. What aspects of his life and spirituality particularly resonate with you, and how do they continue to influence your artistic choices?
I first heard about him back in October 2020. I was first drawn to him because he played video games. Reading more about his life, he was so young and exemplified the love of Christ in all aspects of his life. He is similar to Saint Therese the Little Flower in how he loved everyone so deeply.
The way Carlo used these tools (the Internet and digital art) for the good of others was inspiring. People love games and speak to them really strongly. To point people toward God through video games is a powerful thing. He is the first saint to really use the Internet for evangelization. I found how he channeled the love of Jesus through the Internet inspiring.
Your work bridges two seemingly different worlds – traditional Catholic spirituality and retro gaming aesthetics. What inspired you to combine these elements, and what do you think this combination offers to modern Catholics?
I think with video games it’s such a different form of media from books for movies. You are in the middle of the story. We see a part of ourselves when we play these games. I think that’s why so many people find video games so impactful. Hopefully, they are pursuing something good in the game.
When Carlo was beautified I thought it would be so cool that there would be an RPG of the life of the disciples. Video games are interactive and immersive. I don’t have the skillset (yet) to make a video game. But I hope that others can make such video.
I see that video games can act as a bridge to help people learn about the faith. To have an RPG about Maximilian Kolbe or Joan of Arc.
How did you settle on the name “Saint Sprites”?
Originally, I was going to do Pixel Saints, but I think that name was already taken on Instagram.
A sprite refers to a singular piece of art in a video game. Individual pieces of pixel art. And there’s alliteration with it.
When you create a new saint sprite, what’s your creative process like?
Good question! Typically, I’ll look up the sprite on Google, do some research on the saint, seeing if there are any objects associated with them. Working with a 32 x 32 pixelboard limits me, but it pushes my creativity.
For example, a lot of the religious sisters look similar. Both Hildegard and Monica looked similar so I have the former hold a Gregorian chant piece. Trying to figure how to show their character is fun too. I gave Saint Therese rosy cheeks, and St. Paul a wrinkle on his forehead. More modern saints are a bit easier because they had a more standard outfit than more ancient saints. But so far, I feel like I have been able to put enough detail and make it work to distinguish while working within the 32 by 32 board parameters.
With the Marian devotions, I like to have a bit more pizazz (she is Mary after all!). I have Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Moon.
What keeps you motivated to grow in your craft as it relates to Saint Sprites?
Well, I think when I see that this is impacting people and reminding them of God it pushes me to keep going. It motivates me to make more saints and improve my products. I love reading my reviews on Etsy (shown below).
These words of encouragement motivate me.
I find parents and godparents buying these stickers for their children’s First Communion and how it impacts their faith. So something as simple as a piece of paper that sticks on another piece of paper to help people connect to God is humbling. Ultimately, knowing this project is a way to bring people to God is what motivates me.
Among all the saints you’ve portrayed in your pixel art style, do you have a particular favorite piece or saint that you especially enjoyed creating? What made this one special?
I think I’m coming up on 82 saints. That’s a good and tough question.
Probably Maximlian Kolbe, he is one of my favorite saints, he was one of the first saints I made and was proud I was able to include so many details in that sticker. He is one of my more distinctive looking saints. For similar reasons, Saint Faustina. I was really pleased to include the Divine Mercy symbol. And thirdly probably Saint Therese. She gives me so much joy. When I put the rosy cheeks on her I knew that THIS IS Therese and she is one of my favorite saints. Those three would be my favorite (it’s soooo hard to pick!).
Any last words of advice to any readers who are also artists?
My biggest piece of advice is to invite the Lord into everything you create. He is the original God. Every little sticker I make is God’s gift to me. Creation is so much more of a joy when you involve the Original Creator. This involves a strong prayer life and inviting the Lord into your workspace. Having a collaborative perspective when creating is an important part of being an artist.
About Theresa
Theresa Ambat is a 26-year-old Catholic entrepreneur based in Seattle, Washington. Theresa, first interested in music and sound design for video games, eventually found herself creating pixel-art drawings of Catholic saints in her free time. She was inspired by the beatification of Carlo Acutis and over the last four years developed a love for evangelization through Catholic pixel-art reminiscent of retro visuals from the NES and Gameboy. Thus, Saint Sprites was born.
The post A 896 Word Interview with Theresa Ambat from Saint Sprites appeared first on The Simple Catholic.
