Victo Ngai

Crazy Eyes, New York Times

2012-03-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

I drew some crazy eyes for New York Times's Sunday Technology page. The article is online now and will be in this Sunday's paper. (March 18th). Many bifocal glasses wearers have to bob their heads up and down for the right focuses when looking at computer screens, a new type of lens is introduced to ease this strain.

Due to time constrain, AD Minh and I started working on this piece before the article was written. So we only had a rough concept to work with. Minh liked what I did with the "The ghost of tax return" for the NYT a month back and suggested we could use a similar approach to show someone staring at the screen with their head bobbing up and down. I usually like to come up with my own ideas, but this time I found the idea suggested very fun and was happy to play along. It turned out to be a great collaboration, thanks Minh for all the insightful inputs!

Cees Dert Portrait for aiCIO

2012-02-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

I did this portrait of Cees Dert for the latest aiCIO. Art direction from SooJin was "Amsterdam theme" and “having options". Mr Dert once used different canals as an analogy for different investment choices, so I thought Amsterdam canals would be a good fit for this piece in many ways. (Also I just really like to draw buildings...)

This issue of aiCIO is filled with ABSOLUTELY amazing illustrations from a all-stars line up- cover by Brad Holland , interiors by Julianna Brion, Chris Buzelli, Sam Wolfe Connelly, Bill Mayer, Chriz Nielsen, Dadu Shin and Jing Wei. ( I KNOW, RIGHT?) You can't not check it out. Thank you SooJin again for the great work!

GCIA Silvers Medals and Commarts Selected!

2012-02-25T18:14:00.003-08:00

I was greatly honored to be awarded 2 Silver medals and one Judges' Picks award from the Second Greater China Illustration Awards - an award covering Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Mainland China. It's my first time winning a professional award in Hong Kong and it really means a lot to be recognized by my own country! Thank you Society of Illustrators Hong Kong and all the judges.

Also, big big THANKS to these great people, I wouldn't be who I am today without you guys-

-My secondary school art teacher Eileen Tsang who steered me back to art when I almost gave it up.

-My RISD portfolio teacher Chris Buzelli who taught me everything I know now being an illustrator and a decent person.

-My very supportive parents who could have bought a couple Ferrari but instead sent me to art school.

-And all my mentors, friends and followers!

Bringing home these lovely trophies designed and hand made by famous HK designer Kenny Wong was the best part!!

The award ceremony.

Congrats to all the winners of the Judges' Pick Award.

"Emerge" was awarded Silver in "Editorial and Books" category. Thank you AD SooJin Buzelli for commissioning this piece, also taking a chance and gave me my very first job back in 2009!

Ms. Eileen Tsang and me in front of "Bowlcut" which was awarded Silver in "Personal Work" category.

"Windbeast" was awarded Judges' Pick Award (second to the left). , "Safekeepers","the New Standard" and "Moneyhorse"are selected to be in the show (from left to right). Thank you AD SooJin Buzelli and Corinne Myller for the great collaborations!

Dinner buffet was a nice way to end the night!

AND---- these 2 babes are selected into Communication Arts Annual 53!!Congratulations to their AD Megan Scherer and Corinne Myller!

Sorry for the long post, thanks for reading!

NYT SundayBiz illo-The Ghost Return

2012-02-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

I have a piece in the New York Times Sunday Business section today. When confronted by a letter from the Internal Revenue Service, some people look as though they’ve seen a ghost. And when they open certain letters, a few people do see a ghost — or, more accurately, the ghost of a tax return. When the I.R.S. detects a person had reportable income but did not file a return, it steps in and does the job. This comes in very high cost as the I.R.S. doesn't take in account of the deductibles and adds interest and a penalty for failing to file.

Better get my taxes done ASAP....ughhhh!

Thanks again to AD Minh Uong for letting me have fun with a boing article!

Tree Shields

2012-02-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

This illo is for February's Utne reader. It's about the "Great Green Wall" project in Africa- an attempt to stop desertification and protect farm land by planting trees at the edge of Sahara desert. I thought it would be cool to depict the trees as umbrellas shielding the people and livestocks from the sand storm.

This is the last illo I worked with AD Stephanie Glaros before she leaves Utne for Experience Life magazine. Thanks to Stephanie's handwork and passion for art, Utne has been one of the few publications out there filled with fabulous illustrations. Stephanie was also one of the few ADs who replied to my promos when I first graduated from RISD. I still distinctly remember how happy and encouraged I was when I got her email!! Thanks and all the best to you Stephanie!

NYT SundayBiz illo-Lonely Cubicle

2012-01-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

I have a piece in the New York Times Sunday Business section today. It's about loneliness at workplaces. The saying "no man is an island" by John Donne came to mind when I was brainstorming for ideas.

Color version

B/W version

I deiced to make the girl much bigger when I went into final. I think it makes a nicer composition and helps to emphasize the uneasy and repressed feeling of being trapped in the tiny cubicle.

Big big thanks to AD Minh D. Uong!!

Scary birds for NYTimes letter page

2012-01-25T15:21:00.000-08:00

I drew some scary birds for today's New York Times letters page. Scientists have been doing research on bird flu by engineering H5N1 in labs. The mutated virus is highly transmissible and deadly. Some argues the risk of these virus escaping the lab would lead to fatal epidemic.

It was one of the "sketches by 230pm, final by 6pm"gigs. I felt like reincarnated after sending in the final and really needed to indulge myself. So I went to Korean Town and had some delicious soup and seafood pancake yesterday!

Big big thanks for AD Alexandra Zsigmond!

Happy Dragon Year Poster for McDonald's

2012-01-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

FINALLY I can share this! I did this exciting job back in June 2011 and it has been a long hard 6 months observing the non-disclosure agreement. I was contacted by Benjamin Milam from Leo Burnett to develop a design for the McDonald's vestibule poster and trayliner celebrating the Year of Dragon. I want to do it because the project seems like a perfect fit.

I think Leo Burnett did a great job with the type and design.

Asian Lunar New year is an important holiday which brings together families and friends as they welcome a new year filled with hope and optimism. The idea of lighting red lanterns was chosen to express the festive mood and the spreading of good luck and blessing.

Flowers are a huge part of Lunar New Year, I drew some Chinese peony (symbolized prosperity and wealth) and Chrysanthemum (symbolized longevity) in this illustration.

I have been told that usually advertisement clients are a pain in the neck - greater money comes with greater restrictions, but not with this project. I enjoyed much creative freedom and was given a lot of insightful feedbacks. It was a great pleasure. Big thanks to producer Benjamin Milam, AD Jason Fisher and all the designers and good people at Leo Burnett!

龍年快樂，身體健康，萬事如意，恭禧發財！

Happy Dragon Year!

I drew a really really fat cat

2012-01-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

How could life be possibly better than drawing a REALLY REALLY FAT CAT and be paid for it? This is a piece I did for PLANSPONSOR Jan 2012 issue. The phrase AD SooJin gave me to work with was "sorting out complicated things and getting it straight".

I once baby-sitted a really really fat cat for a summer. He was a 30lbs mixed maine coon named Pinkus. He had the coolest attitude, love to eat and occasionally ponder about life with a cigarette.

Wingchun

2012-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

I was happily invited by Ryan Gattis, the author of KungFu High School, to participate in the "The Art of Kung Fu, Myths and Legends" show presented by ISM to celebrate the Year of Dragon.

The show pairs 16 artists with 16 newly reworked Kungfu myths by Ryan. My myth is about Yim Wingchun, founder of the Wingchun fist. Wingchun is known for her beauty and sold tofu for a living. A notorious bandit forced her to marry him and the only way to get out of the marriage is to beat the bandit with her art.

The opening reception is 7:30- 9:00 pm on Jan 20, 2012 at Meltdown Comics Gallery in Hollywood, LA.

My original drawing of Wingchun will be for sale! (16"x20" pen, brush and ink)

The Breast Labyrinth

2012-01-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

Here is a piece I did for the Cincinnati Magazine about the new and improving technologies in breast imaging and cancer detection.

"I love radiology because it¹s like an investigation: the patient presents

with certain symptoms, and imaging is a big piece of the puzzle." writes the author Mary Mahoney, MD.

Big thanks to AD Megan Scherer for this fun and challenging assignment!

Last post of 2011, First illo of 2012

2011-12-31T09:37:00.000-08:00

This piece for the New York Times book review will be in tomorrow aka New Year's day 's paper! Not a bad way to start the year, eh?

The review is for "How it all began" by Penelope Lively. (Read online here) A retired schoolteacher, Charlotte Rainsford, has been mugged on a London street. Her hip has been broken and her bag stolen by someone who, Penelope Lively briskly informs us in her 20th work of fiction, will disappear from the rest of Charlotte’s story. This casual nastiness sends Charlotte to her daughter’s house while she recuperates, thus disrupting many of the characters’ routines — to trace the relationships among an assortment of relatives, employers, students and illicit lovers.

Big thanks to AD Nicholas Blechman!

2011 has been a great year, thanks to all of you! Happy New Year!

NYTimes illo-Apps to Keep Children Happy

2011-12-22T12:14:00.000-08:00

This illo is for the NYTimes practical travel page, it's online now and will be in print on X'mas day! The story is about the top picked apps for iphone/ ipad to keep children entertained during long holiday travels.

I have never thought I would draw angry birds or elmo for a job, this is a milestone of my career. Big thanks to AD Corinne Myller, always a pleasure to work with.

Happy Holidays everyone and safe trips if you are travelling! I can't believe 2011 is almost over...

I Speak AN English 2

2011-12-09T12:02:00.001-08:00

I started this personal quickie series "I speak AN English" a while ago. The project is meant to record the American slangs that I misinterpreted. I didn't think it would take me almost a year to makes the second and third pieces so NOW it's actually a series. But better late than never right?

I present you the "high-rollers" and "on a roll" following on my last "pho sho".

A modern kung fu fairy tale

2011-12-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

These illos are for this month's Utne Reader magazine. The title of the story is " The Master and Mike DiMeglio". It's a true story about the Chinese White-Crane kung fu legacy and the master-apprentice relationship between Dr. Yang and his favorite pupil Mike DiMeglio, who betrayed the master and got kicked out of the training.

It was a very fun project as I could fully unleash my Chinese-ness and incorporate Sumie in the pieces. The project also got me a little nostalgic that I went so far to dug out this sumie painting I did back in high school. I remember being pretty proud of it but now it's almost embarrassing...still cool to see how my work has evolved though!

Big thanks to AD Stephanie Glaros.

Cirque du Soleil photo-illo collaboration

2011-12-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

This portrait of Guy Laliberte was a fun collaboration project with photographer Steve Benisty for an Art magazine called Whitewall. Guy Laliberte is the president of Cirque du Soleil. Aside from being the creative mind and founder behind all of Cirque's amazing shows, he recently went into space and shot a coffee table book of images of the earth from space. The book is called Gaia and it's truly inspiring. All the money made from the book goes to his 'One drop' foundation, which promotes the importance of water and provides clean water to third world countries .

Steve came to me with this photo he shot and invited me to add some whimsical drawing to the blank space which would capture the ascent of Cirque du Soleil and say something about Guy's space trip and his One Drop foundation. I came up with the idea of Guy supporting the "water goddess" and have different life forms sprouting out from her.

Japanese anti-nuke activist illo

2011-11-30T10:06:00.000-08:00

I did this portrait illustration for the current Foreign Policy "Top 100 Global Thinker" issue. Mizuho Fukushima, the leader of Japan's Social Democratic Party, and her partner, lawyer Yuichi Kaido were ranked 29th in the magazine for their antinuclear activism.

Special thanks to Yuko Shimizu for recommending me to AD Dennis Brack, who I enjoyed working with very much!

Holiday Special print sale!

2011-11-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

Some new prints on sale in my store now and check out the HOLIDAY SPECIAL PROMO!

"And once again the day is saved!", $35 open edition, 13"x19" on Epson premium matte paper with archival ink.

or FREE as a gift on any purchase of the limited edition prints!

"After Dark", $75 limited edition of 100, 13"x19" on 100% cotton Hahnemuhel Museum Etching rag with archival ink

"Moneyhorse", $95 limited edition of 100, 13"x19" on 100% cotton Hahnemuhel Museum Etching rag with archival ink

Expired Date

2011-11-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

This piece titled "Expired Date" is for the "Supervillain" show by Rotopolpress in Kassel, Germany.

For the show, artists were asked to create their own super villain and provide back stories for them. My super villain is "time". "Time" can't be defeated, just like seasonal changes are inevitable. But lovers can fool time by saying "I love you" to each other everyday to extend their expiration date.

The show is taking in Gallery Rotopol, Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 95, Kassel, Germany from Nov 25, 2011 to Dec 2, 2011. The opening reception is on this Friday Nov25 from 8pm to 12am.

And here is the star line-up:

Daniel von Bothmer, Daniel Clarke, Melanie Climent, Brun Croes, Alexander Draude, Markus Färber, Renaud Forestie, Rita Fürstenau, Ugo Gattoni, Ines Christine Geißer, Kirsten Carina Geißer, Karlo Ghokasian, Lea Heinrich, Anton van Hertbruggen, Jesse Jacobs, Hellen Jo, Warwick Johnson Cadwell, Andrea Kalfas, Nina Kaun, Nic Klein, Nicolas Mahler, Michael Meier, Niark1, Aurélie Neyret, Victo Ngai, Maike Plenzke, Nadine Redlich, Lisa Röper, Bene Rohlmann, Stacey Rozich, Isabel Seliger, Guillaume Singelin, Sebastian Stamm, Liesbeth de Stercke, Guy Vallez, Brecht Vandenbroucke, Marco Wagner, Thomas Wellmann, Cheuk Yin Chan, Loïc Zimmermann

It's going to be amazing, check it out if you are in town!

Be prepared!

2011-11-19T14:18:00.001-08:00

Here is another fun project for AD SooJin. It's a great honor to be part of the amazing PLANSPONSOR November issue with super star artist lineup: Jillian Tamaki, Meg Hunt, JooHee Yoon, Jing Wei, Jonathan Barlett, Charles Immer, A Richard Allen, Greg Mably, Katherine Streeter, Kyle T. Webster...

The article is about "getting prepared for the future" and here is my take-

(Really glad SooJin let the perky butts run...)

Society of Illustrators Annual show selected!

2011-11-15T13:30:00.001-08:00

I just got a call from Anelle from the Society of Illustrators NY. Two of my pieces are selected into the annual show! HORRAYYY!

Thanks to all the judges, being in the same show as my teacher, mentors and fellow illustrators who I admire means A LOT to me.

"The Disappointment"was selected into the editorial category. Thank you AD SooJin Buzelli-

"I was born in 1930" was selected into the sequential category, thank you Ze for inviting me to contribute to the collective comic "Dimension" . -

Closing Borders

2011-11-08T08:21:00.001-08:00

Here is a piece I did for the Honolulu magazine.

The story is kind of a blue one - it's about local Hawaiian musician loosing their ways to get their music out because of the closing Borders bookstores , which carried their CDs as well as provided venue for live performances.

Thanks again to AD Cody Kawamoto.

New illo for NYTimes sunday letter!

2011-11-05T19:39:00.000-07:00

This illo is still warm!! I just finished it yesterday and it's going to be in tomorrow's New York Times paper (Sunday Nov 6). You can read the article here online. This is my first color illustration for the CRAZY PACE letter page and it's a very fun (and no sleep) challenge.

The topic is about the tension and debates between fossil fuel and renewal energies.

I gave up going to Conan O'Brien 's for this...but it's worth it, right?

Big thanks to AD Alexandra and Aviva! Always a pleasure to work with.

Cover for Diplomat magazine

2011-11-02T11:21:00.001-07:00

This is a cover I did for the latest UK Diplomat mag Ukraine issue cover.

It's quite an interesting story how I get under the radar of AD Jeannie Saba. I participated in the Pick Me Up show in London earlier this year and Jeannie's boyfriend bought one of my prints for her as a gift. She really liked it and decided to hire me to do a cover! I guess one can never predict how fate unfolds.

The theme of the cover is Ukraine's growth and her blooming agriculture. I want to celebrate Ukraine's fertile black soil which provides for and nourishes everything in the country. To me, growth is energetic and festive, then the idea of integrating the famous Ukrainian ballet came to mind: why not humanize the black soil into ballerinasdancing around the blooming sunflower? I chose sunflower to symbolize Ukraine as it's a very popular flower in the country and it's the flower that always grow upward facing the sun. The large anther of the flower also allows me to be playful and sneak in a few unique Ukrainian architecture there!

The cover went through a few different stages, you can see the evolution here.

I went with the red palette at first because I like its explosive energy.

Jeannie suggested that it would be nice to use Ukraine's national flag colors instead.

Run moneyhorse run!

2011-10-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

This is a recent piece for the New York Times travel section, it's online now and will be published in this Sunday (Oct 30) paper.

I had tons of fun with this piece but the story isn't necessarily a good news for most people including myself. Major airlines continue to cut flights this holiday season while the number of passengers increase. So traveling will be quite hectic -expensive tickets, packed planes and long lines will be expected.

Many airlines also launched some new policies- basically if you pay more, you can skip the security check line, check in more languages, board the plane before others and even enjoy more legroom....Unless you are one of those who can afford the moneyhorse, this kinda sucks.

Great thanks to AD Corinne and the editors at the Times for letting me run wild with such a practical story.

Interview in the new Gestalten book and Art Tails project

2011-10-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Yayyy, I have an interview feature in the new Gestalten book: Illustration Unlimited-the essence of contemporary illustration.

The book will be released:

Continental Europe and UK: late September
Asia and Australia/NZ: early October
North America: mid October
Latin America: mid October

Find out more on Gestalten's website if you are interested!

I also participated in the Art Tails project:

Art Tails is a charity art-book app for i-Phone/i-Pad by 180(and increasingly more) artists from around the world. All the profit of the project goes to the rebuilding of Tohoku, Japan after the disastrous 311 earthquake. I think the project is a brilliant idea as it promotes arts and enables us "starving artists" to contribute with our pictures! I hope you will like it too, thanks for the support!

You can purchase the app here.

End of summer illos-CIO, Pacifists and Mormon missionaries

2011-09-26T12:07:00.001-07:00

Portrait of Roland Lescure for aiCIO magazine. Mr Lescure is the Chief investment Officer for the US$152 billion Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, he talks about how diversification as a good way to invest is merely an illusion. I love working with AD SooJin Buzelli, she seems to always pick my favorite idea!

(final art)

(sketch)

(layout)

A piece for the Progressive Magazine Calendar 2012 Cover and March image. The image is to remember the brave pacifists who set sail, intending to cross the restricted US military testing zone, protesting against nuclear weapon on March 24, 1958.

Big thanks to AD Nick Jehlen for the creative freedom and walking me through the duotone process!

(final art) (sketch)

(cover) (interior)

A full page and spot illustration for the Marriot alumni magazine. Former Associate Dean W. Steve Albrecht shares his experience as president of the Tokyo mission during the 2011 earthquake. Big thanks to AD Jon Woidka!

Thanks for swinging by!

NYTimes and illaboration happened!

2011-08-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a really fun illaboration (illustration collaboration) piece I did with super talented illustrator Kim Rosen. Our theme was mystery.

To see more illaborations by other illustrators, visit http://www.illaborate.com/

The final art after me adding bunch of stuff on it-

This is the Part 1 I got from Kim, love her drawing of the hair and color scheme!

NYTimes Op-Ed illustration also happend yesterday and is in today's paper. The article follows up on the Hershey chocolate factory strike last week. It talks about the abuse of J-1 VISA- companies exploiting foreign guest workers as cheap labors in the name of work-holiday and cultural exchange. Click here to read the article.

MGI Promo Poster

2011-08-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

(final)

(sketch)

Promotional poster I recently did for my art rep Morgan Gaynin. We solve any illustration problems u have!

Thank you for the commission Vicki and Gail!

Online store launched!

2011-08-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

I finally have a legit store selling limited edition prints! Check it out guys!!
http://victo-ngai.mysupadupa.com/

Globetrotting food trip with Moby!

2011-08-02T07:52:00.001-07:00

A recent piece I did for the Vegetarian Times. The story: “On the Road with Moby – A sampling of this Globetrotting vegan’s restaurant picks”. Big thank to AD Scott Hyers. Enjoy!

Also, I am finally on tumblr- http://victongai.tumblr.com/ and has a facebook page-http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victo-Ngai/191921997526155

Trying to figure out if there's a more effective to update all the social media- tumblr, facebook, twitter, blogspot....it's getting overwhelming. Suggestions?

Interview with EFII

2011-07-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be interviewed by the amazing illustration resource blog- Escape from Illustration Island(EFII)recently. Check it out here.

Many thanks to Thomas for the challenging yet great questions!

New work, Shanghai trip and PIXAR exhibition

2011-07-08T04:43:00.001-07:00

Sorry for not posting for a while , I have been travelling and working on an exciting project that I am dying to tell but can't say a word until next year.

In the mean time, here is a piece I did for this month's PLANSPONSOR magazine.

The story is about the difficulties of communication. For the millionth times, big big thanks to AD SooJin Buzelli.

(final)

(layout)

(sketch)

Here are some photos from my trip to China.

An illustration assignment from my grandma.

She paid by teaching me how to make Chinese dim sum.

I found my true love in Shanghai zoo.

Unfortunately, he's only using me as his sugar-mama.

Beautiful streets at the French concession area in Shanghai.

Went to the PIXAR 25 Years exhibition in Hong Kong today, made me really wanna work for them.

New works-I drew some fishes

2011-06-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

I drew some fishes lately. The first one is for my all-time favorite AD SooJin! I was given the phrase"new and unproven". It's great because despite the article is about retirement fund, I only need to work from the phrase and can pretend it's for a sci-fi story.

(sketch)

(final)

(layout)
The second one is for Rhode Island School of Design's alumni magazine called RISD xyz. In the story, RISD alumnae and Fulbright scholarship winner, Louie Rigano, talks about his experience in Japan during the 311 earthquake. He described how Japanese stood resolute facing the national disaster.

Being an alumnae myself and a former exchange student in Japan, this job has special meaning to me. Big thanks to AD Liisa Silander for allowing me to have fun with the layout.

Cover for the Deal magazine

2011-06-02T03:11:00.000-07:00

I did an interior illustration for the Deal magazine recently, AD Larry Gendron was very happy with the final and decided to use it as the COVER! What a surprise!

The story is about LPs (limited partners who provide the money) re-evaluating the funds and their GPs (general partners who manage the money) these days as the economy is looking gloomy. The relationship between LPs and the fund is complex- they need each other to make big money but are also concerned with their own problems and looking to advance their self interest.

It was my first time working with Larry, he's such a pleasure to work with and gave me every creative freedom an illustrator can ask for. Big thanks to all the beautiful ladies at Morgan Gaynin. Inc for getting me this great assignment.

New Op-ed Illo for NYTimes

2011-06-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

I have a piece in the New York Times Oped today. You can read the article here.

Big thanks to AD Aviva Michaelov and Alexandra Zsigmond for the cool layout design- I really like how they place the illo at the very top so it looks like the paint is dripping down the page.

The story is about how the writer thinks the enthusiastically responded $300 house project will do more harm to urban poor than good as it neglects the dynamic and diverse needs/interest of the people.

When I first learnt about the $300 house (replacing the slums with well-build, pre-made and low-cost houses), I thought it's an ingenious idea. However, after working on this project and researching on Dharavi made me change my mind. Even though the living condition of the slum is depressing, it fascinates me how creative people are with the limited resources they have to build their homes. Generations of thoughts and effort are put into each of these houses and I don't think they are replaceable by mass-produced cubes.

HK international Art Fair 2011

2011-05-29T06:42:00.001-07:00

Went to the HK international Art Fair2011 today and saw a lot of the great artists whom I admire in person, just to name a few- Zhang Xiaogang, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Yang Shaobin, Yue Chengjun, Yoshimoto Nara, James Jean...Fun day!

My first Sci-fi illo for Irene Gallo!

2011-05-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

This illustration is for a romantic time travel story titled "Time Considered as Thermite Burns in No Particular Order" on tor.com.

Everything about this project was like a dream-

I got the job e-mail around mid-night; The time machine in the story is disguised as a rose-bush; The heroine is a read head...

Most importantly, it's a job for art director Irene Gallo.

I have always had much respect for Irene as she's someone who truly loves illustration and passionate about her job. Thanks to SooJin, I was introduced to Irene back at the 2010 Society of Illustrators NY Student Scholarship show. Very much to my surprise, she had me filed in her mind and thought of me when this job came up 1 year later.

Irene is very generous with her advices and help, be sure to say hi to her if you see her around at the society or AI party next time!

Honolulu mag new illo and first process post!

2011-05-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by AD Cody Kawamoto from HONOLULU magazine for a really interesting illustration assignment. The article is about rehabilitating the troublesome wild donkeys roaming Hawaiian land and causing traffic and other problems. How often do one get to draw bad-asses? So of course I said yes.

The Final

I have been asked a lot about my process. So I thought maybe it's time to make a process post, it's actually quite straight forward and nothing magical-

The approved sketch-

I work half traditionally and half digitally. I enjoy this way of working as it allows me to create images with a wide range of media which are"incompatible" in nature. It also allows me to be really experimental with colors/texture and still able to deliver my work by the deadline safe and sound.

Usually after the sketch is approved, I go in and draw the line with pen and ink and the texture with various media like pencil, charcoal, crayon, pastel. etc

After I am done with the drawing board, I have everything scanned, composed and colored in Photoshop.

Ta-da!

The layout-

Thanks for reading!

Nonslick interview

2011-05-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

I has been very honored to be interview by my good friend Daniel Fishel for the Nonslick blog:

http://nonslick.blogspot.com/2011/05/victo-ngai.html

I am not exactly known for my writing and his questions were quite tricky but I am glad I passed!

Nonslick has interview featured many great illustrators, naming Scott Bakal, Marco Wagner, Kali Ciesemier, Johnathan Bartlett, Jon Han...Be sure to check it out if you are an illustration-nerd like me!

New illo and update from HK!

2011-05-06T00:02:00.000-07:00

Hi there, here is a piece I did for PLANSPONSOR May issue.

The story is about Value Funds have not done as well as expected in the past couple of years-I started thinking into the direction of expectation and disappointment and here are the sketches that I came up with.

I love working with SooJin because she always choose my favorite idea and enable me to give my best shot. Here is the final layout-

Sorry for not posting in a while. I am back at Hong Kong to visit my family and friends and have been indulging myself with good food and people.

NYTimes illo-Cairo's Roundabout Revolution

2011-04-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

I have a piece in the NYTimes Op-ed today. It's one of the most challenging and fun assignment I have done-big thanks to AD Alexandra for the awesome project and cool layout design.

The article is about the significance of the Tahrir square during the February Egypt revolution which ended president Mubarak's 3 decades of dictatorship. Read article here.

The ADs came up with the awesome idea of using the text to create a space in the page centre which would then be filled with my little people. I thought it would be cool to sneak a little concept in it and make the people cluster the shape of a lotus flower-as lotus has been the national flower of Egypt since the pharaohs, also one of the nick names of the revolution is "Lotus revolution".

I believe I drew over 1000 people within the 6 hours turnaround time yesterday. My hands went numb afterwards but I was quite happy with the outcome and really excited to see it in the paper today. YAY!

sketch1
sketch2

web version
print version with mock up text
the final!

close up1

close up2
close up3
close up 4

New work, lecture and other updates!

2011-04-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

Last week was super fun and crazy for me! A lot happened and I wish I had time to post about them earlier instead of cramming everything in this one post.

First thing first, I did a piece for the Village Voice special comic issue. The issue pays tribute to the annual MoCCA fest and uses ONLY comics and illustrations, click here to see the all the art. My piece is about Merce Cunningham Dance company's legacy tour at Joyce Theater, had a lot of fun with the circular format.

Second, I had my first guest lecture at awesome illustrator/educator Scott Bakal'sclass in MassArt. Photo courtesy to Scott. I was quite nervous before the presentation but glad it went well. Thank you MassArt students for being so enthusiastic and not judging me too hard. The presentation was a very good experience as it allowed me to evaluate my own work at this point after graduation for 1 year. It's also cool to be on the other side of the fence for the first time.

Oh, and I just confirmed that I will be doing another lecture at the legendary Chris Buzelli's class at SVA next Monday.

Thank you Scott and Chris for giving me the opportunities!

Last but not least, I am now officially represented by the wonderful and beautiful ladies at Morgan Gaynin!

Sorry for the long post and I hope you are enjoying the nice weather!

Keeping it safe baby!

2011-04-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

This new illustration is for the March issue of PLANSPONSOR magazine.

Once again, big big big thanks to AD SooJin for distilling the dry and complicated business article into a simple yet fun art direction-"Keeping it Safe"!

MoCCA

2011-04-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

My friends and I will be at this week's MoCCA selling prints and our comic collaboration-"Dimension". (Silk screen cover and hand binded!!)

My experimental comic I was born in 1930, 2500N 10500E will the in the book. Our table is at C11. Come by and say hi!

Got into Spectrum 18!

2011-03-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

The compete list of accepted entries for SPECTRUM 18 illustration annual is finally out and I got it! Can't wait to get the mysterious letter and find out which piece/pieces is/are selected! Congratz go to all the winners!

Wind Beast, NYTimes new illo

2011-03-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

This illo is about "Touring around Asia by Air" for the NYTimes Travel section. The article is online already and will be in the Sunday's paper.

I have a lot of creative freedom and tons of fun thanks to AD Corinne Myller.

Special thanks also to Yuko Shimizu who recommended my works to Corinne.

NYTimes illo-Japan's Crisis and Nuclear Energy

2011-03-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

A call from AD Alexandra Zsigmond at 1pm yesterday, sketches by 3pm, final by 6pm. And the illo is in the NYTimes paper today! First time having such a short turnaround and it's surprisingly exciting and fulfilling.

The piece is for the letter page of the Times about Japan's Crisis and Nuclear Energy.

Check out the article here.

I really hope Japan will be able the resolve the nuclear crisis and recover from the diastar soon. Some of my artist friends raising money for Japan with their art, please go support!

Tatsuro Kiuchi http://tatsurokiuchi.com/

Aaron Meshon http://tinyurl.com/4s5dov3

New Illo for Runners' World Mag

2011-03-12T06:56:00.000-08:00

"Wingman"-a new illustration for this month's Runner's World magazine. The top image is my original version and the one below is the tweaked version in the magazine.

Runner's World magazine uses tons of illustrations, so I was really excited when I got the job from the wonderful AD Marc Kauffman. So glad to be in the same issue with other wicked great illustrators such as: Marco Chin, Josh Cochran, Michael Byers, Pete Ryan and many more.

I was born in 1930, 3500'N 10500'E

2011-03-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

I am doing a comic collaborative, titled "Dimension", with a bunch of my friends from RISD for the upcoming MoCCA. Basically every one's comic starts with entering a portal and end with exiting one, here is my contribution - I was born in 1930, 3500'N 10500'E.

I am by no means a comic artist so this is more like an experimental piece and I need your comments and critiques! I wanted it to be a dedication to my grandparents and their generations.

RI Monthly tear sheets

2011-03-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

I just got these from AD Dean and I have to blog about it because the layout is just lovely.

Love how the type interacts with my illos and the design of white space as breathing room.

Per John Palumbo, publisher.

New Illo for Rhode Island Monthly

2011-03-02T12:23:00.001-08:00

"The Best Places to Live in Rhode Island"- a series I did for Rhode Island Monthly magazine March issue which just came out a few days ago.

This is probably the most epic editorial assignment I have done so far. I finished these five illustrations in 1 week and a half, time was a little tight but it was a fun challenge.

I was really happy when AD Dean Welshman called me for the project. Rhode Island is like a second hometown for me, it carries 4 years of wonderful college memories.

Also, Dean was just really great to work with. He understands that artists work the best when they are given the most creative freedom.

So yeah, really fun project!

"Pick me Up"artists list sneak peek + CMYK49

2011-03-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to find out that I am in the same show-Pick me Up London- with artists whom I really admire!
Just to name a few: Paul Blow, Jessica Hische, Wojciech Kolacz, Eda Akaltun....
It's going to be a great show, sooooo be sure to check it out!

Also, the latest issue of CMYK magazine just came out and my works are in it!

Superjam on toast round2

2011-02-26T20:25:00.001-08:00

(detail 1 - sexy lady)

(detail 2 - fighting while hanging on leg hair)

The collaborative comic with my RISD comrades-"Superjam on toast" has come to the second round. Each of us take turns to do one panel and pass the story on to the next person. Here is my second panel(panel 12 in the comic), check out the first panel here if you haven't yet.

Ok, I admit all I really wanted draw was that naked lady, just to prove that I can draw something else other than animals and kids (please hire me, PLAYBOY!)...

The blog dedicated for this comic jam is almost ready to go public, I promise the story will make more sense(or not) when you get to see all the panels together!

Happy Valentine's Day illo!

2011-02-13T15:46:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day folks! Are you ready for your valentine's obstacle test?

This image is created for the Valentine's day and also the Pick Me Up show that is going to happen from 17-27 March 2010 in London Somerset House. It will be produced by Smerset House and sold as a limited edition poster at the venue. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area!

Mascot Studio Annual Dog Show

2011-02-12T11:25:00.002-08:00

Hello everyone, my recent piece "Dykes and Pooch" will be showcase and for sale in the Mascot Studio Annual Dog Show. The opening reception is on the Valentine's Day (14th Feb 2011) at Mascot Studio, 328 E 9th st. NY NY.

Artists include:

Katherine Streeter, Chris Buzelli, Mark Ulriksen, Anthony Freda, Rodney Greenblat,

Anne Watkins, Cameron Woo, Ellen Weinstein, Hadley Hooper, Scott Neary,

Theo Jeuken, June Moss, Laura Ellis, Beth Burstein, Matt Shapoff, Amber Sena,

Peter McCaffrey and more...

The show is also featured in the current issue of BARK magazine.

My first "Big Head" and Cover illo

2011-02-10T17:25:00.000-08:00

Soooo, here is my first cover illo for PLANSPONSOR Feb 2011 issue.

It's also one of the most difficult illustrations I have done so far.

First, it took me a few rounds of sketches to nail the idea this time. (I was stressed out and having brain freeze because it's my FIRST COVER, also the concept was very abstract yet specific: "Finding the right adviser/partner/help")

Second, my computer monitor started dying and fading when I was almost done with the illo, so the colors that I thought was right was actually very off...

SooJin has being really patient and helpful with me the whole time. And we are both happy with the outcome of the final illo. It was also one of the pieces selected into Communication Arts Illustration annual 2011.

It's always great working with an AD who trusts you.

Here are some of the rejects...

Illo for Gayvorites.com

2011-02-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Here is a illustration I did a while back then for Gayvorites.com- "America's premiere research cooperation investigating in all things GLBTQ" OR "a really fun lifestyle website dedicated to homosexuals and homosexual-enthusiastic"

The art direction I got from AD Greg Kozetak was: "Dykes and pooch, showing how lesbian couples treat their dogs like their kid".

The stroller was inspired by the Dykes on bikes sense I saw at the San Francisco Rainbow Parade... ENJOY!

Commarts and Happy Bunny Year

2011-02-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese new year everyone!

I just got the good news that my editorial series for Plansponsor magazine (AD SooJin Buzelli) is selected in Communication Arts Illustration annual!

I am a very happy bunny today!

1200Posters SOLD OUT!

2011-01-18T19:39:00.001-08:00

Thank you everyone for your support!:D

I Speak AN English

2011-01-18T19:23:00.000-08:00

I am starting a personal quickie series called" I Speak AN English".
Even though I have been in the State for 4 years but there are still many slangs I don't know. And I often misunderstand them into something weird. This project is an attempt to record this "miscommunication". ..Hope you will enjoy it and fire more slangs at me!

1200Posters

2011-01-12T07:33:00.000-08:00

Hello all, the poster I did for 1200Posters project is released TODAY!
1200 Posters is an experiment in community, conversation and collaboration. Using text from Margaret Wheatley’s “Turning to One Another,” a rotating team of artists and designers will make one poster every month for a year. Each poster will be handmade and sold in editions of 100 with all proceeds going to the artists that created them.
The quote that my poster is based off is" Notice what you care about, assume many others share your dream."

I really believe in artist community and was very excited when I was invited to participate in this project. There's a Chinese saying: "it takes hardwork, talent, and luck to be successful". I believe having good relationships with people makes up a large part of the "luck". Since graduating in 2010, I've been trying to find a place in the highly competitive editorial illustration industry. In the limited few months of my career, I was very lucky to encounter and be helped out by a lot of great people. Some gave me constructive criticisms, some extended job opportunities, some shared their experiences and business tactics with me, some inspired me, and some helped me get back on my feet when times were hard. I can't possibly imagine where I would be without all these people. Be genuine to people; gratefully receive generous help and help generously, I think that's what community is for me.

Get a limited 100 edition archival giclee print(13"X17") and support the artist community for super friendly price- $20!
Click here to learn more about the project or to purchase a print.

New illo for Plansponsor Jan

2011-01-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

An illustration for this month's PLANSPONSOR.
The article is about "Roth Options",big thanks to AD SooJin who distilled it to "choosing between 2 paths" for me. Click here to read the article.

Happy Thursday

2011-01-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a happy Thursday for me.
First, I got a call from Marc Kauffman, AD of Runner's World magazine, to do a piece for their April issue. I have always been a fan of the illustrations in Runner's World, so it's really cool to be working with them.
Second, I have 4 pieces in the Society of Illustrator LA west 49 competitions!
Yayyy!
By the way, Society of Illustrator NY "Sequential and uncommissioned show" award ceremony is tonight at SOI128, 6pm, see you there!

NYT notable Op-Ed art 2010...Me??NO WAY!!

2010-12-31T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Mexico Drug War piece I did was selected to be one of the 20 notable NY times Op-Ed art of 2010! Check it out here.

It's quite an unexpected surprise to be among all the great illustrators who I admire. Congraz to all!

Digital Artist Magazine Interview

2010-12-29T21:29:00.000-08:00

I have finally got a copy of the Digital Artist 14 magazine which has my 5 pages interview in it!

It was released in early December in UK but took a while to travel to the State.

Here are some photos of the pages, if you are interested in reading the interview, you can check it out at Barnes and Noble.

Webmail was momentarily down!

2010-12-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

Hello, my webmail was momentarily down, so please forgive me if I never get back to your e-mails because I have not received them! But luckily the problem is fixed now. I would really appreciate it if you would send the e-mails again. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience.

Where do you think snow comes from?(new illo)

2010-12-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

(Front)(Back)(The printed color is a bit off, but I am still pretty happy with it.)

Sorry for not posting for a while, I have been working on a few things, and this is one of them.
I have mailed out around 300 cards to family, friends and ADs a few days ago, it was quite an epic writing and money-gone -to-postage process. But hopefully they will bring joy to people and maybe bring work to me!
Happy holidays and think twice the next time you catch snowflakes with your tongue!

Superjam on toast

2010-12-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

A few of my RISD friends(Catherine Chi, Robyn Ng, Jose Suris, Sohpia Foster-Dimino, KJ Martinet)and I started a comic jam called"Superjam on Toast". Each of us would have a week to do a panel and let the next person carry on the story. This is the panel I just finished.
We are building a blog dedicated to this project and I will post the URL once it's ready to go public.

Good News

2010-11-18T14:26:00.000-08:00

Got some great news, I have a piece in the Society of Illustrator 53 show and book; 3 pieces in CMYK Magazine #49. Now back to work.

Why does NYTimes always want drugs from me?

2010-11-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

I think I am really spoiled by ADs, first SooJin approved that Brain Juice idea, now Aviva let me went wild with my meth monster.
New illustration for tomorrow's New York Times Op-ed. The article is about a way to stop the meth industry is by keeping medicines containing psedophedrine off the market. So I came up with this concept that the key of defeating the meth monster is by taking the pill away from it...

Read the article here.

How much brain juice do you have?

2010-11-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

"Brain Juice, how much do you know"-new piece for the November issue of PLANSPONSOR's Know How section. Thank you AD SooJin for approving such a crazy/marginal disgusting concept.

New work for aiCIO

2010-11-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

(final)
(approved sketch)

This is a piece for aiCIO magazine about the opportunities and risk in emerging markets.
Thanks again to AD SooJin. Read the article here.

The early bird catches the worm

2010-11-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

Me and my roommate Robyn woke up at 4am today to attend the epic lecture by Sam Weber, Josh Cochran and Chris Silas Neal at Chris Buzelli's class in RISD. The lecture was a very inspiring one, we got to see the artist's working process, original drawing and many more, lucky! Chris and SooJin were sooo nice to offer us a ride from NY to PVD, we got a free lunch too...

Twitter

2010-11-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Just signed up for a twitter account, still not quite sure how to navigate it but I am trying! Let's have conversations!

Print Nation Opening Night Photos

2010-10-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to Sam Gorecki for the photos, so people like me who were not able to attend the opening reception could get a glimpse of the show!

New Illo for New York Times-Mexico Drug War

2010-10-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

(Final)
Just finished this illustration for the New York Times Op-ed. It will accompany 4 short stories about the Mexico Drug War. Many thanks to AD Aviva Michaelov for assigning such a great article to me. Read the article here.

Here are the sketches I sent:

4 thumbs up for Noma Bar show

2010-10-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Me and my roommate went to the Noma Bar opening reception at Gallery Seven,NY Times this evening and got blown away by the Noma's amazingly brilliant and inspiring works! I am not sure when the show is gonna be over but definitely check it out! Oh, I got to meet AD Nick Blechman at the show too but I think I might have scared him with my overly enthusiastic fan-like self-introduction. Need to work on my cool/socializing.

Print Nation Show

2010-10-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

Some of my works are in the Print Nation Show. The opening is at 7pm, 15th October at These Days Gallery: 454 William Street, Northbridge, Perth, West Australia.
Too bad I won't be able to go as it's in Australia, but go check it out if you are in town!

Hunting Season!

2010-09-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

(final) (sketch)
"Metropolitan Hunting Season", illo for PLANSPONSOR Europe about job hunting. It is one of the jobs that I had most fun with. Thanks for the great assignment SooJin!

Featured in Carne Magazine

2010-09-26T14:02:00.001-07:00

Few of my works are featured in Carne Magazine issue #5 together with many other awesome artists! Download the issue here.

New Illo for AI5000

2010-09-11T10:25:00.001-07:00

New illo for AI5000 electronic magazine about "Outsourcing".
Click here to read the article and see other amazing illustrations done by Chris Buzelli, Yuko Shimizu, John Hersey, Charlie Immer, Adam McCauley, Chang Park, Gramham Smith, Steve Wacksman, Kyler T. Webster...
Thanks again to the legendary AD SooJin Buzelli, who loves illos and knows well that illustrators give their best work when they are given the most creative freedom.

New Illo for Family Circle Magazine

2010-09-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

New illustration for an article in Family Circle magazine about parents bartering for their kid's good behavior with Internet time". Thank you AD Karmen Lizzul for allowing me to put the minimal internet/computer symbols in the illo!

Free i-phone or i-pad wallpaper

2010-09-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

Happy labor day!
Click here for free i-phone or i-pad wallpaper by me.

Feature and short interview on Ape on the Moon

2010-08-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

Check it out here.
Thanks so much to Alex Mathers for putting together such a great blog!

My First New York Times Op-Ed Illustration!

2010-08-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's published today! I still can't believe it actually happened.
Check out the article here .
This was my first time working in BW for a newspaper, thanks so much to AD Aviva Michaelov for her patient and encouraging art direction.

Revised work for Planadviser

2010-08-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

(Revised)
(Old)
I have revised one of my old works - "Hot Race" to fit the dimension of a reoccurring column called "Hot off the presses" in Planadviser magazine. I think I am liking the new one better with the breathing room and light movement added to the left. Thanks again to AD SooJin Buzelli!

Here is a great news for those who are interested in working for SooJin:
she has two reoccurring columns called "Bells and Whistles" and "Hot Off the Presses" in PLANSPONSOR and Planadviser magazine. I am not sure about the new dimension of the "Bells and Whistles", but "Hot Off the Presses" is 16.5W x 5H trim size, 350 dpi, CMYK. SooJin is very keen on using new talents, so if she likes your versions of the "Bells and Whistles" or "Hot Off the Presses", there is a high chance of being published and earn a month's rent money!

Featured on Blogs

2010-08-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

My works have been featured on a few blogs, check them out!~
Beautiful/Decay Magazine
Freakshow
The Best Part
KITSUNE NOIR
LAGUBEKO
Graphic Design Goodies
Burstoid
Design You Trust
豆瓣(Douban)
Ballista Magazine
Vectroave

My First Interview !!

2010-07-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

My first interview with Oldbookillustration.com is online now and can be found here!
Special thanks to Hervé for all the well thought-out questions! They really got me thinking of my works from new perspectives!

I am a real person now! + 3X3 Golds

2010-07-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since I last posted. Sorry for being off the hook for so long! A lot has happened in this last month: I earned my BFA from RISD, got an apartment in NY and lost it, went on an epic family road trip for almost 3 weeks and just got back to Rhode Island.

Now that school is done and vacation is over, I am officially starting my career as a freelance illustrator, need to start cold-calling art directors and sending out mailers... Stepping into a new page of life is very exciting yet kind of scary at the same time. For the first time, there won't be any class schedule, homework assignments or grading. I need to be the one who's setting my own goal, my own pace, my own evaluations...Many people have warned me that freelancing takes a lot of self-motivation and is not an uneasy path, but I guess I will just see how it goes. Make it or not, it will probably be pretty fun looking back at this post a few years from now haha

A couple good news:
-Boy on Bear and Transferring Risk are awarded Gold Medal, The New Standard is awarded Bronze Medal from the 3X3 Student Show No.7
-BowlCut and Lost in Translation are selected to appear in the Applies Art Student Show 2010

Thank you to my parents, RISD, Chris Buzelli, SooJin Buzelli and all my friends for helping, supporting and tolerating me along the way!

More new stuffs

2010-05-09T14:40:00.001-07:00

A new personal piece: " lost in translation" done for the independent study with Chris Buzelli. Inspired by the movie with the same title and my own experience as an international student.
"Cooking Evolution"-A piece done for Watershed magazine (a Brown Publication) in Paul Olson's class a couple weeks ago which I forgot to upload.

SOI NY opening

2010-05-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

Went to the big apple for the SOI NY opening 2 days ago to receive my scholarship award.
It was a pleasant surprise to find out they are using my image for the 2011 call for entry poster.
Thrilled to meet many of my idol illustrators and art directors: Julian Tamaki, Sam Weber, Scott Bakal, Josh Cochran, Soojin Buzelli, Iren Gallo...
It was also very nice meeting the fellow student talents. Everyone was unbelievably nice!

Thank you my instructor/ kungfu master Chris Buzelli and all my friends for coming to the opening and rooting for us.
Thank you RISD illustration department for arranging the trip, Jean Blackburn and Susan Doyle for accompanying us the entire trip.

New Works

2010-04-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Now that the senior show opening is over, I can finally update this blog with my recent works.
Here are some pieces I have done in these 2 months.

"Bowlcut"-Latest work! After doing many editorial piece for serious articles, I wanted a change, especially after seeing Dadu's works which are very personal and emotional.
Chris Buzelli was very understanding and let me do a personal piece for my independent study with him. This piece was inspired by my childhood memory. My mom used to put a ramen bowl on my head to give me a perfect edge bowlcut.
I think this piece is my favorite so far.

My take on the classic "King Kong", was trying to show the sentimental aspect of King Kong, reaching for the last touch before his fall. Done in Jon Foster's cover to cover class.

"Ben Franklin biography"-Book cover done in Jon Foster's "cover to cover" class.
I didn't want to do a portrait of Ben Franklin, so I decided to make a cover inspired by one of his quotes which I think describes his own life very well: "Mankind is divided into 3 classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, those that move."

"A drop of murder" illustration for a New York Times book review article about poisons roaming free of regulations during the 30s. Done for my independent study with Chris Buzelli.

"They were here", a illustration for a Walrus article about tracking Russia's young homeless.
I did three different ideas at the sketch stage and decided to go with the quieter and more emotional one. Done for Chris' independent study.

"The Red Highway", illustration for a New York Times Book Review article about China's road network expansion and its effect on social demography. Done for independent study with Chris.

"The effect of toxins on infants", illustration for a New York Times Op-Ed article about the possible relationship between toxins in cosmetic and inborn autism.

Glimpses of "One of these things is not like the other"

2010-04-30T12:54:00.001-07:00

Thank you everyone for coming!It was so much funnnn!

Putting up works.

Yue setting up his high-tech corner.

The awesome group!Thank you Hannah for the lovely flowers.

The gallery.

The reading/comic corner.

Jose's Polar express bear.

My works.

preparing refreshmen(silk screen chocolate cat on pancakes, cereal, home-made smoothies and hot dog)

YAYYY!

Catherine the pretty lady with her pretty lady fashion illustrations.

One of these thing is not like the other

2010-04-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

s

Our senior show is coming up, drop by and check out your all-time favorite and the latest never been seen works by:

SOPHIA FOSTER-DIMINO
CATHERINE CHI
JOSé SURIS IV
KJ MARTINET
VICTO NGAI
MAGNOLIA PORTER
YUE LI

Date:	Thursday, April 29, 2010
Time:	6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location:	RISD ISB GALLERY

If you come early enough, you will get a copy of our jam comic: INTERGALACTIC SUPERMARKET MADNESS!!!!
Look forward to see you there!

Portrait of Theodore Economou is published!

2010-04-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

At last, the portrait of Theodore Exonomou I did for AI5000 electronic magazine is published!
Check out the page here.

Aaron Meshon's visit

2010-04-08T20:49:00.001-07:00

Aaron Meshon came and held a presentation at RISD today.
His works were amazing and he was also one of the nicest guys I have ever met.
He brought his adorable"zipper-pullers" as gifts for everyone and I put mine on my earring.

lalala

2010-04-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

Just got to know that the new standard piece was selected to appear in the American Illustration 29 annual.
I heard that SOI NY is also using it for the student show poster, but I haven't seen it yet...
It's nice yet unsettling at the same time to know it got a recognition again.
I really need new works which can top that piece.
It was from more than half year ago and I still haven't done anything better, arghhh
I don't want to be a one trick pony...

Went to NY over the spring break for a day and saw Chris' amazing MACY's flower show campaign.
He's getting mad huge!

Though that I might as well throw in a photo of my firend's "transformer bumblebee car", I was lucky to bump into him and got a ride back to Providence.

Transferring Risk

2010-03-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a piece I finished last week for Soojin.
It is for an article about "transferring risk of pension fund",
and going to be published in the PLANSPONSOR European edition launch issue.

The final.

The initial sketch.

There's no magic, only hardwork!

2010-03-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

Graduation is coming up, have been feeling uneasy lately.
I know that I want to be a freelance illustrator but there are many times I am not sure if I am good enough.
I have always wondered how well-known illustrators get started in the beginning so I decided to try my luck and e-mailed one of my favorite illustrators, Emiliano Ponzi. He wrote back to me and gave me some really thoughtful advises.
Ponzi wrote :
"keep in mind that there isn't a magic formula so do the best you can, send your work around and keep your finger crossed....if the feedback will be negative, work on other images send them around and keep.........over and over."
Frankly, it was quite comforting to learn that Ponzi is a mortal and it wasn't magic behind his amazing effortless looking works. I guess the saying: " it takes a lot of works to look effortless" is true after all.
Ponzi also shared this LA times article with me. It is about writers' career but a lot of the concepts are application to illustrators' life. The article mentioned that the people who eventually succeed are not the most naturally-talented ones but the ones who endure and persist. I found this really thought provoking and somehow encouraging, because,
I dont know if I get talent or not, but sure, I know I can work hard and endure.