Creative Capital: How this illustrator and children's book author dreams big in Singapore
I'grand a chip of a failed artist. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be an illustrator. Later, when I was in university, I aspired to be a painter of notation. I studied art, and even took part in a few grouping shows and had one solo prove in New York before leaving fine art behind for a job in venture capital letter in Hong Kong, which did not last very long.
So, when I came across someone like Lee Kow Fong, who has followed his dreams to become a professional illustrator, artist and children's book writer, I accept zip just respect and admiration. Kow Fong'south piece of work is charming, with an innocence and child-like quality that make yous smile. He's too prolific, working on new books, personal fine art pieces, and corporate commissions all at the aforementioned time.
YOUR BIO SAYS THAT You ARE ALSO A POLYTECHNIC LECTURER. IS Teaching SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED Earlier OR AFTER YOU BECAME A PROFESSIONAL ILLUSTRATOR?
I used to teach full time at Ngee Ann Polytechnic's (NP) School of Humanities & Social Sciences (HMS). I was with the Chinese Studies Department, and focused on Chinese media-related modules and translation.
Analogy and teaching happened about at the aforementioned time. I had the chance to illustrate for a children's volume when I started educational activity in 2007. I was besides working as a freelance illustrator, and I slowly built my base, skills, knowledge and conviction. Later obtaining a Master of Arts (MA) caste in children'south book illustration, I took upwards some picture book-related modules in the Early Childhood Education Diploma grade. It took me x years, from 2007 to 2017, before I was confident enough to turn professional.
I left full-time education in 2022 and I'm at present doing adjunct didactics with the schoolhouse.
WHAT SPARKED YOUR PASSION FOR Analogy?
I'd loved to draw since I was a child. I'm also passionate about Chinese civilisation and linguistic communication. I was from the pioneer batch of the Art Elective Plan at Chinese High Schoolhouse.
Just art faded off from my life after the O levels, which I realised, created a corking sense of loss in me. I stumbled upon digital analogy when I started blogging, and from there, I began to create simple stories with illustrations.
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I'm e'er trying to discover my voice. I'g well-nigh confident and comfortable when voicing my inner thoughts through a combination of pictures and words. Picture books, which combine writing and illustration, fit nicely in this attribute.
YOU MAY Be THE Commencement PERSON I HAVE MET WITH A MASTER Degree IN CHILDREN'S Book ILLUSTRATION. WHAT PROMPTED Y'all TO Study It? WHAT WAS THE APPLICATION Process Like?
I decided to pursue the MA degree in 2009 considering I had just fulfilled my two-year teaching contract with NP, and I needed a valid reason to push button myself forward as a professional person illustrator. Going overseas to study would hateful no turning back. One time the class fee was paid, by hook or cheat, I needed to achieve some results.
I'one thousand also not the only Singaporean who has taken the course. I know of at to the lowest degree two others who were equally bold or foolish as I was. The MA degree is offered by the Cambridge Schoolhouse of Fine art at Anglia Ruskin University in the Great britain. It's a three-semester or one-and-a-half-twelvemonth full-fourth dimension program.
Let me put it obviously – you are non at that place to acquire to draw or paint. You are gratis to prefer whatsoever style, form and medium. The grade teaches you the procedure of illustrating a total motion picture book. To apply, you need to send over a portfolio of artwork, and for some, a phone or online interview is required.
YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS HAVE A WHIMSICAL INNOCENCE TO THEM THAT IS VERY SPECIAL. HOW DID YOU Make it AT YOUR CURRENT STYLE OF ILLUSTRATION?
I don't deliberately describe in a sure fashion. I pigment and illustrate in a way I feel comfortable and take delight in. There are definitely lots of influences from various sources, including Hayao Miyazaki'south animation, those old Japanese and Disney cartoons, and fifty-fifty children's programmes similar Sesame Street that I'd watched in the 70s and 80s. During my university days, I loved books past Taiwanese illustrator Jimmy Liao.
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Style aside, there are other more obvious changes in my works over the years. The first change was my medium of selection. I started with digital considering I wanted to share my drawings on my blog. It came as a surprise to me when I was studying in the Britain, and saw that almost all my course mates worked not-digitally.
When I was at the Bologna Children's Volume Fair in 2010, I met upwardly with publishers from different countries and regions to show them my portfolio. Ane advice given to me, which I remember till today, was: If you want to be taken seriously as a picture-volume illustrator, testify people bodily paintings.
The turning bespeak was in 2022 after my beginning solo exhibition, The Colour Of Silence, at The Arts House. I had showcased prints of my digital illustrations and they were pretty well received. But when people asked for my original paintings, I had none. That incident spurred me to switch to paper and sail. Information technology took quite a few months to get used to the medium every bit I had not worked on physical artworks for decades. I at present piece of work mainly with watercolour and I enjoy it thoroughly.
The 2nd change is the mood in my picture show. I think my earlier works were more melancholic. I enjoyed depicting a sense of loneliness or loss, which I thought was aesthetically enchanting. Possibly historic period has caught up with me and I now prefer warmth, happiness and less self-indulgence in my piece of work.
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The last obvious alter are the themes. It was also around tardily 2022 that I started to illustrate scenes of my memories. Before that, my illustrations were purely fictional, and there was a menstruation in which I focused a lot on quondam, vanishing Singapore, such as my playground series or erstwhile iconic building series. Today, I enjoy cartoon inspiration from everyday life. I consider it a shift from fantasy to old memories and the nowadays.
Y'all ALSO WRITE A COLUMN FOR LIANHE ZAOBAO'S LIFESTYLE SECTION Chosen ZBNOW. WHAT Exercise YOU WRITE Almost?
I started the fortnightly column in 2010, and every slice comes with my writing and an accompanying illustration. I basically write virtually everything ... picture books, literature, movies, art, travelling and, of course, my thoughts on life, dreams and aspirations. But no politics or sensitive social issues.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THE LIFE OF AN ILLUSTRATOR IS AN EASY ONE, Specially IN SINGAPORE, WHERE THE COST OF LIVING IS And then High. HAS Information technology BEEN TOUGH TO STAY COMMITTED TO YOUR PASSION?
Yes, definitely. It'due south not as romantic every bit almost would imagine, especially for someone like me who is already in his late 40s. The stable income I gave up was rather overwhelming. But I did not leap into becoming a full-time illustrator overnight. Information technology was a gradual process.
For this, I'grand very grateful to NP where I teach. When I decided to go to the UK for my MA caste, HMS's director was very supportive and offered me no-pay leave. In 2014, after I'd successfully applied for the National Arts Council'southward (NAC) overseas writer's residency programme, the school granted me three-month professional development leave. During that period, I enjoyed my stay at the Toji Cultural Center in Wonju, South Korea, and came back with the painted picture book, The Search, written in Korea.
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When I discussed my career once again with HMS's new director in 2016, he suggested that I took up a flexi-work scheme for a yr instead of quitting. After a year, I was fix to go full time into illustrating.
This is my second year every bit a professional illustrator. I wouldn't say it's a constant struggle to make ends meet, only the financial insecurity nevertheless pops upwardly at present and then. What's of import is to maintain a positive mindset, get your priorities correct and visualise what you lot want to achieve. Whenever I'm feeling downwardly, I tell myself: I'one thousand now my own boss. I accept full control of my time and my plans. What else could I inquire for?
You lot'VE WRITTEN 20 OR And then BOOKS. WHERE DO You lot Become THE IDEAS FOR THE BOOKS FROM?
Most of my books are picture books for young kids, with one or two titles suitable for adult readers likewise. Then, in that location are some books that are compilations of my column articles and illustrations. To create books for kids is not really that difficult. Just keep the storyline simple and throw in lots of wild imagination. Likewise, think about rhythm and repetition in both the visuals and narration to raise reading enjoyment.
HOW LONG DOES EACH BOOK Accept? DO YOU COME UP WITH VISUAL IDEAS FIRST OR THE STORY Outset?
Information technology depends. I would say it takes maybe slightly over a calendar month to cease a motion-picture show volume. That would include ideas, storyboard planning, painting, digital editing and page layouts. I'm a visual person, and so nearly of the time, I prefer to use images to drive the story.
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THIS Feb, YOU BECAME THE FIRST Artist-IN-RESIDENCE IN SINGAPORE Printing HOLDINGS' (SPH) CHINESE MEDIA Group. WHAT DOES THAT Hateful AND HOW IS THAT GOING?
Basically, it's a two-year arrangement and I am given a hire-free studio space to illustrate for them. I'chiliad very grateful to SPH for promoting and supporting local talent. I promise more commercial organisations would do like-wise.
Exercise YOU Call back SINGAPORE FOSTERS CREATIVITY?
I recollect beingness asked at my very starting time chore interview: You have a great artistic idea but the client can but afford a 30-second spot. Practice you see that as a restriction? My immediate response was that creativity had naught to do with the duration. And I still believe that. Creativity is about making the best of whatever we have.
Singaporeans are known to be effective, police abiding, pragmatic and boring. But we are not as rigid as nearly would perceive. We face up then many constraints in every possible way, and this really pushes us to work around things creatively. If nosotros look at Singapore from this perspective, we are, in fact, forced to exist creative.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NEXT?
I'd simply finished a motion picture book for a commercial organisation and it was launched during the one-calendar week school break in September. In tardily Oct, a small infinite in a local tourist attraction will be converted into a gallery for my original illustrations. And the third compilation of my column-illustrated articles will be published early next twelvemonth.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/illustrator-children-book-author-lee-kow-fong-229761
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