Feature Edition #7 - June 2007: Leiying Chen - Featured Artist Interview

Evran Jawad:

Why don't you tell everyone a little bit about yourself, like a little biography.

Leiying Chen:

Mmmmm, I don't know, I'm always stuck when talk about myself. I love art, and my biggest dream is to make art my whole life.

Evran Jawad:

Where do you gain your inspirations from?

Leiying Chen:

From my heart, sometimes from music. My stuff is all very emotional because they're from my emotion at that moment.

Evran Jawad:

Do you base any of your pieces from life situations?

Leiying Chen:

Yeah, most of them! Like what I love, what I hate, what I hope for, and what I'm longing for.

Evran Jawad:

Do you think you could tell us, what kind of emotions you were going through during your piece 'I Need A Hug'?

Leiying Chen:

Yeah, mmmmmm actually, I just wanted to draw something perhaps I was a little inspired by beaucoupzero's works with random objects stacked together, made me what to try it myself. As I got into the drawing I soon found myself and realized what I wanted to express on this piece. Using Pigda, a sad creature possibly myself along with "Zazazu" which is when you get that feeling of butterflies when someone needs a hug, along with happiness and nameless sadness, I formulated this piece.

Evran Jawad:

So you said beaucoupzero is who you get inspiration from is there any other people who inspire you?

Leiying Chen:

Yes, my friend Archan, it was only in the latter stages of my works, not entirely sure how he inspires me, but he just does. I love the colors in Brazilian designer's works, I love them all and I love the colors in South America, bright & sexy.

Evran Jawad:

So do you base a lot of your color schemes on South America?

Leiying Chen:

I don't know, I never have some particular intention in doing colors just very spontaneous, but I think an individual, rudenlp, his works inspired me to use bright colors. I used to use more conservative colors such as blues and hated purples and pinks, but now I seem to be using them more often along with yellows and a lot of reds. Somewhat pleasant but also bold.

Evran Jawad:

Evran Jawad: Do you ever go through trial & error when choosing your colors? Or do you just know which colors to use?

Leiying Chen:

Mmmmm, not exactly, I do have color error moments. Honestly, I just use my instincts to choose colors and adjust as I progress through the piece. Along with human inspirations, I do get a lot of color schemes from nature, like blood is red and the stars are bright yellow. Perhaps I pick my colors like a kid? Hahaha

Evran Jawad:

Well your works are very unique and has a style of its own, have you been practicing this style for a long time?

Leiying Chen:

You know actually I lack basic drawing skills, never being to art school officially and I do shadow, lights and structures based on my own understanding most of the time I see my style as a misunderstanding on shadows and light, haha.

Evran Jawad:

So do you usually sketch then replicate it on the computer?

Leiying Chen:

Yeah.

Evran Jawad:

All the time?

Leiying Chen:

Sketching is a must; I've never initially done anything on the computer. Sketching first just saves a lot of time since I have to rethink while I work on it digitally.

Evran Jawad:

Ahh, good tip. How long does it usually take you to do a piece, start to finish?

Leiying Chen:

For someone slow as me...it's taking more and more time now than before, not sure why, maybe it's because I get distracted and get hooked on refining all the un-smooth details. The process itself is actually very painful, my last piece took me two weeks. For me, I see every little part as the biggest part.

Evran Jawad:

Alright so your new piece "Chance to the Moon" seems like it was actually painted on a canvas, is this a first for you?

Leiying Chen:

No, I've painted many before than, but it's my first try at painting my digital styled pieces onto something more traditional like canvas. This piece is also an emotional one.

Evran Jawad:

Have you ever tried any other mediums other than painting on canvas or digital? Such as painting on wood or glass, etc.

Leiying Chen:

Yeah, it's naturally how I do most of my pieces.

Evran Jawad:

Are there any other mediums you would like to try that you haven't already?

Leiying Chen:

Street art or on architecture like Frank Ghery, because my major is actually product design.

Evran Jawad:

You said you were studying product design, is that the direction you wish to be heading?

Leiying Chen:

If I could I would be like Marc Newson, designing furniture, I love the whole Italian design of things. In the future I'd most likely either get involved in graphics or be an illustrator/artist or making furniture.

Evran Jawad:

So basically product design is what you are aiming for.

Leiying Chen:

It would be cool, but just furniture, product design requires too much discipline, it doesn't suit me & I love art more, digital or traditional. Designing is a very tough job, for me the toughest job in the world.

Evran Jawad:

Are there a lot of job opportunities in China in this field?

Leiying Chen:

There are way too many people in China and that's the problem and on an average they aren't even mature so finding jobs is tough.

Evran Jawad:

Have you ever thought of moving to another country to get a well paid job?

Leiying Chen:

Yeah, I think about it everyday, may you find me one? Hahaha.

Evran Jawad:

Hahaha, I'll find one for the both of us. Any tips you want to give people?

Leiying Chen:

Tips, I don't know I think I'm still a loser. Just, live with hopes and dreams and keep dreaming of the day, it's fine even if you lose yourself. Please don't be smarter than me stay slow with me.

Evran Jawad:

Thank you for the time you've taken to do this

Leiying Chen:

Thanks for that.