Kan
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Where did you grow up? At what age did you start thinking about pursuing an artistic career?
I have loved drawing for as long as I can remember, and I have wanted to become an artist since I was young. When we first had a home computer, and I think I was in primary school, I would draw using the paint program that comes with the windows system and draws with my mouse, it was such a struggle, but I kept drawing. Then, in junior high, I was rewarded with a digital drawing tablet for my good grades. Since then, drawing has become an indispensable part of my life. It is my way of self-expression. I was able to start working for magazines and doing illustrations for them in high school. And ever since then, I have worked for many notable companies and studios to create art and design works. I was able to work for one of my favorite games, Arknights, and other innovative mobile games such as Girls' Frontline: Neural Cloud and Arena of Valor. I also worked on illustrations and designs for a digital comic app, Stela, on many popular titles. For me, it feels rather natural when it comes to pursuing an artistic career.
Have you always been supported in your artistic path or has it been challenging to let your family and friends understand your choice?
I will say I'm very well supported and understood. I feel very fortunate compared to many other artists. Family members appreciate my passion and let me pursue what I love. When I was little, I was interested in learning design and calligraphy. My family saw my potential and paid for my art class! That made me start learning design from a very young age. Making friends who support your path and cheer you up instead of bringing you down is also very important. I have great friends around too.
Did you have a favorite subject to draw when you were a child and do you still have one today? If you do, what makes it so special?
Ever since I was a child, I liked to play video games. I am incredibly passionate about my favorite game series and characters. So when I have spare time, I usually draw fan art and upload them to social media to share with everybody, exchange ideas, and share thoughts; they are all enjoyable. I love the Legend of the Zelda and Persona series, especially. They have an exceptional place in my heart. Because the story and artwork of the game are so inspiring, it was such a great experience, to a point where I was aspiring to create something like that: an excellent game, fantastic art with incredible stories! I feel art is indeed a powerful tool to capture and showcase stories and emotions. So I’m very passionate about it.
From the initial client idea to the final work: What goes through your mind and what is the method you use when starting a project? Could you describe it?
Woking as a visual / character designer, you are a problem solver. The client’s idea can be either vague or very specific, and when I first see the project, I will think about these questions: what is the problem, and what does the client need me to do. I will evaluate my skill level and communicate with them to understand our end goal. Communication is the key, especially at the beginning of the project. I would assess the time and effort this project needs and see if my quote meets their expectations. After deciding the deadline, compensation, and goal, we are ready to start. Also, keep an open mind when receiving feedback. Feedback is also a key communication tool. It helps you to understand what your client wants and figure out where are the problems. I’m proud to be a problem solver, that is part of my work and passion.
What is your process in creating your art and what are your favorite tools?
People have very different processes, and I’m the type of artist who spends a lot of time prepping, thinking, and laying down ideas in my head, even before I start. And when I’m ready to start drawing, I use my iPad to put down ideas. The program I use is Procreate. After that, I move the sketch to my computer and use Photoshop to continue rendering the artwork. Will I say Photoshop is absolutely my favorite tool since I have been using it for 20 years? Of course, :) But iPad has been amazingly convenient to put down simple sketches and doodling; basically, it lets you work everywhere.
What part of the creation process is the most fun and easy and what part is the hardest?
I enjoy every part of creating an artwork or a design. Seriously, it's the most fun for me. I especially love rendering. I love drawing the face, hair, and other texture. Adding flair to the artwork is so much fun and so very important. At the beginning of the work, getting what is in your head down on paper could be challenging, and it could send you into a loop if you can't capture the ideas.
What projects have you worked on in the past and what are you working on at the moment (if you can tell us)?
As stated before, I worked with Arknights, Girls' Frontline: Neural Cloud, Arena of Valor, Food Fantasy, and many other fantastic games etc. Currently, most of my work is game development and promotional materials. Aside from working with clients, I also work very hard on developing my own art. Many of my art creations have also been selected for illustration awards, which I'm very proud of. They have been featured in 3x3 International Illustration Awards, Infected by Art, and American illustration 39. I'm working on many upcoming projects and hopefully will be able to show them to you guys soon.
Do you have a long-term career goal? What would your dream project be?
I don't have a set long-term goal, and I feel like it's okay. It varies from person to person. But I have many short-term goals currently and would love to achieve them. For example, I'm learning many new asset-developing tools, such as live2d.
What advice would you give to an artist who is dealing with an artist's block? How do you boost your imagination and keep yourself creative?
Personally, after I had a lot of work for months, there will be an artist's block period that follows. In my opinion, the best way to deal with this situation is to try not to pressure yourself to keep drawing but to take a good break and rest well. I'm always working and always pushing for 100%, and I found myself in a position where constantly forcing myself to draw more. Eventually, I realized it always makes it worse. I believe you can't create genuine art when it's forced. Other than taking a good break, I suggest going outside, going for a hike for example. And doing other things that interest and inspire you aside from art. It really can help your brain to recharge.
In your own experience, what would you suggest to someone who is inspired by your work and wants to follow in your footsteps: should they work in one consistent style, or work on many different ones?
I feel like this is a very personal choice. Your art is yours, and this is your decision. I work on having a consistent style personally, and I very much enjoy doing so. I will say think about it, think about what will make you the happiest and don't be afraid to try different styles! Just make sure your art is always genuine and coming from your heart.
If you had to recommend only one art book (a comic book, graphic novel, children's book, or ''how-to'' book) to a fellow artist, what would it be and why?
I learned much about design and always incorporated design ideas into my art. So aside from million art books and how-to books on the market, I defiantly recommend looking into graphic design books. I feel like it helped with my art and helped me develop a unique style. Something basic such as "Graphic Design School" and "Thinking with Type" are all excellent books. If you want to learn, it's also very easily accessible through websites such as Pinterest. You can definitely consider including design principles in your drawing and character design.
Who are the artists who inspire you the most today and what are some of your favorite designs out there?
One of my favorite designers is Paula Scher from New York. Her work is very bold and loud, and it inspires me to put more flare into my work. Her work has always been so amazing and even though it's not exactly in the same category as my work, I'm very much in love and inspired by her dedication. I am also inspired by a lot of game designers and art and design from game development. I'm especially inspired by art from the Persona series. It's also very graphic and bold. For years the lead character designer Shigenori Soejima was a big inspiration for me.
When clients contact you for a commission, what essential info should they include in their very first email in order to communicate with you efficiently and effectively?
Always include your project name, a simple project description, the type of commission you are looking for, the time frame/deadline, and your budget. Information such as this helps speed up the communication process tremendously.
Finally, where can we see your art online and get in touch with you? How can we buy your creations and support your work?
I'm on social media and I'm @kaninn everywhere. Always check my Twitter ( @kaninn ) to see what I'm up to. You are also welcome to check out my art on my personal website ( kan.io ), and you can visit my store ( shop.kan.io ) where I sell lots of art prints collections, and my art books too.
Thank you, Kan :)
