No AI, Just art by human hands
My iPad serves as my portable canvas, granting me the freedom to create wherever inspiration strikes. The versatility and accessibility of digital tools allow me to experiment with various techniques, styles, and subjects. With a stroke of my stylus, I can bring to life intricate portraits, fluffy animals, and abstract compositions. The infinite color palette and layering capabilities of digital painting offer a level of control and precision that empowers me to fully realize my artistic vision.
2001-2008
These are probably my oldest digital artwork I’ve had in record, most of them were done in my high school and college years. Oekaki, a Japanese term meaning “drawing” or “doodle,” refers to a style of digital art creation that originated in the late 90s. It emerged as a popular form of expression within online communities, particularly on Oekaki BBS platforms. The Oekaki BBS typically features a collaborative environment where users can interact with each other’s art, leaving comments and engaging in discussions.
The origins of Oekaki can be traced back to the late 1990s in Japan when Shi BBS, also known as Shi-Painter, was developed by an artist named Shi-chan. Shi BBS was one of the earliest Oekaki BBS platforms, allowing users to draw on a shared canvas and participate in collaborative art sessions. It provided a unique space for artists to showcase their skills, experiment with digital art tools, and engage in conversations. Today, Oekaki has evolved, with various platforms and communities dedicated to this unique art form. It continues to be a vibrant and interactive space where artists can connect, explore, and create together in the digital realm.
© by @SalmonNugget, CC by NC-SA 3.0
Sketchbook and Procreate
The iPad is an excellent tool for artists, and I have personally been using it for drawing since 2011. Initially, I worked with Sketchbook, but nowadays, I primarily rely on Procreate. Its intuitive interface and wide variety of tools have made it my preferred choice. Procreate provides a seamless and immersive experience for digital drawing, painting, and design.
© by @SalmonNugget, CC by NC-SA 3.0
2013 – 2015
DrawQuest was a drawing app for iOS launched in 2013, co-founded by Chris Poole (aka “moot,” founder of 4chan). It provided daily drawing challenges to inspire creativity, where users could respond to prompts and create artwork. By completing challenges, users earned virtual coins to unlock additional tools. The app fostered a supportive community, enabling users to comment on each other’s artwork, follow artists, and engage in discussions. With 12, 000 followers, I was the most followed user on the app. Sadly, DrawQuest was discontinued in 2015, but its influence in encouraging creativity and community interaction continues to impact future drawing apps that came after in the 2010s.
© by @SalmonNugget, CC by NC-SA 3.0
2014 – 2018
French Girls app was a popular drawing app launched on iOS around 2014. It was an app for people to post their selfies for other users to draw. The app was inspired by the “draw me like one of your French girls” meme, which is a reference to a scene in the movie Titanic. It offered a simple drawing tools and a variety of pre-set colors with different color schemes in its palette. Due to its simplicity and user-friendly interface and the unique concept of turning selfies into art, French Girls app attracted a considerable user base and fostered a creative community. The app’s social features allow users to like, comment, and follow each other, creating a supportive environment for artistic inspiration and feedback. With over 20,000 followers, I held the coveted position of the app’s most followed user.
© by @SalmonNugget, CC by NC-SA 3.0
SEASONAL greetings: Halloween & Holiday Cards with Manga Characters
Every year, I have a special tradition of creating my own Halloween and Holiday cards featuring my manga characters. It all began in 2003 with the Oekaki BBS, where I crafted my first Halloween card. Inspired by the Italian musical “Tu se’ morta mia vita” (meaning “you’re already dead, my dear”), I started including the same quote each year, but in different languages. Initially, I drew the cards on paper and colored them with Photoshop. However, since 2018, I have exclusively used Procreate to produce all my greeting cards digitally.
Omega, my original character for Halloween, takes the spotlight in my Halloween cards. The name “Omega” is a nod to the final girl trope. On the other hand, my Holiday cards feature Santa Cat since 2005, and his helpful companion Penelope Rudolph, the redheaded reindeer. Throughout the years, I’ve introduced additional members to the team, such as Marc, the sugarplum fairy’s great-grandson, who proudly wears a pink tutu. Samy, the snow angel, a balloon-twisting expert, also joined, along with Takuya, the nutcracker, and Chip, the steampunk-themed gingerbread man.
© by @SalmonNugget, CC by NC-SA 3.0
Visual Communication: Stellar power of Adobe suite
Art has always been my passion since I was a child. What started as a mere hobby during my teenage years has now blossomed into a thriving professional career. Since 2009, I have been actively engaged in the art industry, working for an art magazine in the vibrant city of New York. Currently based in Hong Kong, I have been passionately serving as a digital artist for an esteemed international school since 2012. Within this role, I am responsible for curating publications, including the school magazine and the yearbook. Occasionally, I also design logos and graphics for the school’s website, along with designing visually captivating posters for numerous events. Here are a few of my favorites professional work 🙂
© by @SalmonNugget, CC by NC-SA 3.0