Meet Kai Chan | illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kai Chan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kai, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My kind of “evolution.” My clients constantly challenge me a lot; I always feel I can’t meet their requirements. And it seemed like mission impossible, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it. After the briefing from my clients, I always have an idea to say no to this project and escape.
Because they trust me and I need money for living XD, I need to force myself to complete this project. I believe the pressure helped me push myself a lot. It is risky for me to say yes to a project that I am not sure can I do or not. Because once I failed as a freelance illustrator, no one was willing to come to me again anymore. Plus, this is a small industry; everyone knows each other. I don’t want to have a bad reputation in this industry.
Until I saw their happy smile on their face, I realized I did it again, and I have improved myself, no matter my drawing skill or communication skill with my clients. I was always surprised at what I did to find out more potential. Once I finish those tasks, I can know more about myself, become more assertive, transform, and more professional.

Plus, there is another risk I always worry about unstable income. There is a possibility that no freelance illustration job in a half year sometime. So that makes me scared to reject any project even it looks so hard and not my style. So I don’t know what evolution I will be next. I don’t know what kind of illustrator I will be, and can I continue this career?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I never sketch. Once I get the idea in my brain, I draw it directly on paper, which will be my final piece. And that’s always is the best work. Because I believe the first strokes draw, can purely, directly transfer to my viewers. All my emotions started from that first strokes. If you asked me to do another second drawing, all the energy and the story would be different. I am not professional yet, and it is not easy. I am so bad at managing time and understanding my clients’ needs, and I am still learning. But I am not afraid of people judging me that can make me more aware and robust. But still, I do care what people think of me, and I am super fragile and sensitive, easy to influence by someone.

A few years ago, I was in a handcraft market and selling my zine; there was a stranger who came to my table, judged, and commented my drawing skill looked so childish and unprofessional. And he suggested I should go back to school to learn how to draw.
Now I am in the art school NOT because of him; I am here because more people accept and love my “childish” and “unprofessional” drawing style. I need to prove myself I am okay with this style. And I would like to let the world know, please being more Generous the other artist, even that’s not your cup of tea. David Shrigley is my super idol. I admired him a lot, and he always got excellent ideas—a good sense of humor. I believe many people don’t understand his style. But he is still working mightily in the art industry and being the best of him.

I want to share my story and the sense of humor from my drawing. That’s very important for me, and that also I want the world to know about me. My illustration/drawing is my best medium to reach my audience.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love their creme brule crepe from Millet Crepe in Sawtelle Blvd. That’s my favorite dessert in LA. So I definitely show my best friend there to share my love. Also Sawtelle Blvd is lots of good restaurants there, specialy asian food!!! Ramen, xiao long bao, Udon, sushi, boba tea, korean bbq, etc. And Japanese super market, daiso and toy store. Giant Robot Store also in that street where is showing lots of different artist works there. I am lucky that I am living near by Ballona Creek Bike Path, 15-20mins bike to Venice Beach from my place, but I perfer bike to the other side of the beach, all the way down to the Manhattan Beach to enjoy the sunset and dolphins swimming there sometime. It is a bike friendly area to enjoy the beautiful skyline.
I am learning how to do the Rock Climbing too~ (indoor) so I would love to share my new experience with my friends.
Of cause I will show them some galleries and museums too. The Getty Villa, The Getty Centre, MOCA, LACMA, etc.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am new in Los Angeles, so my school, Otis College of Art and Design, helped me a lot with everything; I also met new friends in this school. And the faculty members, too, encourage me to do whatever I want to do—and being very supportive and helpful. I am so lucky that everyone in my program is friendly and accepts me. I feel lost to being a freelance illustrator in Hong Kong. So good that I can be myself here and refresh my brain to get some new idea/perspective/love and culture.

Instagram: kyliekai

Facebook: Kylie Chan illustration

Image Credits
Screenprint 01.jpg (trip) the commercial freelance job of Hong Kong flower map Lady Mural painting the commercial freelance job book cover (Christie’s catalogs) Being Hong Kong magazine (illustration for one of their article) t-shirt design x2 falling apart, personal project.