Meet Evelyn Yongyi Chen | Background/Layout Artist, Plein Air Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Evelyn Yongyi Chen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evelyn Yongyi, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I can still remember the giddy feeling I had when school finally dismissed, and I hurriedly rushed back home to watch animated TV shows. I was mesmerized by the friendship of Tom and Jerry, the adventures of Martin Morning, the superpowers of Sakura Kinomoto, and the journey of Goku. Watching these animated shows as a child, I was simply entranced as I jumped into their world. Only later, watching them many times throughout the years, I started to appreciate the subtle, yet powerful motifs that are described in these shows. They include not just the cuddly characters, but also dreams and beliefs. Animation, through its imaginative power, has fascinated me with the stories it can create as it brings to life the moments, emotions, and memories we all share in our daily lives. This inspired my love for animation and my decision to pursue this creative path in college.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I like to draw environments and enjoy designing objects and scenes from imagination. I have been and continue to be proud of my ability to visualize my ideas in a drawing. I also like to do Plein Air painting. I often go outside and draw anything I see, from objects as large as buildings to those as small as a pebble in the stream, from light coming through leaves to clouds casting shadows on hills. I did not discover animation as a viable career choice, nor had exposure to the industry, until college. Even after college, I have continued to take courses in design and visual development to build my skill set. My experience at Fullerton College opened up my eyes about the design process, how to research, and how to present my ideas and conceptual art. One important thing I’ve learned is not to be afraid to make bad drawings and always push myself to continue sketching and drawing.
I am still a student, regardless of my age, as I am always full of curiosity and want to explore and learn. Having the passion for animation is definitely a prerequisite, but to perfect the technical side of the craft is an everlasting process. I will continue to develop strong craftsmanship with a comprehensive knowledge of design and aim to master the art of visual storytelling.

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 would take my friends to visit a couple museums, like the Norton Simon Museum and Natural History Museum, to experience art and learn some history. Then we would take a walk around local parks, or go on wildflower hikes and spend an hour or two in nature. Another highlight of these trips would be the food stops, trying some authentic Asian cuisine, like Dim Sum and Hot Pot, as well as buying some amazing pastries to take home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people in my life that filled me with warmth, encouragement, and friendship that I am thankful for and got me to where I am now. I want to give a shoutout to my family, especially to my mother. Coming from an Asian family, it is a cliché that I would be strongly discouraged from an artistic career, and she has definitely expressed concerns. But after she saw how passionate and determined I was, she is very supportive and is a big fan of my art. I also want to give a shoutout to my instructor Philip Dimitriadis and the Fullerton College Digital Arts & Entertainment Arts Program. While continuing my education after graduation, I was fortunate to learn from Phil through his classes, including Applied Perspective and Prop Design, Environmental Sketching, and Drawing from Imagination. I rebuilt my foundation of technical skills, refined my raw abilities, and fine-tuned my aspirations. This experience prepared me for developing design skills at a professional level.
I also wanted to give a shoutout to Women in Animation (WIA), Asian Queens in Animation (AQIA), Sketch-Toonz LA, and Warrior Painters. Through these non-profit groups/organizations, I have met many great people and made precious friends. I’ve received so much encouragement that has pushed me to grow into a proficient artist.

Website: http://chenyongyi.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chenyongyiart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenyongyi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chenyongyiart

Image Credits
Evelyn Yongyi Chen