@stellathedreamcatcher

Instagram: @stellathedreamcatcher

1. What’s your story? Where are you from?

Hi! I’m Stella, a freelance illustrator based in HK. Growing up reading picture books, I had been fallen in love with the fascinating illustrations and stories since childhood. 

After receiving my bachelor degree in fine arts from CUHK, I work as a freelance illustrator and part-time art tutor. I deeply believe that creation is a spiritual value that transcends happiness and sorrow. I wish to build a boundless spiritual space through painting and imagination.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I would say my early illustrating style carried on the influence of Chinese Gongbi-painting, which is a highly detailed traditional Chinese painting style that I learned from university.

Recently, I tried to empty myself and explore with diverse expressions, I started to create in simpler, casual and even random methods. The only thing that never changes, is the color and the retro style.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

In general, I use mixed media for my works but at the moment I prefer gouache the most because of its texture and its easiness of usage. Coloring on gouache is also a very calming and relaxing process compared to the digital medium.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I look for references first and then make several color sketches. Sometimes, I will also make use of the technology by combining the digital media to create a more satisfactory result.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work? 

I love ancient artworks which I find are always inspiring and interesting. You will also find elements of movies, memories of my travels and animals in my works. For example, Cats is one of the main theme in my recent picture book and the background of the story was inspired by old European villages.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

Art is sincere, it reveals the mind of its creator. Sometimes a piece of good visual art could be as imaginative as, or even more than, words. For me, art is like a window, a door or an exit for my thoughts and emotions. Art also helps me to discover the subtle beauty of our daily life.

7. Where did you study?

Fine Arts department of CUHK

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would love to explore more of the world of children's books and animation.

9. What about in ten?

Still immerse and believing in Art. 

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

When I was a child, I fell in love with children's books. The stories, the characters, the colours, the drawings, all these littles things I fell in love with shaped my life and my path for being an illustrator. I would love to carry on this little mission to bring art to our next generation.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

That’s a tough one but I think I’ll go with Crème caramel!

12. Favourite book?

"Just kids" by Patti Smith

13. Favourite genre of music? 

Well, I enjoy different kinds of music, so I guess I don’t have a favourite genre, just any songs that fits my current mood would be great!

14. What are your hobbies? 

Cycling beside the sea, something I’d do to start the day!

15. If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

That’s probably not going to happen because I’ve never not painted in my life.