artists work at
artists at work Be inspired by the unique expressions of art from the finest talents of the industry. Get creative with out-of-the-norm beauty trends and let the arty individuals featured spark your imagination.
www.femalemag.com.my 187
Artists At work
Try iT
The good, bad & The mad
Instead of slicking it back with hair gel (which gives a hard, helmet-like look) comb a small amount of conditioner through slightlydamp hair so your locks stay malleable.
f 10 WEIRDEST BEAUTY ToolS Think earthwormpoop wrinkle cream. That’s not the worst. Find out what else is there at femalemag. com.my
meadham kirchhoff
Coloured liner
Try iT
PeTer som
There was just too much ‘weirdness’ going on at Vivienne Westwood. Instead, take a leaf out of Tommy Hilfiger’s beauty book, and let your face art stand out with matte skin and understated smoky eyes. The key word here: subtlety!
Try iT
188
www.femalemag.com.my
Check out these cool temporary tattoos by Habitatt Supply Co (www.habitatt.co) and bling up your face with jewels.
vivienne wesTwood
text text SUFIYA SUFIYA BEGUM BEGUM photography photography TPGIMAGES/clIckPhoToS TpGIMAGES/ClICkpHoToS
Try iT
Not a fan of orange eyeliner? Go for turquoise or violet instead – these rich tones show up beautifully on Asian skin.
The secret lies in the backcombing. Prep hair with a stay-all-day hairspray that won’t flake off before French-braiding your tresses, keeping close to the roots for a streamlined effect.
Funky braids There are braids for kiddies, and then there are braids for adults. No prizes guessing which one Maria ke Fisherman aced on the runways. Giorgio Armani, on the other hand, kept it sexy with biker-chick braids gathered into a messy chignon at the base of the neck.
GiorGio armani
L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL INFINIUM LUMIERE EXTRA STRONG HOLD PROFESSIONAL HAIRSPRAY, RM40
URBAN DECAY TEN 24/7 GLIDE-ON EYE PENCIL SET, RM180
We had quite a collection of crazy eyebrows on the runways. The notable mentions include:
Wet-look hair
Basically, the trick to this hairstyle is for it to look glossy, not like you dipped your head in leftover cooking oil from last night’s tempura party. Parkchoomoo obviously went a little overboard but Thakoon did it right with a clean centre parting and a delicate twist at the back to keep the hair away from the face.
maria ke fisherman
Face art
Thakoon
Parkchoonmoo
If anything, this season Meadham Kirchhoff is definitely eccentric! As the makeup gurus advise when it comes to striking colours, less is more. Instead of going all out with that hey-check-out-myeyes look, we prefer Peter Som’s take that subtly suggests, “By the way, my eyes are decorated with a hint of colour. I’m cool but not crazy!”
Backstage beauty is a major part of Fashion Week that we look forward to season after season. Spring/Summer 2015’s trending looks, however, pay homage to the weird and wacky side of the industry, and we’re all agog.
Tommy hilfiger
PUREOLOGY ESSENTIAL REPAIR CONDITIONER, RM85
SEPHORA ILLUMINATEUR SOURCILS BROW ENHANCER IN 05 MATTE SPICE, RM39
The ‘flying brows’
The ‘look ma – no brows’
The ‘possessed-biker brows’
female says As much as we’d like to give them bonus points for creativity, we’re not sure if these trends will pick up in the near future (or anytime ever). That said, a pair of well-sculpted brows speaks volumes, so don’t forget to tweeze/wax and define yours! www.femalemag.com.my 189
Artists At work
I love characters with a heart. People can see that it’s alive...
The New
28, illustrator
cool
1
Check out her latest cute prints on www.hsulynnpang.com
arTisTs 1
5
Art
3
2
190
www.femalemag.com.my
is a fascinating subject that can be interpreted in many ways and expressed in various forms. Anything goes, if you may. It is the one outlet that constantly evokes deep thought, excites the mind and warms the heart as well as soul. For these six artists we talked to, nothing speaks louder than their passion and belief in the work they do.
4
6
photography photography DANIEL DANIEL LAI LAI CoorDINatIoN CoorDINatIoN FARA FARA AQILAH AQILAH JOIFIN JOIFIN art art DIrECtIoN DIrECtIoN MERISSA MERISSA EMILDA EMILDA MaKEUp MaKEUp TAISU TAISU USING USING SHISEIDO SHISEIDO haIr haIr JOHN JOHN LIM LIM FROM FROM EIGHT EIGHT DAY DAY STUDIO STUDIO USING USING SCHWARZKOPF SCHWARZKOPF LoCatIoN LoCatIoN (FOR (FOR LEE LEE SAMANTHA SAMANTHA & & CHEEMING CHEEMING BOEY) BOEY) THANKS THANKS TO TO WOOD WOOD & & STEEL, STEEL, KOTA KOTA DAMANSARA DAMANSARA
We pay tribute to six arty individuals – the cream of the crop – who are slowly revolutionising this creative industry. By Gwen Ong
“I never actually wanted to go into art, in fact I was not keen at all,” says Hsulynn in our interview at her home studio. Despite her parents’ encouragement and assurance that she would make a great artist, she never gave it much thought and opted for the ‘safer’ study of communications instead. “But when it came to majoring, I discovered that one of the things I could do was digital media and 3D animation. I just fell in love with modelling and creating characters, backgrounds and such.” It was to mark the beginning of her foray into illustration. But it was only after a short working stint in the corporate world and subsequently in animation that she began to see the possibility of an arts career. Working as a concept artist, she had the chance to delve deeper into character design, which she really enjoyed.
Flipping through Hsulynn’s portfolio is such a delight as each page is filled with lovable watercolour illustrations of animals – her preferred subject of choice. “I love characters with a heart. People can see that it’s alive and there’s a story behind it. It’s the kind of painting I would want to see in my own house. So my illustrations are always happy and cheery.” Since becoming a freelance illustrator two years ago, it is safe to say Hsulynn has found her calling. There’s a twinkle in her eyes as she speaks about her career of choice.
“Because I do art as a job, I think the moment you stop having fun, that’s when you have to re-evaluate why you’re doing it. Sure, you have to survive and get some money in, but when you complain too much about a job or a client or get upset over something that you used to love then you need to take a step back. Know what’s important. I quit my job to do something I love, so if you take the joy out of doing what you love, if I lose that, what is the point?” www.femalemag.com.my 191
Artists At work
32, graffiti artist 2 The word ‘graffiti’ often has a negative connotation (read: vandalism); it is not a widely-acceptable art form yet there’s a certain draw to it that makes this creative expression interesting and attention-grabbing. For Kenji, who has been in the industry for eight years, graffiti is where he found himself, and it has become the channel in which he gets to share his love for art with others. Prior to this, he was working as a graphic designer but found little satisfaction in the digital world. “I got into graffiti with the intention of painting what I wanted. I had lost that ‘arty’ feeling after a few years in graphic designing but after
Follow @mr_kenjichai on Instagram to see his latest mural. It could be at an alley near you!
transitioning from digital to graffiti, I rediscovered the initial drive I felt when I first studied art. It is what drives me now.” His canvases cover the walls of lorong or lanes, abandoned buildings, cafés, office spaces and even a loft in Singapore. Kenji’s signature is a dog, which he drew as a way to raise awareness about strays and animal cruelty. FYI, the Sandakan native was also born in the Chinese lunar year of the dog! In a way, this makes him stand apart from other graffiti artists in showcasing a canine element rather than the norm of human portraits or phrases. “It is important for an artist to have his or her own style; whether it’s ugly or nice, you need a style that people will remember you by.” Kenji has since left imprints in Hong Kong, Thailand, Melbourne, and dare we say more locations to come? Of course, not everything is rosy. “I got busted so many times for my graffiti!” Some people have called up the authorities when they spotted him with his spray cans and mask painting away in alleyways. But this has not stopped him from his love for the arts. He’s doing it to show others what graffiti can be about. “Graffiti usually has a dark side but my work has a more colourful, happier and positive feel. The reason I got into graffiti was also to put a smile on people’s faces and perhaps take away their stresses for a while… when they see my work. That’s why my dog is always smiling!”
It is important for an artist to have his or her own style; whether it’s ugly or nice, you need a style that people will remember you by. 192
www.femalemag.com.my
39, food artist
Check out @leesamantha on Instagram for some food art inspiration
3 This mother of two girls is what we would call an accidental star. What started out as a cute culinary project to get her elder daughter to eat faster has now become a full-time job for Samantha. “When I got pregnant with my second child in 2008, I started researching for ways to present food in a fun manner so my daughter would learn how to eat on her own. That’s when I stumbled upon bento and thought ‘Hmm, I can actually do this’. But the step-by-step ways that I found took too long so I came up with my own method instead.” She began experimenting with different products and textures, and instead of bento boxes, presented her creations on plates for a more visual impact.
Needless to say, Samantha’s food art is a hit! As luck would have it, Instagram picked up on this budding star in 2011 and soon, international TV news channels and newspapers came calling. “I’m just an ordinary stay-at-home mum; I never thought this would grow so big!” She has become one of the most popular personalities around with her Instagram ballooning to over half a million fans today. Brands have even commissioned the cheery mum for campaigns and live demos, which are now second nature to her. If there’s one thing Samantha believes in when it comes to her work, it is ‘practicality’. Hence, there is little-to-no food wastage. Everything is edible and
easy enough for everyone to recreate. Her approach is pretty straightforward; no fancy tool, instead utilising whatever she can find at home. Her biggest fans are naturally her daughters who tend to fight over which characters they get to eat once Mummy is done with her food art.
I’m just an ordinary stay-at-home mum; I never thought this would grow so big! www.femalemag.com.my 193
Artists At work Lynda’s work can be viewed @pinktattoos on Instagram
The first thing to know about Cheeming or better known as Boey, is that he’s been living out of a suitcase for the last three years. Yup! The second thing: an afternoon with the animator is an interesting one as he fills you in on anecdotes about his life and sharp observations about the human race. This much is real when you see his daily musings on his website, Facebook or Instagram accounts. “I have become that strange guy who always needs his pen, like those teachers in school who carry a red, blue and black pen in their pockets.” Boey is a born storyteller and he amuses with his drawings. “From six or seven, I knew I liked art and I treated paper
differently from others. I was so OCD with paper, e.g. it cannot be creased.” Ironically, it was due to the lack of paper that the California-based Boey was first propelled into stardom when his doodles on polystyrene coffee cups went viral in 2010. He’s been working in the USA as an animator for game developers for several years and has released three books under the When I Was A Kid series in homage to his childhood. For the little ones, it is an entertaining comic while for the adults it is a walk down memory lane. For Boey, it has been a labour of love; in his words, there were a lot of “cut, paste and multiplying” in Photoshop to put together and edit the books himself.
“I decided to write my story in the style of comics but differently in a way that would make people feel. I wanted to change how people look at comics. I wanted mine to be the comics people go to if they want good reading material.” Even though the three books have gone on to be best-sellers and he has been asked to sign on numerous campaigns, Boey remains humble, and perhaps, a bit dumbfounded. “I still find it crazy that people like my stick figures and find them amusing. When kids told me I am their favourite author, it was something I never expected. This was a simple art career I wanted yet it has gotten me a Nescafé ad, I’ve drawn on a plane... how do you relate to that?”
I decided to write my story in the style of comics but differently in a way that would make people feel.
30, tattoo artist 4 With her hair perfectly coiffed, lips painted red and all decked out pin-up style, Lynda is easily one of the most recognisable figures in the local tattoo scene. For something that wasn’t really planned, it has turned out pretty well for Lynda who has proven to be a formidable artist; her shop Pink Tattoos is garnering fans by the dozens since it was established. “Art was always something dear to me. And tattooing is something I’ve always found interesting. So when an opportunity came, it was either I do this or I don’t.” After quitting her job as a copywriter, Lynda worked as an apprentice while managing a tattoo shop for two years before making the bold decision to venture out on her own. Pink Tattoos speaks volumes about the kind of creative work she’s into. “I guess this is different compared with conventional art; with this, your canvas is always walking away from you.” She has carved a niche for her work that has been described as quirky and detailed-oriented. “It’s like the etching or engraving style, like how they used to do in old storybook illustrations. I love that! I collect those kinds of books so my work reflects that. It’s fun and the weirder, the better,” she quips.
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COOL TATTOO SPOTS From permanent to temporary to airbrush, check out some of the best places to get them at femalemag. com.my Her favourite piece would be a recent portrait of her deceased dog, Jack, on her husband’s arm. “A tattoo is always something special to someone. Even though it’s something we do every single day, for that person coming in, that is their special day. I guess all tattoo artists are a part of someone’s life. We do that every single day but we forget that sometimes; I always remind myself and people in my shop, ‘Look! It’s a special day for this person’. We are someone’s special moment so to speak.”
Art was always something dear to me. And tattooing is something I’ve always found interesting.
Get a dose of laughter on www.iamboey.com or Instagram @iamboey
37, artist/author 5 www.femalemag.com.my 195
Artists At work WEB EXCLUSIVE!
Other artists we admire...
Check her out: www.lovelimzy.blogspot. com or Instagram @lovelimzy
These women are creating a name for themselves internationally with their works of art. Based in Singapore, this Malaysian artist
who also goes by the name Limzy has a way with flowers. Her forte is beautiful images of ‘floral’ dresses made of carefully-arranged petals, sometimes leaves, stones and cereals, which she combines with watercolour illustrations. Limzy curates and presents her stunning creations on her blog as well as Instagram, which she calls her mini art gallery.
To see more cute dolls, follow @amigurumei on Instagram
Check her out: www.redhongyi.com or Instagram @redhongyi
WEB EXCLUSIVE! Check out our digital copy for extra content!
difficult. Her first project was a disaster; she couldn’t make head or tail of it and her finished piece was a small doll with gaping holes in the stitching.
6
Spurred on by her love for cute stuff, Mei kept at following YouTube tutorials for tips. “It was addictive and I’d say quite therapeutic too.” A year into it, her husband got her a domain, www.amigurumei.com, which is a play on the word amigurumi and her name Mei, as a Valentine’s gift. Coupled with her interest in photography, it became the perfect excuse to take photos and share her projects as well as free patterns with other crafters on her site. “I like the idea of doing a children’s book one day. My characters are usually cute and there’s a
For someone who was never artisticallyinclined, Mei Li or Mei as she’s fondly known, has found her ‘thing’ in the art of amigurumi – the Japanese style of crocheting stuffed animals. The full-time journalist took it up as a hobby about three years ago. “I love anime and all the cute characters like Totoro, Moomin and Bad-Badtz-Maru, but back then, it was hard to find the merchandise so I thought maybe I can make my own but I didn’t know how to sew.” She chanced upon a book on amigurumi at a local bookstore one day and thought it didn’t look too 196
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“Taking up amigurumi really changed my life. Indirectly it has added more creativity to my days and I really want to share that with others.” Mei still regards herself as in the learning process but the most important thing she has found in this craft is the memories she puts into it. “There are a lot of memories I can look back at next time. Maybe when I have kids I can tell them stories. Some of the dolls are based on people I know too, like my 5-year-old niece when she’s up to her antics; I transfer that to the dolls with her expressions.”
It was addictive and I’d say quite therapeutic too.
phoTography INSTAGRAM/@REDHONGYI, @LOVELIMZY AND @EVANGELIONE
31, amigurumi artist
She is known as the artist who paints without a paintbrush. Her unique approach to art has been dubbed mind-blowing and we can’t agree more. Red made all our jaws drop when she unveiled her work that included a portrait of pop star, Jay Chou, using coffee-cup stains, and most recently, the scene of a man making teh tarik put together with 20,000 teabags of varying colours.
story to them. Slowly, I began to gain quite a following through my site and Instagram, then last year, a US-based publisher and Sanrio contacted me to do a book on Hello Kitty amigurumi to celebrate the iconic cat’s 40th anniversary,” she explains.
Check her out: www.evangelione.com or Instagram @evangelione
There’s a cult following for this doll maker. What started out as a hobby is now a labour-intensive career for Mei Ying. Under the label Evangelione, her handmade dolls all carry the same broody expression that has become her trademark. It is probably this unique look that has made her dolls a success with fans all over the world snapping them up as soon as they go for sale online.
www.femalemag.com.my 187
Artists At work
Try iT
The good, bad & The mad
Instead of slicking it back with hair gel (which gives a hard, helmet-like look) comb a small amount of conditioner through slightlydamp hair so your locks stay malleable.
f 10 WEIRDEST BEAUTY ToolS Think earthwormpoop wrinkle cream. That’s not the worst. Find out what else is there at femalemag. com.my
meadham kirchhoff
Coloured liner
Try iT
PeTer som
There was just too much ‘weirdness’ going on at Vivienne Westwood. Instead, take a leaf out of Tommy Hilfiger’s beauty book, and let your face art stand out with matte skin and understated smoky eyes. The key word here: subtlety!
Try iT
188
www.femalemag.com.my
Check out these cool temporary tattoos by Habitatt Supply Co (www.habitatt.co) and bling up your face with jewels.
vivienne wesTwood
text text SUFIYA SUFIYA BEGUM BEGUM photography photography TPGIMAGES/clIckPhoToS TpGIMAGES/ClICkpHoToS
Try iT
Not a fan of orange eyeliner? Go for turquoise or violet instead – these rich tones show up beautifully on Asian skin.
The secret lies in the backcombing. Prep hair with a stay-all-day hairspray that won’t flake off before French-braiding your tresses, keeping close to the roots for a streamlined effect.
Funky braids There are braids for kiddies, and then there are braids for adults. No prizes guessing which one Maria ke Fisherman aced on the runways. Giorgio Armani, on the other hand, kept it sexy with biker-chick braids gathered into a messy chignon at the base of the neck.
GiorGio armani
L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL INFINIUM LUMIERE EXTRA STRONG HOLD PROFESSIONAL HAIRSPRAY, RM40
URBAN DECAY TEN 24/7 GLIDE-ON EYE PENCIL SET, RM180
We had quite a collection of crazy eyebrows on the runways. The notable mentions include:
Wet-look hair
Basically, the trick to this hairstyle is for it to look glossy, not like you dipped your head in leftover cooking oil from last night’s tempura party. Parkchoomoo obviously went a little overboard but Thakoon did it right with a clean centre parting and a delicate twist at the back to keep the hair away from the face.
maria ke fisherman
Face art
Thakoon
Parkchoonmoo
If anything, this season Meadham Kirchhoff is definitely eccentric! As the makeup gurus advise when it comes to striking colours, less is more. Instead of going all out with that hey-check-out-myeyes look, we prefer Peter Som’s take that subtly suggests, “By the way, my eyes are decorated with a hint of colour. I’m cool but not crazy!”
Backstage beauty is a major part of Fashion Week that we look forward to season after season. Spring/Summer 2015’s trending looks, however, pay homage to the weird and wacky side of the industry, and we’re all agog.
Tommy hilfiger
PUREOLOGY ESSENTIAL REPAIR CONDITIONER, RM85
SEPHORA ILLUMINATEUR SOURCILS BROW ENHANCER IN 05 MATTE SPICE, RM39
The ‘flying brows’
The ‘look ma – no brows’
The ‘possessed-biker brows’
female says As much as we’d like to give them bonus points for creativity, we’re not sure if these trends will pick up in the near future (or anytime ever). That said, a pair of well-sculpted brows speaks volumes, so don’t forget to tweeze/wax and define yours! www.femalemag.com.my 189
Artists At work
I love characters with a heart. People can see that it’s alive...
The New
28, illustrator
cool
1
Check out her latest cute prints on www.hsulynnpang.com
arTisTs 1
5
Art
3
2
190
www.femalemag.com.my
is a fascinating subject that can be interpreted in many ways and expressed in various forms. Anything goes, if you may. It is the one outlet that constantly evokes deep thought, excites the mind and warms the heart as well as soul. For these six artists we talked to, nothing speaks louder than their passion and belief in the work they do.
4
6
photography photography DANIEL DANIEL LAI LAI CoorDINatIoN CoorDINatIoN FARA FARA AQILAH AQILAH JOIFIN JOIFIN art art DIrECtIoN DIrECtIoN MERISSA MERISSA EMILDA EMILDA MaKEUp MaKEUp TAISU TAISU USING USING SHISEIDO SHISEIDO haIr haIr JOHN JOHN LIM LIM FROM FROM EIGHT EIGHT DAY DAY STUDIO STUDIO USING USING SCHWARZKOPF SCHWARZKOPF LoCatIoN LoCatIoN (FOR (FOR LEE LEE SAMANTHA SAMANTHA & & CHEEMING CHEEMING BOEY) BOEY) THANKS THANKS TO TO WOOD WOOD & & STEEL, STEEL, KOTA KOTA DAMANSARA DAMANSARA
We pay tribute to six arty individuals – the cream of the crop – who are slowly revolutionising this creative industry. By Gwen Ong
“I never actually wanted to go into art, in fact I was not keen at all,” says Hsulynn in our interview at her home studio. Despite her parents’ encouragement and assurance that she would make a great artist, she never gave it much thought and opted for the ‘safer’ study of communications instead. “But when it came to majoring, I discovered that one of the things I could do was digital media and 3D animation. I just fell in love with modelling and creating characters, backgrounds and such.” It was to mark the beginning of her foray into illustration. But it was only after a short working stint in the corporate world and subsequently in animation that she began to see the possibility of an arts career. Working as a concept artist, she had the chance to delve deeper into character design, which she really enjoyed.
Flipping through Hsulynn’s portfolio is such a delight as each page is filled with lovable watercolour illustrations of animals – her preferred subject of choice. “I love characters with a heart. People can see that it’s alive and there’s a story behind it. It’s the kind of painting I would want to see in my own house. So my illustrations are always happy and cheery.” Since becoming a freelance illustrator two years ago, it is safe to say Hsulynn has found her calling. There’s a twinkle in her eyes as she speaks about her career of choice.
“Because I do art as a job, I think the moment you stop having fun, that’s when you have to re-evaluate why you’re doing it. Sure, you have to survive and get some money in, but when you complain too much about a job or a client or get upset over something that you used to love then you need to take a step back. Know what’s important. I quit my job to do something I love, so if you take the joy out of doing what you love, if I lose that, what is the point?” www.femalemag.com.my 191
Artists At work
32, graffiti artist 2 The word ‘graffiti’ often has a negative connotation (read: vandalism); it is not a widely-acceptable art form yet there’s a certain draw to it that makes this creative expression interesting and attention-grabbing. For Kenji, who has been in the industry for eight years, graffiti is where he found himself, and it has become the channel in which he gets to share his love for art with others. Prior to this, he was working as a graphic designer but found little satisfaction in the digital world. “I got into graffiti with the intention of painting what I wanted. I had lost that ‘arty’ feeling after a few years in graphic designing but after
Follow @mr_kenjichai on Instagram to see his latest mural. It could be at an alley near you!
transitioning from digital to graffiti, I rediscovered the initial drive I felt when I first studied art. It is what drives me now.” His canvases cover the walls of lorong or lanes, abandoned buildings, cafés, office spaces and even a loft in Singapore. Kenji’s signature is a dog, which he drew as a way to raise awareness about strays and animal cruelty. FYI, the Sandakan native was also born in the Chinese lunar year of the dog! In a way, this makes him stand apart from other graffiti artists in showcasing a canine element rather than the norm of human portraits or phrases. “It is important for an artist to have his or her own style; whether it’s ugly or nice, you need a style that people will remember you by.” Kenji has since left imprints in Hong Kong, Thailand, Melbourne, and dare we say more locations to come? Of course, not everything is rosy. “I got busted so many times for my graffiti!” Some people have called up the authorities when they spotted him with his spray cans and mask painting away in alleyways. But this has not stopped him from his love for the arts. He’s doing it to show others what graffiti can be about. “Graffiti usually has a dark side but my work has a more colourful, happier and positive feel. The reason I got into graffiti was also to put a smile on people’s faces and perhaps take away their stresses for a while… when they see my work. That’s why my dog is always smiling!”
It is important for an artist to have his or her own style; whether it’s ugly or nice, you need a style that people will remember you by. 192
www.femalemag.com.my
39, food artist
Check out @leesamantha on Instagram for some food art inspiration
3 This mother of two girls is what we would call an accidental star. What started out as a cute culinary project to get her elder daughter to eat faster has now become a full-time job for Samantha. “When I got pregnant with my second child in 2008, I started researching for ways to present food in a fun manner so my daughter would learn how to eat on her own. That’s when I stumbled upon bento and thought ‘Hmm, I can actually do this’. But the step-by-step ways that I found took too long so I came up with my own method instead.” She began experimenting with different products and textures, and instead of bento boxes, presented her creations on plates for a more visual impact.
Needless to say, Samantha’s food art is a hit! As luck would have it, Instagram picked up on this budding star in 2011 and soon, international TV news channels and newspapers came calling. “I’m just an ordinary stay-at-home mum; I never thought this would grow so big!” She has become one of the most popular personalities around with her Instagram ballooning to over half a million fans today. Brands have even commissioned the cheery mum for campaigns and live demos, which are now second nature to her. If there’s one thing Samantha believes in when it comes to her work, it is ‘practicality’. Hence, there is little-to-no food wastage. Everything is edible and
easy enough for everyone to recreate. Her approach is pretty straightforward; no fancy tool, instead utilising whatever she can find at home. Her biggest fans are naturally her daughters who tend to fight over which characters they get to eat once Mummy is done with her food art.
I’m just an ordinary stay-at-home mum; I never thought this would grow so big! www.femalemag.com.my 193
Artists At work Lynda’s work can be viewed @pinktattoos on Instagram
The first thing to know about Cheeming or better known as Boey, is that he’s been living out of a suitcase for the last three years. Yup! The second thing: an afternoon with the animator is an interesting one as he fills you in on anecdotes about his life and sharp observations about the human race. This much is real when you see his daily musings on his website, Facebook or Instagram accounts. “I have become that strange guy who always needs his pen, like those teachers in school who carry a red, blue and black pen in their pockets.” Boey is a born storyteller and he amuses with his drawings. “From six or seven, I knew I liked art and I treated paper
differently from others. I was so OCD with paper, e.g. it cannot be creased.” Ironically, it was due to the lack of paper that the California-based Boey was first propelled into stardom when his doodles on polystyrene coffee cups went viral in 2010. He’s been working in the USA as an animator for game developers for several years and has released three books under the When I Was A Kid series in homage to his childhood. For the little ones, it is an entertaining comic while for the adults it is a walk down memory lane. For Boey, it has been a labour of love; in his words, there were a lot of “cut, paste and multiplying” in Photoshop to put together and edit the books himself.
“I decided to write my story in the style of comics but differently in a way that would make people feel. I wanted to change how people look at comics. I wanted mine to be the comics people go to if they want good reading material.” Even though the three books have gone on to be best-sellers and he has been asked to sign on numerous campaigns, Boey remains humble, and perhaps, a bit dumbfounded. “I still find it crazy that people like my stick figures and find them amusing. When kids told me I am their favourite author, it was something I never expected. This was a simple art career I wanted yet it has gotten me a Nescafé ad, I’ve drawn on a plane... how do you relate to that?”
I decided to write my story in the style of comics but differently in a way that would make people feel.
30, tattoo artist 4 With her hair perfectly coiffed, lips painted red and all decked out pin-up style, Lynda is easily one of the most recognisable figures in the local tattoo scene. For something that wasn’t really planned, it has turned out pretty well for Lynda who has proven to be a formidable artist; her shop Pink Tattoos is garnering fans by the dozens since it was established. “Art was always something dear to me. And tattooing is something I’ve always found interesting. So when an opportunity came, it was either I do this or I don’t.” After quitting her job as a copywriter, Lynda worked as an apprentice while managing a tattoo shop for two years before making the bold decision to venture out on her own. Pink Tattoos speaks volumes about the kind of creative work she’s into. “I guess this is different compared with conventional art; with this, your canvas is always walking away from you.” She has carved a niche for her work that has been described as quirky and detailed-oriented. “It’s like the etching or engraving style, like how they used to do in old storybook illustrations. I love that! I collect those kinds of books so my work reflects that. It’s fun and the weirder, the better,” she quips.
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COOL TATTOO SPOTS From permanent to temporary to airbrush, check out some of the best places to get them at femalemag. com.my Her favourite piece would be a recent portrait of her deceased dog, Jack, on her husband’s arm. “A tattoo is always something special to someone. Even though it’s something we do every single day, for that person coming in, that is their special day. I guess all tattoo artists are a part of someone’s life. We do that every single day but we forget that sometimes; I always remind myself and people in my shop, ‘Look! It’s a special day for this person’. We are someone’s special moment so to speak.”
Art was always something dear to me. And tattooing is something I’ve always found interesting.
Get a dose of laughter on www.iamboey.com or Instagram @iamboey
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Artists At work WEB EXCLUSIVE!
Other artists we admire...
Check her out: www.lovelimzy.blogspot. com or Instagram @lovelimzy
These women are creating a name for themselves internationally with their works of art. Based in Singapore, this Malaysian artist
who also goes by the name Limzy has a way with flowers. Her forte is beautiful images of ‘floral’ dresses made of carefully-arranged petals, sometimes leaves, stones and cereals, which she combines with watercolour illustrations. Limzy curates and presents her stunning creations on her blog as well as Instagram, which she calls her mini art gallery.
To see more cute dolls, follow @amigurumei on Instagram
Check her out: www.redhongyi.com or Instagram @redhongyi
WEB EXCLUSIVE! Check out our digital copy for extra content!
difficult. Her first project was a disaster; she couldn’t make head or tail of it and her finished piece was a small doll with gaping holes in the stitching.
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Spurred on by her love for cute stuff, Mei kept at following YouTube tutorials for tips. “It was addictive and I’d say quite therapeutic too.” A year into it, her husband got her a domain, www.amigurumei.com, which is a play on the word amigurumi and her name Mei, as a Valentine’s gift. Coupled with her interest in photography, it became the perfect excuse to take photos and share her projects as well as free patterns with other crafters on her site. “I like the idea of doing a children’s book one day. My characters are usually cute and there’s a
For someone who was never artisticallyinclined, Mei Li or Mei as she’s fondly known, has found her ‘thing’ in the art of amigurumi – the Japanese style of crocheting stuffed animals. The full-time journalist took it up as a hobby about three years ago. “I love anime and all the cute characters like Totoro, Moomin and Bad-Badtz-Maru, but back then, it was hard to find the merchandise so I thought maybe I can make my own but I didn’t know how to sew.” She chanced upon a book on amigurumi at a local bookstore one day and thought it didn’t look too 196
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“Taking up amigurumi really changed my life. Indirectly it has added more creativity to my days and I really want to share that with others.” Mei still regards herself as in the learning process but the most important thing she has found in this craft is the memories she puts into it. “There are a lot of memories I can look back at next time. Maybe when I have kids I can tell them stories. Some of the dolls are based on people I know too, like my 5-year-old niece when she’s up to her antics; I transfer that to the dolls with her expressions.”
It was addictive and I’d say quite therapeutic too.
phoTography INSTAGRAM/@REDHONGYI, @LOVELIMZY AND @EVANGELIONE
31, amigurumi artist
She is known as the artist who paints without a paintbrush. Her unique approach to art has been dubbed mind-blowing and we can’t agree more. Red made all our jaws drop when she unveiled her work that included a portrait of pop star, Jay Chou, using coffee-cup stains, and most recently, the scene of a man making teh tarik put together with 20,000 teabags of varying colours.
story to them. Slowly, I began to gain quite a following through my site and Instagram, then last year, a US-based publisher and Sanrio contacted me to do a book on Hello Kitty amigurumi to celebrate the iconic cat’s 40th anniversary,” she explains.
Check her out: www.evangelione.com or Instagram @evangelione
There’s a cult following for this doll maker. What started out as a hobby is now a labour-intensive career for Mei Ying. Under the label Evangelione, her handmade dolls all carry the same broody expression that has become her trademark. It is probably this unique look that has made her dolls a success with fans all over the world snapping them up as soon as they go for sale online.
