Meet Zhijun Cheng | illustrator

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

Hi Zhijun, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Hi I am Jun, I am an illustrator from Foshan, a middle size city in south China. In China, the life of an art student is not an easy one. When I was in elementary school, I took lessons to learn how to draw every Friday night. When I was in junior high school, I studied in the studio all weekend from 9 am to 6 pm, every week. High school, for me, was the most stressful period. I, along with my fellow art students, spent almost a whole year in a specialized painting teaching institution, where we studied painting for almost 14 hours a day. This high-intensity painting study made me eager to try other majors, so I chose fashion design as my major in college. After all, fashion design is a high-end profession in the eyes of most people, not to mention that I was just an ordinary high school student at the time. However, in the process of studying fashion design, I found that drawing is the most suitable creative language for me, so during my fashion education I independently continued to learn from the works of excellent illustrators to improve my drawing skills. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I applied to SCAD’s illustration program as a graduate student. I am an illustrator who often incorporates digital elements into my hand-drawn illustrations. My inspirations are often animals, fairy tales, and traditional Asian cultures which I reconstruct using darker representations by integrating wicked components in order to bring attention to the alternative form of beauty. I often draw fine lines on paper with a micron pen and then scan the lines into a computer to color. I know that with the development of technology, many illustrators have abandoned the use of traditional materials and switched to the more convenient electric drawing, but for me, the joy of drawing on paper with a pen is something that no digital application can ever replace. And, because drawing with traditional illustration tools is not easy to modify, I have to force myself to keep improving. My persistence in using hand-drawing techniques that reinforce the traditional elements of my work is what I am most proud of, and also what sets me apart from many artists in this digital age.

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 am an illustrator, and my inspiration often comes from animals, fairy tales, and traditional Asian culture. I usually start by sketching intricate line art on paper with a fine-tipped pen, and then I scan the sketches into the computer to add colors. I’m aware that with the advancement of technology, many illustrators have abandoned traditional materials and opted for the convenience of digital drawing. However, for me, the joy of drawing with pen on paper is irreplaceable by any electronic device. Moreover, it is precisely because traditional art tools do not allow easy modifications that I am forced to push myself to strive for excellence.

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?
Midtown Atlanta is my favorite place in the city, and it’s also where I’ve lived for the past five years in the United States. This place is always alive and vibrant, and I have made so many friends in this place who make my life full of joy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am most grateful to my partner Heath, who has been there for me at my most stressful and most challenging times and has been a great source of inspiration. I am also thankful for my friends who I have benefited from and who have made my time in the US exciting and fun. Last but not least, I would like to thank my puppy Ponyo and my friend’s puppy Sunny, who have been a blessing to me and made my day super happy!

Website: https://www.zhijuncheng.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drawing.little.jun/

Image Credits
Zhijun Cheng