FAQ

Here are answers to some most frequent questions from interviews and comments. If you are fashion / beauty editor, journalist or blogger who wants to collaborate, I hope these basic information could help you. If you are fashion illustrator, art student, hope these could give you some ideas of the industry of fashion illustration. Please feel free to leave your questions and comments below, on art, on the creation process, anything :) I'd be glad to answer you!

Q : Do you draw custom portraits?


A: I enjoy listening to people's love stories and transforming them into lines and colors, so YES, sometimes I take personal custom portrait commissions, for people and pets. (see examples ▶︎)

As an illustrator mainly works for editorial and advertising projects, I've been invited to special PR events, painting personalized luxury products with custom art, calligraphy, and live-sketch portraits on them. I could help you for drawing custom art on your own products and gifts as well.

Please feel free to share your story here OR at benliubenda@gmail.com and let me know how can I help you :)

Q : Why did you choose to be an illustrator?


A : I guess illustration chose me? I have always been fascinated by manga, comics and fashion, my instinct thus naturally led me to combine these two into illustrations.

Q : What is your background?


A : I studied in animation, arts and multimedia in both China and Canada. Since the age of 10, I started to publish my comics in the newspapers, it opens doors for me to collaborate with fashion and cultural magazines with time: ELLE China, L'Officiel Hommes, Grazia, Journal Métro newspaper ... Thanks to my background in arts, cinema, theater, graphic design, and literature, I do not limit myself in one way of expressing myself.

Q : Your specialties?

A : Art direction + Illustrations ( editorial / ads ), graphic design, portraiture, event live-sketching / painting, comics, and storyboards.

Q : Your multi-language-learning story?

A : My mother tongue is Chinese Mandarin and 东北话 (the dialect of northeast China). I've learned Cantonese by watching dubbed Japanese anime on Hong Kong TV when I moved to Shenzhen at 6. English was taught since primary school. At the same time, I was listening to Teresa Teng and Japanese enka songs, I'd like to know what are the lyrics about, so I self-taught Japanese since then, but still a lot to learn now. At 21, I came to Canada for learning French, in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, more precisely. I self-studied some basic Spanish during a trip to Cuba, I'll try to learn more when I have some energy.

Q : What's special of languages to you?

A : I learn languages only by curiousity and the interest of letters / characters. I feel that each language has its own personality, read someone or culture in his/her/its mother tongue could give you more nuances and nearness. Translators translate from texts to texts, while illustrators translate from text to images, I guess it helps when you could read and understand the original text?

Q : What is your inspiration when creating your artwork?

A : Mostly from my daily life. ( Read more here #AskBENDA | Inspirations? ▶︎ )




Q : Is the personal style a result of long-term natural development, or has it been intentionally designed?


A : Both. Everyone's growth path is different, so are their worldviews.

The style should be a concrete representation of your own worldview. (Of course, it is a different matter to "learn" the excessive style of others, did I say "copy" ?)




Q : Do you have a favorite piece of yours?


A : All of them and none of them :) Every piece is a reflection of the moment I create it with heart & soul. But when it's done, it's done. Need to move on.




Q : Which brand would you most love to collaborate with in the future?


A : I feel cherished for the collaborations with the prestige brands such as Louis Vuitton Dior, Sephora, Cosmo, ELLE, Microsoft, Make-A-Wish Foundation... I'm happy and open to any creative projects if we share the same vision and values.




Q : What would be your dream project?


A : Projects that I have lots of freedom to accomplish.
Projects which can touch and comfort society.
Projects which allow me to collaborate with inspiring people.

( Sounds greedy? )




Q : What do you love most about living in Montreal?


A : The liberty aura from people, the beauty of its architecture, the scents of multicultural food, the Franglais sense of humor … Everything is a bit mixed with something else. Montreal is my “love in first sight”. I have a weekly column in Journal MÉTRO, called “ Dans le calepin de Ben ▶︎ ” (Inside Ben’s Sketchbook), which captures the Montreal I love by illustrations.




Q : What do you think of fashion?


A : I prefer style / aesthetic / creation than a simple trend. Although most of my works are fashion-related, I'm also interested in many fields other than fashion. I'm more concentrated on the colors and shapes when I create. I like elegant things that go through time.




Q : To be honest, what does the deadline mean for you?


A : Professional ethics and sense of responsibility. Only when you hand in your homework on time will there be little red flowers awarded (in China, teachers award kids with little red flowers when they behave well or have good notes) ! You know. :)




Q : Where do you most want your artwork to be printed on?


A : Printed in your heart.
Form is emptiness and short-lived, the connotation is long-lasting, isn't it?




Q : If you have a chance, you can use 3 months to experience another occupation not related to painting, what would you like to choose?

A: Barber.




Q : Many people think that illustrator is a very free, very beautiful, even very awesome, what do you want to say about this?


A : The so-called freedom is relative, my dear. Beauty is in every profession if we take them seriously, I guess? As for the awesomeness... I don't know, but I know that if the heart is not firm enough, it is easy to be f--ked... (Oups). I feel that to be a good illustrator, not only the basic skills of painting must be excellent, physical strength, energy, originality, and self-management skills need to be constantly improved.





THANK YOU for reading!

Feel free to leave your comments / questions below

↓