Efforts Behind Colours

An illustration is like a building block, which is made up of an illustrator’s aesthetics, time, skill and creativity.

David Creighton-Pester is an illustrator and designer in Hamilton, New Zealand.

David has had a strong interest in illustration since he was a child and his rich imagination, which makes him start to create all his life.

In 2009, he started his design company Scorch Design.

David said that illustration is a time and energy-consuming passion because it requires practised painting skills, as well as pleasing colour aesthetics.

However, illustration technology and excellent painting aesthetics need continuous practice and improvement, which is a slow and challenging process. David needs to spend a lot of time and patience to practice over and over again, and finally complete the advance of his illustration.

At the same time, as an illustrator, David needs to cultivate his own unique painting style, to make his illustration difference from others.

It’s hard to stick to illustration as David said that New Zealand is not a big country like the U.S or U.K in illustration learning. He lacks opportunities for communication and progress, and it is difficult to support himself through illustration. Therefore, he established his own website, and he usually receives orders from different countries through the Internet to further develop himself.

Until now David’s illustrations have been published in books and used in products around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the United States and Canada.

His illustrations are full of imagination and happiness. His illustrations for children’s books bring fun to children all over the world.

For the Love of Illustration

It is difficult to insist on doing something, but the love of hobbies will give people the strength to move forward

Aspiring illustrator Zhipeng Wang, settled in Hamilton from Hong Kong with his family in July last year and is currently studying English language at Wintec.

A tall young man, Zhipeng is passionate about illustration, and once wanted to study the subject at a tertiary level. However, following advice from his parents, Zhipeng decided to choose finance as his major in the future.

However, his passion for illustration is not affected by his parents’ opposition. He continues to teach himself illustration and can draw excellent works. Zhipeng said that even though there were many challenges ahead for his art he is interested in continuing to learn new illustration techniques. Even if there are difficulties, and requires hours of work, he still enjoys it, regularly comparing his practice pictures for obvious progress.

Often, if he feels he has progressed, he will feel overwhelmingly proud and satisfied, like a child who has been given candy. Zhipeng hopes to continue his practice as an illustrator while studying finance.

Zhipeng has uploaded his works on Chinese social media and attracted many followers. He has begun to receive requests for contributions from others and is starting to make some money from his art. Although the remuneration was not much, it proved that others recognized and loved his illustrations. When Zhipeng said that he could make money from his illustrations, his smile on his face was as brilliant as the sun. He said with pride that painting is the fairest art because as long as you practice hard, you will get a reward.

Looking at the firm eyes of Zhipeng, I know that he will continue to move forward for his dream because nothing can make people more motivated than interest.