Introducing Lightbox Expo Artist Sang Lam

• Interview Location: Lightbox Expo
• Interview Format: In-person, One-on-One

Anime Herald: What was the exact moment or memory that made you decide to pick up this medium?

Sang Lam: I love the worldbuilding from shows like Steven Universe and Gravity Falls. I also enjoy painting landscapes more than characters, so I wanted to be a background artist in animation. This led me to learn Photoshop as my main medium, as it was the industry standard. I learned it in college and had a hard time adjusting at first. But when I started painting with chunkier rectangle brushes and treating it like gouache, I was able to get better results and had more fun in the process. 

Anime Herald: What is your artistic process?

Sang Lam: I get a lot of my inspiration from my traveling photos. I love starting sketches and color studies in Procreate using blocky brushes. Once I’m happy with the composition and rough colors, I’ll bring it into Photoshop to finish rendering. I love to keep everything on a separate layer so if I receive feedback with changes, it can be done faster. 

Anime Herald: In an era where digital tools can mimic almost any aesthetic, what makes your art decidedly original?

Sang Lam: My work stands out with the mix of sharp shape languages and soft pastel colors. It creates a cozy and calming environment for the audience. I also love adding little knick-knacks throughout the piece as your eye travels through the space. It makes the space feel more lived-in. 

A lot of it is just me playing with the design language, the lighting, and the color palette. Every decision in the final piece is intentional and reflects my personal voice. I believe mimicked work often lacks the soul and intentionality of original work. 

Anime Herald: Are you self-taught, or if not, what formal training shaped your skills?

Sang Lam: I studied at Ringling College of Art and Design to learn the basics. I also did a lot of plein air studies with gouache and Photoshop in my private time. I specifically painted a lot of clouds as the college was near a beach with stunning sunsets. Because clouds didn’t have a specific form, I was able to play with different rendering styles without worrying about it not looking realistic enough. That’s when I discovered my style and learned how to speed up my process.

Anime Herald: Who were the artists who inspired you?

Sang Lam: I am a huge fan of background animation artists like Nathan Fowkes, Kat Tsai, and Chelsea Blecha. I’m also heavily influenced by slice-of-life anime and Ghibli movies. They always have the most stunning landscape paintings. 

Anime Herald: Is there anything you’d like to add to share with our readers?

Sang Lam: I want to encourage everyone to have fun with their art. I think it is a scary time right now for creatives, but we can’t let that stop us from creating, and we can’t let the joy of the process be taken from us. Thank you for speaking with me!

Sang Lam (Glendale, CA)
Table 112 at LBX (Artist Alley & Exhibitor Show Floor):

• About Sang: https://www.sanglam.com/bout
• Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SangLamArt 
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/sanglamart