Introducing Lightbox Expo Artist Emerson Tung

• 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?

Emerson Tung: I was in high school when a friend first introduced me to Adobe Photoshop. When I first got it, all I knew to do was bucket-fill in anime lineart drawings which I scanned in, and then paint and shade really badly with a mouse. Then when I went to college, I discovered from my roommate this device called a drawing tablet, and that was a complete game changer. I ended up buying one that was super tiny, with only a drawing space that was like five inches by six inches. It was really hard to use, but I was hooked. I could draw digitally now. I didn’t need to use a mouse to color my drawings in Photoshop anymore.

Looking back, I honestly don’t know how I stuck to that throughout my entire time at college. It was only after I got my first paycheck from my first industry job that I upgraded to a tablet with a decently sized drawing space. 

Anime Herald: What is your artistic process?

Emerson Tung: For me, it always begins with an idea. I never start drawing or doodling until I have a specific idea in mind. Once I have an idea that I’d like to pursue, I start with drawing tiny thumbnails in my sketchbook to figure out the main silhouette of my design, or if I’m working on an environment piece, the composition and value breakups. You always want your images to read well at a glance, and this is the best way to figure that out. Thumbnailing is my favorite part of the process because not only does it form the foundation of your whole art piece, but this is where you can really go wild and push the idea as far as it can go before it breaks. Once I have a thumbnail I like, I blow it up in Photoshop and work out the details in a more refined sketch. I print out the sketch, and with a lightbox, work on the final lineart of my piece using a Pentel brush pen (My favorite ink medium, which I picked up after getting inspired by watching Kim Jung Gi use it). I then scan the drawing and then paint it up in Photoshop. 

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

Emerson Tung: That’s an interesting question. I suppose what makes my art unique is both my process and the ideas behind each piece. My process isn’t purely digital, as I go back and forth from pen and paper to digital, back to the brush pen and paper, and then back to digital again. I personally feel like the back and forth gives my pieces a unique look. And then there are the ideas that I come up with; I feel like a lot of people can recognise my pieces based on the subject matter that I pursue, like tank mechs that are in the shape of chickens or giant, walking battleship mechs, or even really silly ideas like autonomous toilet robots

Anime Herald: Are you self-taught, or what formal training shaped your skills?

Emerson Tung: I attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where I pursued a degree in Illustration. Digital art was still pretty new then, so I actually learned a lot from browsing forums such as conceptart.org during that time. 

Anime Herald: Who were the artists who inspired you?

Emerson Tung: Some of my favorite artists include Kai Lim (better known as Ukitakumuki), Shoji Kawamori, Yutaka Izubuchi, Kim Jung Gi, and Yoji Shinkawa. 

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

Emerson Tung: Many years ago, Iain McCaig gave a talk at the Academy of Art when I was still a student. He said something that has stuck with me to this day: “Always draw what you love, because that’s what people will hire you for.” I’m a living testament to that saying. I love giant robots; I draw them a lot, and I keep getting hired because of those drawings. Anyone who wants to pursue a creative field should always be true to themselves and what they like and are passionate about, and not give in to trends of the time. If you stay true to yourself, you’ll always find success.

Thank you for this opportunity!

Emerson Tung (Dallas-Worth, TX)
Table 814 at LBX (Artist Alley & Exhibitor Show Floor):

• About Emerson: https://emersontung.com/about
• Book Shop: https://emersontung.com/shop 
• Prints, Posters, Cards Shop: www.inprnt.com/gallery/emersontung 
• IG: www.instagram.com/emersontung