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Good Pressure = Good Pleasure
BY
James Yang
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TAXI Thanks for doing this interview with us. What have you been busy with lately?
James Yang I just finished up a t-shirt design for Daydream Nation, an up-and-coming fashion studio in Hong Kong. It will appear in the Spring '10 collection. There are various assignments for magazines and newspapers that have to be finished, and I am preparing to work on a book assignment. One animation director and I are also finishing up a collaborative piece.
TAXI Could you share with us your creative process?
James Yang Usually a client will give a a general idea or summary for what they want and I try to break the idea down to its most basic level. For example, maybe the project is about investing, but when you break it down, it is really about choice, so I will create ideas about choice. Ideas start out as very rough small sketches which are later refined. Sketches are not detailed, but clean enough to give the client a good idea of what I am thinking. The client will get two or three sketches and they pick the one they like. The sketch is then scanned into the computer as a template and I will build the illustration in Photoshop. Ironically, the working on the computer is the most intuitive part because it is easy to experiment and improvise. I try different directions for color and texture and simply "go back in time" if the direction doesn't work. It is a fun process.
TAXI Your illustrations seems so vibrant and accessible. Is that your aim and would that be an accurate indication of your personality as well?
James Yang This is my aim. One of my illustrator friends told me I can take bad ideas and turn them into good ideas. Paul Rand who is a major influence, said there are no bad projects, only bad solutions to projects. Most of the time there is a solution that can be artistically pleasing and also please the client. At the start of my career, I worked in black and white because I was scared of color. With experience and experimenting, color turned from a weaknes into a strong point. My personality is similar to my work. Friends have accused me of being a cartoon character in real life.
TAXI Who or what inspires you in life?
James Yang I like it when an exhibit or catalogue scares me because the art is so good. Seeing work from talented people in any discipline is inspiring. Recently, I love listening to interviews from musicians, artists, or directors I admire.
James Yang I just finished up a t-shirt design for Daydream Nation, an up-and-coming fashion studio in Hong Kong. It will appear in the Spring '10 collection. There are various assignments for magazines and newspapers that have to be finished, and I am preparing to work on a book assignment. One animation director and I are also finishing up a collaborative piece.
TAXI Could you share with us your creative process?
James Yang Usually a client will give a a general idea or summary for what they want and I try to break the idea down to its most basic level. For example, maybe the project is about investing, but when you break it down, it is really about choice, so I will create ideas about choice. Ideas start out as very rough small sketches which are later refined. Sketches are not detailed, but clean enough to give the client a good idea of what I am thinking. The client will get two or three sketches and they pick the one they like. The sketch is then scanned into the computer as a template and I will build the illustration in Photoshop. Ironically, the working on the computer is the most intuitive part because it is easy to experiment and improvise. I try different directions for color and texture and simply "go back in time" if the direction doesn't work. It is a fun process.
TAXI Your illustrations seems so vibrant and accessible. Is that your aim and would that be an accurate indication of your personality as well?
James Yang This is my aim. One of my illustrator friends told me I can take bad ideas and turn them into good ideas. Paul Rand who is a major influence, said there are no bad projects, only bad solutions to projects. Most of the time there is a solution that can be artistically pleasing and also please the client. At the start of my career, I worked in black and white because I was scared of color. With experience and experimenting, color turned from a weaknes into a strong point. My personality is similar to my work. Friends have accused me of being a cartoon character in real life.
TAXI Who or what inspires you in life?
James Yang I like it when an exhibit or catalogue scares me because the art is so good. Seeing work from talented people in any discipline is inspiring. Recently, I love listening to interviews from musicians, artists, or directors I admire.
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Creatively, I am not a sketchbook guy but more of a sponge guy that likes to absorb stuff. Something as simple as walking in New York and soaking in the scene can be inspiring.
TAXI Have you ever been struck by "designer's block" before? What would you do if that happens?
James Yang I really don't get blocks, but there are times the work gets stuck in a rut. I don't ever try to force anything because it is a waste of time and feels like going in circles. I will take a break and do something different. Just breaking the negative flow is enough to get good ideas going again.
TAXI What do you think are the essential skills a good illustrator should have?
James Yang An illustrator should have good listening skills, discipline, marketing skills, basic business sense, flexibilty, great art, and ideas. You also need a good sense of yourself as an artist to survive the ups and downs in a career.
TAXI Having been featured in important publications such as Communication Arts Design & Illustration Annuals, Graphis, HOW and Print, how do you define success? Does your definition change all the time?
James Yang Success is being able to have the lifestyle you want by doing the work you love. If this is the definition of success, then I am pretty happy. The definition does change with wanting to do different kind of projects I have not done before. The secret is trying to find a way to be happy with your life but unhappy enough with your work so you keep trying to improve.
TAXI Having done work for a variety of clients, what are your favourite types of work and why?
James Yang It is hard to say what is best because all assignments have potential depending on the people involved. My favorite projects have a client and art director who appreciate good work and I have to do my best because they know good work. For example, working with David Plunkert, who is both an excellent designer and illustrator, is always great. David knows GOOD so this creates pressure for creating something GOOD. It is a good pressure.
TAXI Have you ever been struck by "designer's block" before? What would you do if that happens?
James Yang I really don't get blocks, but there are times the work gets stuck in a rut. I don't ever try to force anything because it is a waste of time and feels like going in circles. I will take a break and do something different. Just breaking the negative flow is enough to get good ideas going again.
TAXI What do you think are the essential skills a good illustrator should have?
James Yang An illustrator should have good listening skills, discipline, marketing skills, basic business sense, flexibilty, great art, and ideas. You also need a good sense of yourself as an artist to survive the ups and downs in a career.
TAXI Having been featured in important publications such as Communication Arts Design & Illustration Annuals, Graphis, HOW and Print, how do you define success? Does your definition change all the time?
James Yang Success is being able to have the lifestyle you want by doing the work you love. If this is the definition of success, then I am pretty happy. The definition does change with wanting to do different kind of projects I have not done before. The secret is trying to find a way to be happy with your life but unhappy enough with your work so you keep trying to improve.
TAXI Having done work for a variety of clients, what are your favourite types of work and why?
James Yang It is hard to say what is best because all assignments have potential depending on the people involved. My favorite projects have a client and art director who appreciate good work and I have to do my best because they know good work. For example, working with David Plunkert, who is both an excellent designer and illustrator, is always great. David knows GOOD so this creates pressure for creating something GOOD. It is a good pressure.
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TAXI I notice quirky humour seems to play a role in almost all your works. What are the key messages you hope to communicate with your illustrations?
James Yang I'm hoping people find the work to be smart. The goal is to do work both regular people and creatives enjoy. The humor comes from the way I think. My blog, "Yangblog World" is meant to be a humorous blog and friends have said it reads exactly the way I talk. This may be a good thing or bad thing, but this is what friends say.
Please share with us an image of your workspace.
TAXI Before we end, tell us, where would you like a TAXI to take you now?
James Yang Could drop me off in front of the clubhouse at Pebble Beach? Does your TAXI have enough room in the trunk for my golf clubs?
James Yang I'm hoping people find the work to be smart. The goal is to do work both regular people and creatives enjoy. The humor comes from the way I think. My blog, "Yangblog World" is meant to be a humorous blog and friends have said it reads exactly the way I talk. This may be a good thing or bad thing, but this is what friends say.
Please share with us an image of your workspace.
TAXI Before we end, tell us, where would you like a TAXI to take you now?
James Yang Could drop me off in front of the clubhouse at Pebble Beach? Does your TAXI have enough room in the trunk for my golf clubs?