Illustrating his dreams to reality, digital designer & illustrator Nelson Tse encourages everyone to embrace the quirkiness and personality in them.

Hello Nelson! Tell us more about yourself!

大家好! I’m a full-time digital designer working at a digital advertising agency and also a part-time illustrator. I was born in Malaysia but raised in Hong Kong. I moved back to Malaysia to pursue my dreams of being an illustrator.

Tell us your journey as an illustrator! How did you discover your passion for illustration?

At a very young age, my parents have began to buy me lots of cartoon and illustration books which sparked my interest to be an artist (my mom is good at drawing, I got it from my mama). At the age of 16, I started to discover and create my own unique illustration style to stand out from the rest. After a long journey of discovery, I eventually created my own Nelson Tse’s style of drawings.

I graduated from university with a degree in graphic design and an ambition to be an illustrator. However it’s cruel to know it’s not easy to get a full time illustrator position in Malaysia. I first worked as an in-house graphic designer at Avenue K, a district shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. I appreciated every help I received and got to showcase my talent and drawings by decorating the mall. Secondly, I was very lucky to join a digital agency, Lion&Lion that allowed me to work with some renowned brands such as Kiehl’s & Shu Uemura.

As my career progresses, I have found out a passion in the advertising industry. I am currently working at M&C Saatchi, my dream digital advertising company. I am currently working on some exciting brands that allow me to practice my creativity and gain valuable experience.

I try to balance both my interests and time management is crucial. I’ve had the opportunity to do illustration work with lots of amazing brands including IKEA, Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shop and Universal Music Group. These amazing experiences and great opportunities fuel my passion.

How would you describe your illustration style?

Quirky, retro, no rules, zero restriction and colourful. Everything’s comes from pure imagination!

What are your proudest artworks up to date?

This will have to be the IKEA Chinese New Year and Raya Packets Series. IKEA has been a great collaborator that allows me to go wild and spontaneous. It’s my proudest works so far! I was so glad to participate because I have always been a huge fan of IKEA. I first proposed my doodle ideas and some marketing strategy in an IKEA Catalogue to them. I was glad that IKEA loved my work and I was honored to receive their appreciation that lead to further collaborations. I can foresee other collaboration opportunities coming up.

Who are your favorite illustrators? Any local favorites?

Jean Jullien, Maurice Sendak, Dr Seuss & Jean-Jacques Sempé. These are the amazing people who inspired my illustration style and are my role models. My local favourites will be Vince Low, a great scribble artist and I am glad to have met him in person. He’s a talented, humble and nice artist.

In your words, what is art? What do you think about the art scene in Malaysia?

To me, art is painting your emotions in a visual form that makes you feel the wonders of life. Unfortunately, the art scene in Malaysia is limited as it is full of restrictions and is still rather conservative. I believe these factors kill creativity and possibilities. To be frank, it’s never easy to be an artist to survive in such a critical environment. It is a great challenge to overcome it by trying to stand out. The only way to create a better art scene in Malaysia is to be more daring and step out from your comfort zone.

On a daily basis, how are you inspired to create art?

Anything. It could be a movie I watched. A song I listened to. A place I visited. A person I talked to. A delicacy I ate. A dream that I dreamt of. A social post I saw. The list goes on.

Tell us a random fact about yourself!

I love cooking and want to have my own recipe book with my illustrations.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Weird, dedicated, kind.

Any upcoming projects for you?

There will be some international collaborations, which I am really looking forward to! ☺ I am also now in progress for some award submission work!

Do share some advice to budding artists out there!

Hi guys, I understand it’s never easy to survive this tough and restricted environment. But please keep the passion burning. Just stay strong until your dreams come true! Maybe not here but somewhere else – where you will grow brighter!

Other than illustrating, what is a typical day in your life?

Exploring the urban life and discovering new things and trends.

Any life mottos?

BE WEIRD, BE DIFFERENT, BE UNIQUE & DREAM BIG.

Who is your all time inspiration in life?

Justin Timberlake! He’s more than an Iconic pop star but a role model to be an avant-garde. His words always inspire me, he once said “If you’re a young person.. and you’re being called weird and you’re being called different or whatever the hell you’re being called, I’m here tonight to tell you: Your critics do not count. Their words will fade. You won’t. Stay foolish. Stay hungry. Dream.” That strengthened my path to pursue my dreams.

Tell us what makes you smile the most?

The people I love, especially when they tell me they like my work ☺