Another Buzzer issue means another ridiculously talented artist illustrated the front page! Christel Chan captured our theme for the February issue perfectly, showing the modes of transit we use across the region in a really bright and fun way! (Jealous. I can barely draw plausible stick figure!)

We got a chance to ask Christel a few questions about herself and her work:

Who is Christel?
I am a fourth year Illustration student at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. My website is christelchan.weebly.com.

How did you get into drawing and illustrating?
I’ve been drawing all my life so I cannot really pinpoint a time when I “got into it”. However, I wasn’t aware of Illustration as a field until I started at Emily Carr University.

What’s your favourite thing to draw?
Portraiture. I love studying faces and capturing them in 2D…it is very satisfying.

What tools do you like to use?
Recently I have been very interested in oil painting, but for a more graphic approach, I like using my tablet on Adobe Illustrator. Both media are very flexible which I enjoy.

What’s your favourite route or mode of transit?
I take transit everyday to and from school. Since efficiency is important to me (I am from Hong Kong, after all), the 99 B-line is my favourite bus line because it’s frequent and fast.

What’s next for you in the land of art?
I am graduating this May and I aspire to be a freelance Illustrator for publications and children’s books. I would also like to cultivate a gallery practice.

Thanks Christel! Pick up your copy of the February 2015 issue today on the bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express or download it here. The next issue of the Buzzer will be out April 2015 – that means the next illustrator interview will be then too!

Author: Adrienne Coling