Janice Sung • Fall 2019
Photo by Melissa Sung (melissasung.com)
Summer has left us and Fall has come, but what a beautiful Fall it is to be. For this Fall’s menu art, we’ve partnered with Toronto-based Janice Sung to capture that perfect Fall mood in all its beauty. Through her bold use of colours, gorgeous illustration and powerful characters, she’s created a piece of art so striking, you’ll be hard-pressed to look away.
Hey Janice, tell us a bit about yourself! Have you always known you’ve wanted to go into illustration?
Yes, in a way I kind of knew. Growing up, there wasn’t a day that went by that I wasn’t drawing or doing something creative. I loved all fields of art from fashion and interior design to traditional painting and animation. I wanted to explore them all. Till this day, you’ll see remnants of these fields in my work as my love for these art forms remains a passion of mine.
Photo by Melissa Sung (melissasung.com)
What sparked your interest in illustration?
I am blessed to have parents who enrolled me in many classes at young age like swimming, piano, ballet, badminton, just to name a few. But one class captivated my interest and that was water colour painting. It was one of the only classes that I always looked forward to every week and I’ve loved the medium ever since. I began applying the knowledge I learned from traditional painting to digital when I entered college and now I like to switch between the two mediums from time to time.
Photo by Melissa Sung (melissasung.com)
What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
Photo by Melissa Sung (melissasung.com)
The best part about being an artist is the flexibility to work from the comfort of my own home. I get to make my own schedules, stay in my pajamas all day, and cuddle my dog whenever I want. Being a homebody, it’s all I could really ask for haha.
What is the hardest part of creating an illustration?
The hardest part for me is starting… thinking of the initial idea. The brainstorming process usually takes up the most time because I tend to spend quite a while simply looking through photographs that appeal to me. From there, I’ll pick out certain elements that I like from each photo and incorporate them into my design.
Photo by Melissa Sung (melissasung.com)
What is your inspiration behind this particular piece?
Demetres of course! It’s hard not to be inspired by their colourful and creative desserts. It was such a fun piece to work on as I was allowed to play with bright bold colours that I’m not used to using.
Is there a specific artist that inspires you?
I have many artists that inspire me and each in their own way. I have a favourite artist from every field of art, from traditional painters like Gustav Klimt to film directors like Wes Anderson. But most of all, I’m inspired by individuals who possess a strong work ethic and strive to be the best at what they do.
Photo by Melissa Sung (melissasung.com)
How do you know when a work is finished?
Leonardo da Vinci once said that “art is never finished, only abandoned”. The lesson is to not abandon your work but to show it to the world whether you feel like it’s ready or not. For me, I know a piece is finished when I feel that adding even a single paint stroke would be overdoing it.
Photo by Melissa Sung (melissasung.com)
Do you have a favourite piece of work that you’ve made?
My favourite piece is often my latest piece because it’s always exciting and refreshing to see something new. I always try to do something a little different with every painting whether it’s a change in style, colour, or medium. When I push myself to go outside of my comfort zone, that’s when the process becomes the most enjoyable and exciting for me.
In the process of creating your illustration do you listen to anything in the background- music, podcasts, tv shows?
Yes, always. Music, podcasts, tv shows, movies, you name it! I always have something playing in the background. I feel like time goes by much slower when I work in silence.
How did you build your online following as an artist? Any tips you’d give aspiring artists?
The key is to genuinely enjoy what you do. Forget the numbers and focus on how you can improve your craft. Enjoy the process, paint/draw whatever makes you happy, develop a good work ethic, create a schedule and stick to it and the followers will eventually come. Be your own biggest critic and never let the numbers define you or your skill.
If you could give a piece of advice to someone starting out in art, what would it be?
Ask yourself, what are the steps I need to take to be a better artist than I was yesterday? What are things I can improve on or new things I can try? For example, maybe you’re not so good at drawing eyes, then you should spend the entire day practicing drawing eyes! Moreover, make sure you focus on your own journey and do your best not to compare it to others as we all grow at a different pace and have various obstacles we must learn to overcome. Lastly, practice, draw every day and study the work of the masters/artists who inspire you. Best of luck to you
Here’s our Fall 2019 menu cover
And the bill cards
