Comics are typically part and parcel of youth (with some bringing this pastime into their adult years too), no matter whichever generation somebody matured in.
There’s something for everybody, whether it’s Kampung Boy, Marvel or DC, or perhaps the Mandarin comic Ge Mei Lia.
But with more individuals on their phones nowadays, it’s generated a new age of comic artists. Specifically, webcomic illustrators who publish brief (and in some cases prolonged) stories online.
One such artist in this space is Olive Yong, a Malaysian best understood for her chunky feline slice-of-life cartoons called Bichi Mao.
Drawing back to her enthusiasm
Having learnt Music Education, it was never ever in Olive’s strategies to end up being an artist. “The thought had never crossed my mind,” she admitted.
However, it wasn’t a random event that triggered her to start showing. As a kid, illustration was among her enthusiasms, with her weapon of option being the old-school pen and paper.
Her endeavor into the webcomic scene began after finding digital drawing through the Procreate App in June 2019.
After ending up being more positive in her work, she started publishing it online to share it with others. Little did she understand, her illustrations of numerous chunky cats recorded the general public’s attention, and her fans started increasing.
So upon finishing college, she selected to dive head-first into the arts market.
The young artist saw “so much promise” in the field and chose to go all in and devote to it as her full-time profession.
Slowly however certainly, her work and fan base grew as more individuals paid attention to Olive’s wacky comics. Around 6 months after Bichi Mao released, it was progressively developing itself as a recognisable brand name.
“To my amazement, my work quickly gained popularity. It’s humbling and incredibly motivating to receive so much support from fans who appreciate and enjoy my art,” Olive said.
A comic with cat-titude
As you might have already thought, “Bichi Mao” originates from a word your moms and dads would discredit, and the Chinese term for a cat.
But that doesn’t indicate the stories have to do with an irritating cat. It’s rather the opposite, in fact. The characters in Olive’s comics are understood for their cute appearances and even cuter worths.
You see, while the artist develops amusing and inspiring narratives, she likewise consists of bigger social commentary.
For example, the brand name checks out relationships, personal development, and the roaming overpopulation concern. All from the lens of chubby cats with human-like qualities.
These subjects and Olive’s simplified illustration design and storytelling make Bichi Mao even more relatable to its global audience.
The concept to function cats wasn’t a coincidence or random choice either. Instead, it’s rather personal, as Olive has 3 furry good friends.
“I find cats incredibly adorable, and I believe many people love them,” she said. As somebody who has lots of family pet cats, I’m absolutely among those individuals.
As for her option to consist of social commentary, it’s one method of including more depth and character to Bichi Mao’s comics.
It likewise increases the capacity of much heavier subjects reaching a larger audience due to the fact that of how light-hearted and bite-sized Bichi Mao’s cartoons are.
“I enjoy sharing my views on certain topics to bring awareness to the public in hopes of helping to make the world a little kinder,” she admitted. “I love how I can draw from real-life moments and stories to create illustrations that connect with people.”
It’s a mix of various art work
Personally, I never ever believed “cute art” would be the very best format to broaden on major topics, however Olive explained that it’s a good medium to inform stories.
“It allows me to tap into my creativity and imagination, bringing characters and narratives to life through vibrant visuals. I believe that pictures have a unique power to captivate and connect with audiences on a deep level.”
Looking at her existing variety of Instagram fans that’s now at 409K, this appears to support her declaration. Her capability to release and retail three physical books on Amazon also shows the need for her work.
That said, drawing comics itself is not what sustains her profession, however it does play an important function in her branding as an artist. “Posting on social media may not directly generate income, but it can drive traffic to your work,” she clarified.
Like other artists, her primary incomes are from her books, offering product, taking part in convention occasions, using Patreon, working together with brand names, and handling commission work.
Olive likewise revealed that her business has actually paid up until now. “I have experienced growth every year, which is a great achievement.”
Regarding Bichi Mao’s future, the 26-year-old illustrator wishes to broaden Bichi Mao into various markets and enhance it as an IP (copyright).
“By putting in the effort and consistently producing quality content, I aim to increase the popularity and reach of the Bichi Mao brand,” she shared. “Looking back, I’m grateful that I never gave up on my dream and persevered until now.”
With the popularity of webcomics in recent years, it appears that comics will continue to stay an available form of art. Though rotating to the online market would most likely offer much better traction than physical books.
And the pattern for artists nowadays points towards diversifying their line of product, as these 4 other illustrators have actually revealed.
But in basic, it’s important to note that producing material for the sake of producing material doesn’t constantly work, as it can be obvious in your crafts.
As Olive puts it, “If others appreciate and resonate with your work, you will naturally receive support. So, rather than worrying about whether people will like it or not, prioritise your own artistic happiness and let it shine through your creations.”
- Learn more about Bichi Mao here.
- Read posts we’ve blogged about Malaysian start-ups here.
Featured Image Credit: Bichi Mao
