Hanoian Artist Wazza Pink Reimagines Traditional Art To Showcase The Innocence Of Childhood

Wazza Pink is an illustrator based in her beloved hometown, Hanoi, from which she gets her creative inspiration. Most of her illustrations are made for and deal with kids — their youthful innocence, playfulness, purity of soul, and curious gazes.

For every piece of art, Wazza Pink always favors a multi-dimensional and gentle approach through which she could truly feel the whole spirit of an art theme, thereby being able to grasp the ideas and convey them into a sketch.

1. Do you have a favorite playlist when working?

I listen to various types of genres. In the morning, I play something upbeat to kick-start my day while some mellow and beautiful melodies that I can sing along would lighten my mood in the afternoon.

2. What would your 10-year-old self think about your current job? 

I would be very surprised that I could live a decent life with a brush. When I was 10, I thought that artists earned very little so I tried hard to learn a new language to become a tour guide. 

3. Do you have any fears when painting?

I have many fears, especially when I get stuck and can’t generate new ideas. But as time goes by, I realized that it is a very common obstacle an artist has to face. You just need to leave it there for a while, do something else, and go back to it later.

4. How have you improved your skills along the way?

When I first learned about illustration, I studied many artworks of other artists and practiced on my own. I also took some short-term courses to improve my skills and knowledge in art. 

Whichever artistic style you are going for, it has to be rooted in traditional art, otherwise, you’d get drained very easily. Therefore, as soon as I realize I have a lack of knowledge, I take any chance to study more and polish my skills. 

5. How do you find the balance between your artistic style and your client’s demand?

I think both artist and client have to make it very clear of their direction at the beginning of the project to see whether they could work together or not.

Therefore, normally when clients choose me to take on a project, I could work smoothly without worrying about failing to meet their expectations. 

6. Do feelings and emotions affect your creative process? 

For me, I work best when I am feeling happy, healthy, and comfortable, but once sorrow and sadness come, I would just sleep and do something else to release my emotions. 

7. What is it about art that bothers you?

The thin line between the right and the wrong, the beauty and the ugliness, especially when it comes to the field of illustration since many artists value emotions over their skills. 

Some artworks may seem gorgeous at first glance, but are actually considered shallow and not interesting because they lack soul.  

8. Which art theme can you draw forever without getting bored?

I don’t think there is an art theme that I study deeply enough to get bored, but I love bringing nature and unexpected things into my works, rather than a structural background. 

9. Who would you choose to draw? What is she/he doing? 

Probably my kid. For me, drawing is not just to earn a living, but to capture every moment of my daughter – whatever she’s doing in our daily life.

10. Among your artworks, which one would you send to a person who’s lost in life? 

I don’t know, because I sometimes get lost, too. But the work below could be a good pick because I drew this piece at the moment I didn’t have any direction in life.  

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Translated by Bich Tram