Tropicana May-June 2023 #148 The Passion Issue

MAY/JUNE 2023 COVER STORY
of 24 portraits of Malaysian wildlife. It was years in the
making. The programme was designed to raise awareness
of endangered species, support women within the
creative sector, and promote sustainability. It was also
created to promote Malaysia as a tourist destination
via eco-tourism and wildlife. The response was
mindblowing. The public were so interested in where
to see orangutans, what a proboscis monkey is and of
course the beautiful Malayan tapir.”
The 30-something who has a BA in Illustration and
Animation, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
(“PGCE”), specialising in the arts in post-compulsory
education enjoys both traditional and digital arts;
each with its own advantages and challenges.
To succeed as a digital artist, she notes that it’s essential
to have a firm grasp of the basics of traditional art.
“It's just not true that a computer or Photoshop can
replace your artistic skills. I can spend more than 200
hours on a single portrait and that’s not including the
time spent photographing the animals and making
rough sketches.”
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There are benefits and drawbacks to everything, and
Rachel believes that as an artist one needs to figure
out what works best for them and accept that it’s
all right to experiment. You are not limited to the
categories you choose.
“Pros and cons come with everything, I think as an artist
you need to find what works for you and learn that it’s
okay to explore. You don’t have to put yourself in a box
and then that’s it. Relax and give it a go, you never know
where it might lead. Being an artist is very challenging
regardless of if you’re a sculptor, traditional or digital
artist. You’ve really got to put in the work and that’s
difficult when you don’t know which the right avenue
is to adventure down. There is no career ladder, no set
promotions, sick days or holiday pay. No assistants,
distributors, social media managers, marketing teams or
set work hours. It is a risky career, but I wouldn’t change
it for the world!”