Daily Inspiration: Meet Haiyang Sun

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haiyang Sun

Hi Haiyang, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Art has always been a big part of my life. When I was a kid, I loved reading manga and watching anime like Digimon, One Piece, and Doraemon. Then I got into video games like Portal2, Dead Space, and Starcraft2, which blew my mind with how interactive they were. In 2012, I moved from China to the United States. Four years later, I went to ArtCenter College of Design to pursue my dream of becoming a concept artist. After graduating, I got to work on some really cool games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and the next Perfect Dark. Now, I’m a character concept artist at Tencent America, working with my art hero, Ben Zhang. It’s amazing to do what I love for a living, and I’m excited to see where my career takes me!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I was starting out in the entertainment industry, I hit a point of burnout. Working on portfolio pieces 24/7 has drained my creativity. It was a big challenge for me, but I knew I had to keep growing. That’s when I enrolled in classes at CDA, taught by industry veteran Kevin Chen. Learning new design processes reignited my passion for art, and I had a blast drawing, improving my skills. Eventually, my updated portfolio opened doors to exciting job opportunities in the video game industry. Seeing my work featured on the school’s website was validating. Investing in my creativity and learning finally pays off. Now, I’m ready for whatever comes next on my art journey!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a character concept artist working in the video game industry. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on several AAA titles. Currently, I’m thrilled to be a part of Tencent America. It’s a dream come true to work alongside other talented artists and design cool video game characters!
One aspect of my journey that I’m particularly proud of is the recognition my work has received internationally. It has been very rewarding to see my art featured on various websites, competitions, and magazines. I’m excited about my painting getting featured in this year’s Infected By Art artbook, the upcoming feature of my concept art tutorials in the Character Design Quarterly magazine. I’m especially excited about the Multiple gallery shows that are coming up with the Holy Art Gallery!

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Feel free to shoot me an email for any business inquiries. If you are interested in my work, you can Follow my Artstation and Instagram for more content. Drop a like or comment if you like anything you see, I like it when people say hi. That’s the best way to support me and my art journey!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artstation.com/haiyangsun
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haiyangsun