Today we’d like to introduce you to Toby Fan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I was a kid, I loved walking through the comic and manga section of my local library and checking out whatever caught my eye. Of course, I loved books too, but I was always drawn to the mix between illustration and writing and how impactful that combination can be when telling a story. I was inspired by all of the out-of-order volumes that I would have stacked next to me while leaning against the bookshelf and the carpeted floors. Those childhood memories shaped me growing up and I’m glad I stuck with art after all these years!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve always been pretty headstrong in subjects that I was interested in, so once I had decided that I wanted to pursue Entertainment Art, I pretty much directed my whole focus toward that direction. It wasn’t always a smooth road though, I will say that I didn’t get a lot of support when I decided to become a professional artist because most people don’t really think you can be successful or support yourself in that line of work. I definitely tried to prove those people wrong and took on a lot of outside activities like participating in art anthologies, running a storefront, and doing commissions just to show that it can be a viable source of income AND be something that I enjoyed doing. Once I knew what I wanted, I pretty much just kept looking forward and how to further improve my skills as an artist.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I mostly specialize in illustrations and concept art. My favorite part of illustrating is adding in Easter eggs, especially when it involves characters I really care about. It’s really fun to see people point out all of the little details that only a fan could notice in my work! One of the things I really try to push myself to do is to explore other mediums outside of digital and traditional art. In my free time, I do enjoy working on graphic design, motion graphics, and animating illustrations through After Effects just to keep things fresh for myself.
I really enjoy working in the comic field, as it’s something that’s always been really near and dear to my heart. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work on Batman: Wayne Family Adventures and Vixen: NYC over at WEBTOON! Comics has always been a great fusion of two of the things I like most in the world: writing & art. And to be a part of projects that involve characters that I love and that many others share is such a huge honor.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of the biggest lessons I learned during this pandemic was that you really have to be decently versed in technology. Especially during the earlier months and having meetings through Zoom, it was pretty integral to know your computer and how to fix any video or audio issues that may occur during important talks. This would also include knowing how to use or at least be familiar with a variety of sites that instructors or employers use to turn projects into. I’ve learned how to use so many new sites since the pandemic started, haha.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://astrovvitch.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/astrovvitch
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/astrovvitch_
- Other: https://astrovvitch.artstation.com
Image Credits
Crystal Truong
