Hong Kong: Meeting Prudence Mak

My small illustration gift to Prudence.


Week 2 in Hong Kong, and I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to lunch with one of my all-time favorite illustrator: Prudence Mak.  Thanks a million, Bernard, for introducing us!

Tribute to Masters Series -- William Steig

Growing up in Hong Kong, I admittedly did not read "Doctor De Soto" or "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" or "Shrek", unlike children brought up in America.  I didn't know about Shrek until the Dreamworks animation came out (which, of course, was inspired by Steig's book). I did read them as a grown-up, and they are indeed great works of children's literature.

Tribute to Masters Series -- Fujiko F. Fujio

Fujiko F. Fujio (藤子・F・不二雄) is a pen name of Hiroshi Fujimoto (藤本 弘).  He created many classic mangas (Japanese comics), with Doraemon (哆啦A夢) among his most famous series.

Tribute to Masters Series -- Alice Mak

McDull is like the Mickey Mouse of Hong Kong. He is an innocent little pig growing up in a grass-root environment, attending a pre-school on the roof-top of an urban commercial building. Many kids in Hong Kong did. I did.

There are two-folds to the success of the McDull series.

Tribute to Masters Series -- Tove Jansson

The Moomins are forest trolls. None of the folklore, stories, myths, or legend I grew up with had trolls in them. Trolls originate from Scandinavian folklore. When I grew up, there were Chinese legends, Arabian tales, Japanese myths, English stories, American folktales... But Norse mythology

Tribute to Masters Series -- Stig Lindberg

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to visit Stockholm. During my stay, my very nice host took the trouble to accompany me to a small town an hour away from the city – Gustavsberg. I was thrilled. There was a very famous sculptor I admired, and she used to work in this legendary small town. I wanted to visit her studio, for musing purposes.

Tribute to Masters Series -- Antoine de Saint Exupéry

One summer night in my final college year, my roommates and I went to an In-N-Out Burger for dinner. It was then I first noticed something on my European roommate's stomach.

"Is that a tattoo?" I asked.

Tribute to Masters Series -- Mary Blair

From the moment you look at the "It's a Small World" castle in Disneyland, you are looking at the beautiful work of Mary Blair. The whimsical shapes, the harmonious color, the witty design, the cute looking children celebrating their culture and love – such is the wonderful craftsmanship and imagination of Ms. Blair.

Tribute to Masters Series -- Hayao Miyazaki

I remember watching "My Neighbor Totoro" in theater in the late 1980s. How I wish I could bump into Totoro in a forest! (Of course, I wouldn't be as brave as the girl in the movie, who hopped onto Totoro's belly immediately and tickled his nose.) How I wish I could fly across the sky hugging onto Totoro! How I wish I could travel around inside the CatBus!

Tribute to Masters Series -- Charles M. Schulz

Every artist/designer/illustrator/creative personnel has a list of inspiring masters that influence his/her creative direction. I want to pay tribute to mine on my blog.

At age 8, when my parents first broke the news of our immigration to the states, I asked them what America had that would be fun.

"They have Snoopy and Mickey Mouse." Mom replied. "That's where they came from."