5 Minutes with Eugenie Zhan
HELLO EUGENIE, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I’m from Brisbane Qld.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Fashion illustrations for events and custom for private clients.
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PASSION?
It has been a life long hobby, started drawing since I was really young and of course it wasn’t just fashion illustrations back then it was just anything like nature, people, flowers. The main influence was I just loved watching my mum make clothes and she would draw the designs, so then that also inspired me to draw clothes and fashion.
IF YOU WERE A COLOUR, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
Pink!
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Megan Hess she is my idol! And also what inspires me to keep creating is all the amazing support from the community that I have so that drives me to keep making art. Seeing the expression of clients when they get their custom drawn art drawn right in the spot they are so surprised and so happy that really inspires me to keep creating because I love making people happy!
DESCRIBE YOUR ART IN 3 WORDS
Fun, stylised, colourful
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS AND WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING PROJECT YOU HAVE DONE?
I have a wide variety from large corporates like Maserati, to just simply individuals wanting something for their friend or families. One of my more major clients would be polo Ralph Lauren having worked with them since 2019.
Most interesting was early on in my career I was collaborating with a jewellery brand called Adorne Me and I would use their jewellery to create artworks here. Another project was just spontaneous for fun, where I used Bulla icecream to create an artwork, it was a delicious process here and then later the Bulla family enquired for the prints which was pretty fun and unexpected.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED AS A FASHION ILLUSTRATOR ?
The challenge is when your hobby starts becoming a job and you have to do what the client wants, even though you may have your own creative ideas, in the end you just have to do what the client wants. So sometimes it may be hard for a creative to put aside our own imagination and creativity but inside view the project in a more structured and objective way. So basically you start having to create for others rather than yourself. Some clients can be demanding and keep changing their minds so you have to do many many drafts but it’s part of the process. But sometimes because of clients I have tried things that I haven’t expected that I would be able to do, for eg drawing cards- I was hesitant but overcoming your own shortcomings is a challenge but you can improve in the end.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP TIP FOR CHILDREN WHO WANT TO BECOME LIKE YOU ONE DAY?
Just keep drawing and practising when you’re young and don’t have any pressure you can just create and do whatever you like . And once you find something you like and want to pursue then keep practising that. If you want your passion to grow bigger and become more than just a fun hobby you then have to be brave to put your artwork in front of others. You can start small by drawing for friends and families. I initially volunteered and offered my work for free to get the exposure and once you build a following and people approach you to create something they want, then you can start treating it like a business. Don’t turn down any opportunities because you never know where it may lead you, and who you may meet. So main thing is persistence, practise and bravery!
WHAT EXCITING PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR 2021 / 2022 ?
Just a few other events lined up for Maserati, Ralph Lauren and a race day event for supporting motor neuron disease research which I’m very keen to do. Then next year I have a very interesting event where I’ll be drawing for the sponsors of the cricket T20 big bash, so never thought my fashion illustrations would ever collide with cricket.
https://www.instagram.com/eugeniezhan/
