Lan Truong is an illustrator and surface designer based in Portland, Oregon. She seeks to show absurdity and humor in her work. She enjoys reading webtoons and manga, and watching reality television.
LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE YOU WORK? ANYTHING SPECIAL IN YOUR WORK SPACE THAT UNLEASHES YOUR CREATIVE JUICES?
I like to have a TV show on while I’m working. I love reality competition shows, and a few of my favorites are The Amazing Race, Alone, and Top Chef.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK?
I will usually take a nap or hula-hoop if I need a break.
WHERE DO YOUR BEST IDEAS COME FROM? (DREAMS, SHOWER, MUSEUM, TRAIN?)
I think some of my best ideas have come to me when I’m doing things like taking out the garbage, brushing my teeth or exercising. When an idea comes to me, I'll rush to my sketchbook to quickly sketch it out. My short-term memory is not that great, so if I don't get an idea down within ten seconds, I'll most likely forget it.
ANY ACTIVITIES, EXERCISES OR STRATEGIES TO PULL YOURSELF OUT OF THE OCCASIONAL ARTISTIC RUT?
I usually start my projects off by sketching, but every now and then I'll start off with a word web. I'll write the topic or concept of the project down in the middle of a page in my sketchbook. Then I'll start coming up with a first set of words related to that topic or concept, and then a second set of words related to the first set of words. I keep doing this until I can't think of any more words.
HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF A BIG PROJECT?
How do you celebrate the completion of a big project?
Sometimes I’ll treat myself to something that I’ve been wanting — like a giant bag of Tootsie Rolls.
