Some of the handmade toys shown by Wee to The Borneo Post.
MIRI: Like many other youngsters with an introverted character, Wee Yee Chong loves to keep to himself, scribbling with spontaneity whatever that comes to his mind.
Amazingly, the years of scribbling turned into drawings and later elevated into something known as anime character that caught the attention of netizens, particularly anime fans.
Calling his fine artwork Silver Fox, it wasn’t the first illustration he did.
“I have drawn many things, for as long as I remember ever since I took up the hobby five to six years ago. But I have to admit that I’m a wannabe artist who can’t draw human characters,” he chuckled during an interview with The Borneo Post.
To date, Wee has drawn hundreds of Silver Fox characters which he had compiled into books. The books are often sold overseas.
The 30-year old self-taught artist revealed that though he pursued a three-year graphic designing course at a private college, he had never thought of becoming an artist.
“Soon after I finished college, I had planned on taking a job as insurance agent in Kuala Lumpur. I had to feed myself before I could pursue my dream. But the plan was put aside after my grandfather fell sick, I returned home to Miri to be close to him and family.”
Upon returning home, Wee took up a job in a local advertising company for a couple of years, switching to another job before deciding to quit for good.
“Quitting my job with decent salary and stable working hours was really risky, especially during the economic downturn. But the decision wasn’t made in a hurry. My family supported me and gave me the confidence to pursue my interest in comics and anime,” he confessed.
Wee demonstrates needle felting on sheep wool, a hobby he took up as part of his way to extend his artsy skills.
Fox, an utterly cunning animal, he said, was among his favourite animals. Hence, he decided to overturn this perception of the animal into a warrior with positive influence that is fun and cute all at the same time.
“At the same time, I hope to send out positive message to all youngsters out there that anime is a healthy hobby,” he said.
Now that he works as a freelance artist, Wee would consistently post his latest artworks on the anime-related website http://silverfox5213.deviantart.com to share with other anime enthusiasts.
Fox, an utterly cunning animal is among Wee’s favourite animals; hence he decided to overturn the perception of the animal through Silver Fox, into a warrior with positive influence that is fun and cute all at the same time.
His artworks have earned not only praise and encouragement from his net friends; they have also landed him with several freelance jobs from companies in Japan, Australia, United Kingdom and USA, with some requiring him to travel overseas.
He designs mobile card games and posters, and the sales of the products provide him with a decent income.
Looking at several pieces of his work, it was understandable why anime fans and the overseas companies are overwhelmed by his artwork.
To date, he has drawn hundreds of Silver Fox characters which he had compiled into books.
Cat Bunny in the fantasy world.
The books are often sold overseas as well as in the local market.
Wee would load a substantial amount of his published books when travelling to attend exhibitions to save on courier fees.
He often shares his drawing technique and colour application with anime enthusiasts.
When not drawing, Wee applies his skills to his other hobby – wool needle felting.
“Wool felting is known as a girl’s hobby, even so the technique required to produce a full piece of wool isn’t as easy as it sounds,” he exclaimed.
One of his anime characters, Alexx the tiger.
From purchasing the expensive materials to felting the wool and making a toy out of his anime character (Silver Fox), he said it requires time and a lot of patience.
“It could take days to complete the whole process from needle felting the wools to produce a whole toy and at times is mentally exhausting because too many details are required,” he said, adding that the painstaking process makes him appreciate dearly the toys he made.
Speaking on his upcoming project, Wee revealed he is working to enhance his 3D skills, hoping to turn his anime into a living character.
Before concluding the interview, Wee shared a piece of advice with young artists struggling between their dream and reality.
“Opportunity comes to those who are ready.
“There are crossroads and at times the least travelled road. Never mind if you stumble during the journey, perseverance and determination as well as support from your family can affirm your confidence.”
The Fifth Element poster drawn by Wee was a freelance job with an Australian company. More than 600 copies of the poster were sold at the Australian Convention.