MessyNessy profiles the GIF artist Oamul, particularly praising his On the Road series:
Oamul is a talented young illustrator and animator from China who brings his hand-drawn illustrations to life in these enchanting GIFs. His subject matter ranges from things he sees, hears and experiences on his travels and in his daily life to his favourite movie scenes….
In an interview last year, Oamul talked about how he became an illustrator:
When did you first discover you liked illustration? What were your influences?
When I was a kid, I saw my sister had drawn a picture about Sailor Moon. At that time, I wanted to draw things that I enjoyed and liked, so I began to use a pen to sketch everyday.
How was your design education? Were you formally educated in design, or was it just a hobby?
After my parents discovered I was gifted at drawing, they decided to send me to formally learn art. When I went to university though, I chose Interior Design. Although interior design is very different from what I create now, it still has a big influence in my work. After I graduated, I learnt 3D animation in a computer game company. Those experiences were crucial in influencing my work today.
What do you think of Design and illustration in China? Do you think it has its own style, or do you think that it is still influenced by the West?
I think today, China’s illustration is becoming more and more diverse, all designers having their own style. But we are still learning all the time from many influences all over the world.
See more of his work here.
The Dish 