Time Spent by picture (approx.):
Research and documentation: 5-10 hours
Painting (for 1 picture): 20 hours

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Software used: Photoshop
Work Type: Client - Games and a Curry/WetInk Games
Tasks: Illustrations for TTRPG Kickstarter Campaign

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Working on these illustration was a wonderful opportunity to me as the game itself tackles very personal issues and experiences. Here is what the Kickstarter says about the game :

"This is a collaborative, storytelling RPG about a Chinese family making their living by running a restaurant in one of America’s Chinatowns, circa 1920. Despite societal backlash and anti-Chinese laws, they have turned a profit and their quality of life has recently improved.

Night, however, brings a new terror."

Being myself from two different ethnicities (vietnamese and spanish), I experienced many of the topics discussed in the game. I think it is important to share these stories and what's the best way to make people experience it in a safe and controlled environment? Games! A Tabletop RPG is just the best way I think, to experience these slices of life.

About the collaboration

I was commissionned two illustration to preface free demo scenario. Those two stories were to give a preview of what the game is like in the Kickstarter. As such, these images had to accurately share the feeling of the stories and trigger emotions from the viewer.

Another use was the game trailer. As such, these two paintings are layered and cut in a way they can be used and edited in the trailer.

Banana and Sen-Foong had the kindness to give me a very complete folder of ressources, documentation and historical facts, visual references and patterns used at the time. It was crucial to be on point on the matter as the setting needed to be historically accurate.

But even with all those references, we missed some important information only available from chinese american immigrants: the hair tail was a mark of Chinese imperialism, hence, not used and frowned upon in the US (from my understanding). Thanks to the Kickstarter community, Banana and Sen-Foong asked me to fixed the men designs by removing the hair tails.

This was a great collaboration and I am grateful to Game and a Curry and WetInk Games that publish the game to have trusted me on that.

I can also only recommend you to check their Kickstarter as I worked alongside tremendous artists, writers, graphic designers on it.

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