Interview #22: The art of Maggie Chiang
'Color is at the heart of my designs, setting the tone and mood while guiding the emotional response of the viewer.'
* Note to my Italian friends: Clicca (QUI) per leggere l’intervista in italiano!
Happy Sunday friends!!! Today I'm interviewing an amazing illustrator and designer who kindly shares precious advice and insights of her artistic journey. I’m sure you’ll find her art and words very inspiring!
For those just finding me - I’m Madalina, an artist and illusrator who loves discovering and talking to many fellow artists. I now share these conversations through monthly interviews available to read for everyone :)
Maggie Chiang (aka @mcmintea) is a full-time artist and designer based in San Francisco Bay area. She has worked for over 8 years in a variety of fields ranging from editorial to motion graphics. She has also held several solo exhibitions in the past few years. Her illustrations look calm and delicate, but they hide a strong desire for adventure and the pursuit of the unknown.
☆ Hi Maggie and thank you for joining forArtists. How would you describe your artistic journey that led you to where you are today?
My artistic journey began in childhood, where I would fill sheets of paper with scribbles and shapes using every crayon I had. My mother was incredibly supportive, enrolling me in art classes and even surprising me with a plein air drawing book that I still treasure. Pursuing my passion, I went on to major in illustration at ArtCenter College of Design, where I started seeking internships and cold emailing magazines for editorial work.
The early years were challenging as I worked to find my voice and navigate the freelance illustration world, experiencing many highs and lows along the way.
Despite the difficulties, these experiences were crucial in shaping my path.
A few years after graduating college, I secured a long-term freelance position that evolved into a full-time role, during which I also worked with an illustration agent. After a year, I decided to return to freelancing full-time, and a few years later, I parted ways with my agent. Throughout this journey, I also explored the gallery scene, holding several solo exhibitions.
Each step has contributed to where I am today, with a deeper understanding of my craft and a continued passion for both illustration and gallery art.
☆ What are the aspects you most love about your design work? And what are those of illustration work?
What I love about design is the ability to explore different styles and shape languages. It gives me the freedom to experiment, pushing creative boundaries and discovering new ways to communicate visually. Each project brings a fresh opportunity to try something unique, and often, these explorations inform and inspire my own personal work, enriching my creative practice even further.
I love illustration because it allows me to dive deep into my own imagination, bringing my personal ideas to life. It’s a space where I can experiment with new techniques or concepts that have been on my mind, and create pieces that feel uniquely my own.
☆ What design principles do you usually apply in your illustrations?
When approaching my work, I prioritize key design principles like composition, contrast, scale, and especially color.
Color is at the heart of my designs, setting the tone and mood while guiding the emotional response of the viewer.
Composition helps me direct the eye, contrast creates moments of surprise, and scale plays with relationships between objects. But color is the thread that ties everything together, transforming the technical aspects into a cohesive narrative.
☆ You work in different fields and often your designs are printed on fabrics and objects. What is the project you have enjoyed working on the most? And what has been the most challenging?
My favorite and most challenging project was a mural I created for a restaurant.
It was an incredible opportunity that pushed me both creatively and technically. The challenge came with the scale—I hand-painted the piece at about a quarter of its original size, which required careful planning to ensure everything translated correctly. Scanning the entire mural for production was a painstaking process that took several hours, but seeing it come to life in full scale was immensely rewarding.
Unfortunately, I never got to see the final piece in person, as the restaurant sadly closed.
☆ Can you show us the creative process behind one of your illustrations?
Of course! Here’s a piece that I drew in Procreate.
☆ You paint both traditionally and digitally. How do these two processes influence each other?
Early in my career, I aimed to make my traditional paintings resemble my digital work and vice versa, trying to achieve a sense of cohesion between the two mediums. However, a friend once asked me, in a kind and non-critical manner, why my traditional paintings needed to look like my digital pieces. This simple question was eye-opening and encouraged me to explore each medium on its own terms.
I began to appreciate the unique strengths and possibilities of traditional painting and digital art separately, allowing each to inform and enrich the other. This approach has led to a more nuanced understanding of how these mediums can complement and enhance one another.
☆ If you could describe your studio right now, what tools can we find on your desk? And which ones do you mostly use to create art?
My studio is a bit of a creative whirlwind right now, but it's where all the magic happens.
On my desk, you'll find a variety of tools and supplies: markers and pens, paints, palettes, water for cleaning brushes, and an assortment of brushes. I also have a few sketchbooks scattered around, capturing ideas and sketches.
Lately, I've been really enjoying using markers—they're incredibly convenient and offer easy cleanup, which has made them a favorite in my creative process.
☆ How has your art improved over the years? And what would you like to improve in the coming years?
Over the years, my art has significantly improved as I've grown more confident in my drawing skills. In the past, I often felt nervous and uncertain about my ability to draw, the choice of colors, and the overall approach to creating a piece.
With time and experience, I've gained a greater sense of assurance and clarity in my artistic process. Despite this progress, I continue to strive towards becoming an even better drawer. My goal is to reach a point where I can tackle any drawing challenge with confidence and skill.
☆ What are your main influences and sources of inspiration?
My sources of inspiration are deeply rooted in nature—I find immense beauty and creativity in plants, animals, and the natural world. This connection to nature provides a rich well of ideas for my work.
Additionally, I draw inspiration from the world around me. Sometimes, it's the random, unexpected things that catch my eye that spark new ideas and creative directions.
This blend of nature and everyday observations keeps my work fresh and continually evolving.
☆ What advice would you give to beginner artists who aspire to do the same kind of work as you?
My advice to beginner artists is to keep pushing forward, even when it feels discouraging. Creating art involves making mistakes and producing work that might not always turn out as expected. These moments are valuable learning experiences that help us understand what works and what doesn’t. It's a typical piece of advice, but it's true: don’t give up!
However, it's also important to balance hard work with taking breaks. Rest and reflection can provide fresh perspectives and prevent burnout, allowing your creativity to thrive.
☆☆ To learn more about Maggie's work you can visit her Instagram, website and her inprnt shop.
