138. Getting Inked with Alvin Chong
the new episode of the sneakyart podcast!
Hello listeners!
I am delighted to share the new episode of the SneakyArt Podcast, a conversation with Malaysia-based tattoo-artist Alvin Chong. Find below show notes and insights from the episode.
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Ep 48 - Getting Inked with Alvin Chong
Alvin speaks about finding his way back to art as an adult after deciding to become a tattoo artist. This conversation is about the value of chasing your curiosity and having the courage to chart your own path.
Since we are both from Asia, a part of this conversation was about the societal pressures of growing up in Asia. Collectivist societies do not often encourage individualistic life goals. In such a world, it takes a special kind of courage to do what you want.
Despite a lifelong interest in drawing, art fell away from Alvin’s life until one fateful night in a hotel room in America. We speak about the events leading up to this otherwise ordinary moment that transformed his life. Speaking to Alvin, I now know at least one life that has been saved by reality show television!
🖊 Find Alvin’s work on IG or check out links to his work.
Listen to the episode on your choice of streaming service, or grab a link below:
Spotify | Apple | PocketCasts | Google | Web | Gaana
📝 Show Notes & Insights
How Alvin began to do Instagram Live sessions during the pandemic.
What idea of artist life did Alvin have when he was in art school?
How he started to work as a tattoo artist and grow his studio.
Why portraits? And how tattooing brought drawing back into his life.
What are the steps to inking a portrait tattoo on a client?
Nishant asks more questions about making tattoos.
They talk about being independent artists and pricing one’s work.
Alvin talks about some recent commissions.
During the break, Nishant speaks about the approaching milestone of 50 episodes!
Guest question! How does Alvin confront the spectre of self-doubt?
How did the endurance competitions and exercises become part of Alvin’s life? He talks about the Fjall Raven Polar expedition of 2019.
Discovering urban sketching and going on his first sketch outing.
What does Alvin gain from observation that he does not get from a photo reference?
Alvin shares his 2022 goals, such as increasing the client base in Malaysia.
Alvin’s advice for people trying to do their own thing.
Dear listener, did you enjoy this episode? I would love to hear your thoughts!
🚧 Construction Sites
Early in the morning, I came across a construction site in my neighbourhood. Construction is a year-round feature in Vancouver city, as immigration pushes the city towards greater urban densities. I see workers on-site from the early hours of the morning regardless of inclement weather.
It was a grey Vancouver morning. The clouds threatened rain, as they often do in this part of the world. Men were at work.
There are so many elements at a construction site! You might think you have noticed them all, but whenever I looked up from the page, I found something new.
To catch SneakyArt as it happens, follow me on Instagram or TikTok.
📖 This week I am reading…
this article about the latest winner of the Fields Medal in Mathematics, June Huh. Huh says that on a given day, he does about 3 hours of focused work.
Friedrich Hayek on the use of knowledge in society.
this list of free resources for artists and animators on Animation Obsessive.
Thank you, dear reader, for your time and attention. I hope you enjoy today’s episode!