Armed with a Canvas: Interview with Artist, Yung Chen

Interview Featuring Yung Chen, Artist, and Ella Lander, Elevate Christian Disability Trust Staff

Ella: When did you start doing your artwork?

Yung: I was drawing my art by hand, and I was able to hold the pen and then my hand got more and more sore. I can still use my hands, and it is not as easy as before. Then came the computer artwork; it makes it a lot easier to do the work and less painful.

Ella: What medium do you use?

Yung: I use an application called Fresh Paint. I can do it myself, and I don’t need to ask for help. The cool thing is I can paint anytime and go back to it. I save it all under one folder. Through my business I bought a printer to print copies to take to the market to sell. Having the computer helping me I know where the artwork goes to. If I do it on paper, I don’t know where it goes. I know where it is saved and it’s easy to go back through and find.

Ella: What do you enjoy the most about creating your artwork?

Yung: I enjoy putting on some music and going for it. When I create, I always have music on.

Ella: Do you have music that helps you create better?

Yung: Sometimes I have Christian or gospel music on, but I like to listen to all kinds of music.

Ella: The weeks can be busy, how do you keep regularly creating art? Do you spend chunks of time painting each week?

Yung: I can create anytime. And I can do it anytime I like. Monday to Friday. You know how you have Monday to Friday with two days off work? I can do any work I like at any time I want, because I have flexible hours. I see it as my profession. Some people look at the aspect as my artwork is not a career for me. Many people think I can’t make art, and that I can’t make money off my artwork. I feel like sometimes I need to prove that I can do it. I want to show that it’s possible. I have gone through a lot of interviews and looked for work. A lot of people, because I use wheelchair, didn’t think I could. So, I thought I can work for myself instead. It allows me to be self-employed and make an income for myself.

Ella: What have you learned about yourself throughout this process of creating and selling your art?

Yung: What I have learned about myself is: I wanted a job that really worked for me, and that I enjoyed. If you don’t enjoy what you do, why do you do it, you know?

My motto is: if you do not enjoy what you
do, stop, find something else.

I enjoy what I do, that is the sole reason why I stepped into art. I see it as a career, not a hobby. Because I don’t have to go out looking for work, where nobody wanted to hire me, and I think that I turned that to a motivation to work for myself.

By Ella Lander