Oh! Where are my manners? My name is Young Wang and it's my artwork and design which adorns these pages. I guess since you shelled out some money for this, you might want to know a bit about me. And if you didn't buy this, shame on you! Oh well, I remember a day when I used to... 'borrow' games and stuff from my friends. I just hope if you didn't buy this, when you get a good job or start becoming a more useful member of society, you'll buy my future releases =}

Anyway, I digress... I've been doing artwork for.. wow, nearly eight years now. Probably more, but at least 8 years 'publicly', publically being online. I've always been fascinated by anime and the japanese anime style. I guess the anime, Robotech, is the one that got me started on the trail even though my art style is nothing like it. And yes, I'm aware there are die hard fans that'll go "Macek sucks! It's not Robotech! It's Macross!" Whatever. Stop arguing and enjoy the show. =}

Most of my influences in art actually come from a variety of things... it usually depends on what I like at the time. The thing that pervades most of my artwork probably has to be the soft cuteness inherent from Disney characters followed very closely by the puni-softness of Rumiko Takahashi's characters. I also got some eye cues from Urushihara. ^_^ All in all, however, I tend to draw what I like at the time that I draw it and it's worked for me quite well up to now.

I'm actually a Computer Engineer by trade, graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Computer Engineering/Computer Sciences with a minor in Multimedia and Creative Technologies. Wow, that's a mouthful. Basically, though, I've always loved "creating" no matter what it was... from art to computer programs to sculpture to painting and baking pie! I'm actually quite good at almost everything I'm aware of, my only major weakness being soccer. (Scud reference. ^_^) I actually started programming when I was about 6 on my Commodore 64, if I recall correctly, writing little programmed games with floating balloons, bouncing balls, playing cute little songs. As I grew up, of course, my skills developed and I discovered I had a knack for drawing! More accurately, drawing cute girls, but I can draw more. I just like cute girls.

Since then, I've been doodling, being more and more professional about it and I realized only within the past few years, my services and art are actually potential to make a living. After being laid off from my job, I thought I would try my hand at selling my artwork to see if it would be viable for me. In some way, I hope it is because I would really like to live my life chasing my dreams. If I fail, then I will happily stop and return to my dull and dreary life of coding or doing engineering as a sheep in the herd. Until I'm absolutely forced to, though, I really want to put my hand into the pool of creativity and see what I can do when I put my mind on it.

A few years ago, I overheard some people talking about some of my art at auction. They had offhandedly commented "Why should I pay so much money for this when he could very easily mass produce this and everyone would have one on their walls a year from now!" I don't know why but I was kind of hurt. I guess I'm an art purist. I think art should be bought because of how it look and how it makes you feel, not for it's rarity or collectability. Regardless of that fact, I'm very grateful for the people who have purchased my works, allowing me to continue my art career to where it is today! Thank you everyone! I wish I knew their names and addresses... if I ever made it big, I would definately like to go back and thank everyone who ever purchased my works.

That reminds me of another story... a few months ago, when I went to a convention, Fred Gallhager of Megatokyo was there... and I was debuting my Megatokyo poster print there for sale. It went at auction for about 500 dollars, if I recall correctly, but after the fact, the person who bought it got it signed by Fred and another fan offered to buy it from him in cash for $1000 dollars. Some people I know had been urging me to get it signed by Fred so it could go for a higher price at auction, and I had all the opportunities since Fred and I are friends... but, somehow, I just don't like that idea. I'd prefer if people bought my art for it's own aethetic value, not for the value of someone else's signature. Perhaps that's my idea of 'selling out'. I would much rather someone buy my art for me than for something else. Perhaps it's even a bit of arrogance. ^_^

Anyway, I would like to thank my parents and my brother for all the support they ever gave me. I've never been validictorian or never got to stand on stage at any special awards so I've never been able to publically thank my family for everything they have everything they've done for me. I love them very much and they've done so very much for me and if it weren't for them, I would have never been able to try and chase my dream. I've always been hard at telling them face to face... it sounds so cheesy, so I think it'd be best if I put my thanks in here. ^_^

Well, I guess I've said everything I wanted to say. In the end, I really don't want to call myself an "artiste" or anything.. it sounds so pretentious. I guess in the end, ultimately, I'm just a guy who like to make cool stuff. Please, donate to me to keep me alive! ^_^

-Young