Wakame 若目 - Derick Fabian (7Sketches) (S1, E4)
Derick has always had a love for cartoons and comic strips. His college career path took many turns, but eventually he found his way back to what makes him happy: art.
Internally, he felt like he had to make a choice between being happy vs. being successful. By investing in his passion, he found success in becoming a character artist. His art inspirations include Spiderman artist Todd McFarlane, graffiti and street art, Sanrio, and tokidoki to name a few. Derick's dream was to make a world of his own characters.
Traveling to Japan through the JET program was a turning point in his life. While on Ishigaki Island, he learned a lot about the local countryside culture and developed deep relationships within the community. Rena and Derick share their personal experiences with nomikai, the Japanese business drinking culture.
Derick sees himself as a shy person, so he uses his art to share his voice. His art evokes emotions from people that feel a deeper connection to their own lives. He shares that the "Sad Panda" character was not initially meant to be "sad," but that's how people interpreted and connected with it.
Rena and Derick's conversations explore pursuing your passions, mental health journeys, and how people can connect through art.
Derick Fabian | @7sketches
Rena Gao | @wegofilm
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