EARLY WORK 2003-2008 by Nen Chang

This is as early as we go because you don't need to see what I did in high school rofl Anyways, primarily from 2003-2008 I was self described as low brow, specifically subscribing to a specific Japanese style called Eroguro Nonsense, pulling erotic and grotesque imagery to create weirdly beautiful nightmare fuel. Filth was my first painting that went viral. During this period, I was developing my control of water based media by primarily utilizing ink washes with additive colour. I developed a visual language that mirrored the idea of emotional pain as physical pain and I saw a lot of success in my early career with these ideas, running my first 3 solo gallery showings on the back of this material. a lot of the pieces ended up being very stream of consciousness, where the initial idea was in the center and then tertiary ideas would kind of spiral out from the initial concept, almost like a sketchbook on the page. A lot of the time, there would be no overall idea of the image, just the initial idea and everything else was added later, especially as the pieces became more complicated. I was also super insane during this period of my life, particularly the 2005-2007 part where I was dealing with a major eating disorder that altered my perception and brain chemistry significantly, but it was important in my development as an artist and as a person. In 2008, i discovered colors other than red and ink that wasn't black.

 

2003 FILTH watercolor, ink

2003 FILTH watercolor, ink

2004 ZOMBOID watercolor, ink, lipstick, masking fluid

2004 ZOMBOID watercolor, ink, lipstick, masking fluid

+HCL 2005 ink, watercolor

+HCL 2005 ink, watercolor

Heart.throb 2005 ink, watercolor

Heart.throb 2005 ink, watercolor

mis.Fracture 2005 ink, watercolor

mis.Fracture 2005 ink, watercolor

offen.curae 2005 ink, watercolor

offen.curae 2005 ink, watercolor

swallow.d 2005 ink, watercolor

swallow.d 2005 ink, watercolor

rivisions 2006 ink, watercolor

rivisions 2006 ink, watercolor

Sleepsong 2007 ink, watercolor

Sleepsong 2007 ink, watercolor

Purewater, 2008. watercolor, ink, suminagashi

Purewater, 2008. watercolor, ink, suminagashi

unspeakable 2008 sepia ink, watercolor

unspeakable 2008 sepia ink, watercolor

adoration & abuse 2008 ink, watercolor

adoration & abuse 2008 ink, watercolor

2009-2010 by Nen Chang

This is a transitional period between my gallery work and my more commercially oriented character work. I was developing as a draftsman and a painter, and taking a lot of character based commission work. The end of 2010 also saw me an my friend Sloane Leong create out first universe, Maschinell, a post-cyberpunk thing that we were playing around with until we both began working professionally and the project fell away.

before the dawn 2009 ink, watercolor

before the dawn 2009 ink, watercolor

fischer's revenge 2009 ink, watercolor

fischer's revenge 2009 ink, watercolor

no one here gets out alive 2009 ink, watercolor

no one here gets out alive 2009 ink, watercolor

labour of the sea 2009 collage, acrylic

labour of the sea 2009 collage, acrylic

beyond the shore 2009 watercolor, ink

beyond the shore 2009 watercolor, ink

traces 2010 ink, watercolor

traces 2010 ink, watercolor

soulslinger 2010 ink, watercolor

soulslinger 2010 ink, watercolor

capture 2010 ink, watercolor

capture 2010 ink, watercolor

bad apple 2010 ink, watercolor

bad apple 2010 ink, watercolor

the answer is war 2010 ink, watercolor

the answer is war 2010 ink, watercolor

 a fine warrior 2010 ink, watercolor

 a fine warrior 2010 ink, watercolor

Rival 2010 ink, watercolor

Rival 2010 ink, watercolor

2011-2012 by Nen Chang

I started to utilize color more regularly and progressing in an actual direction. This is relevant pieces from 2011-late 2012, right before I illustrated my first fully encapsulated game, SHINOBI CLANS, which gets its own section because my painting changed significantly during that project and the work before and after is very changed.

Penumbra 2011 ink, watercolor, gel pen

Penumbra 2011 ink, watercolor, gel pen

sit tibi copia nostri 2011 ink, watercolor, gel pen

sit tibi copia nostri 2011 ink, watercolor, gel pen

Feral 2011 ink, watercolor, gouache

Feral 2011 ink, watercolor, gouache

Apostasy 2011 ink, watercolor, gouache

Apostasy 2011 ink, watercolor, gouache

Waver 2011 Ink, watercolor, gouache

Waver 2011 Ink, watercolor, gouache

Indriya 2011 Ink, watercolor, gouache

Indriya 2011 Ink, watercolor, gouache

Massacre 2012 ink, watercolor, gouache

Massacre 2012 ink, watercolor, gouache

Shapeshift & Trick 2012 Watercolor, gouache, ink

Shapeshift & Trick 2012 Watercolor, gouache, ink

Born from Dark Water 2012 Watercolor, Ink, gouache

Born from Dark Water 2012 Watercolor, Ink, gouache

Hoarfrost 2012 Watercolor, Ink, Gouache

Hoarfrost 2012 Watercolor, Ink, Gouache