Hi, I am Haze Long, Malaysia's best speed painter, and renowned artist best-known for my murals, illusions, and fine arts.
1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
When I was young, I love to draw and started out with portrait sketching when I was in my teens. I picked up digital painting when I was 13.
However, I was actually an academically successful student and had no ambitions in the art career at all. In my early 20s, I was into programming and web, app development. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur early on and my dreams in that sense never changed.
However, when I was 22, my father passed away due to liver cancer. He was a workaholic and accustomed to a highly stressful career. He barely slept and smoked like a chimney. At that time, my entire belief shifted and I lost my compass in life.
I wanted a life that is more peaceful. It was a friend that invited me to help her out with painting murals and I agreed to do it with her. That was the beginning of my career as an artist.
2. When did you decide you wanted to be a painter/illustrator?
Despite painting murals was the first part of my career, I was still in denial about being an artist myself. After a period of time, my skills and technique improved tremendously and the painting was just like breathing to me.
It was something that I felt was easy and at the same time, it could potentially be developed to a master level. That was the tipping point when I realize I could do this until my last breath.
3. Is it a financially stable career?
Surprisingly, despite being in a country that has still behind in the art industry, I felt that I have been doing quite well. The key is to aim to be in the top 10% and market accordingly, everything will fall into place.
4. Who is your favorite illustrator and why?
I am a huge fan of James Jean, Audrey Kawasaki, Kelsey Beckett, and Jin Feng Shi. Since I started out painting murals, I’ve painted in various genres and art styles. This can get confusing for an artist as I was constantly inspired by so many different artists of different genres.
However, the selection of artists I admire had always resonated with me deeply. I am constantly developing a technique that is deeply influenced by them.
5. Where do you get inspired to create art?
Sometimes I get ideas out of thin art, but they couldn’t be applied as they may not be suitable for the style that I am developing.
Mostly, I already knew the direction of the artwork and derive the rest of the inspirations from past experience, artworks by others, and feedback from other artists.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring illustrators?
Just assume you have the talent and don’t give up.
7. Which is your favorite book and why?
Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko. This book helped me a lot in developing and coming up with ideas.
Hi, I am Haze Long, Malaysia's best speed painter, and renowned artist best-known for my murals, illusions, and fine arts.
I have produced and created over 100 murals in Malaysia, speed painted for more than 40 events and counting. I work in all types of mediums from the spray, paint to pyrography.
Haze Long
Speed Painter & Artist
Interviewed By - Anushka Gagwari
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