About Me
I was born in Hong Kong and raised in Livermore, California, surrounded by family members who were artistic and scientific. Growing up, some of my favorite books were the ones that taught science concepts through pictures: visual dictionaries, The Way Things Work, and Larry Gonick's Cartoon Guides.
As far as I can remember, drawing was one of my favorite activities. I started out by drawing cartoon characters, making comics, and doodling in my class notes. When I was an undergrad at the University of California Berkeley, a teaching assistant noticed my artwork and asked me to make illustrated handouts for the students. The handouts caught the attention of a lecturer, who became the advisor for my graduate research project, Computer Science Illustrated, a series of illustrated guides that taught computer science concepts through cute characters and visual metaphors. After receiving my Master's, I went into developing virtual reality experiences and continued drawing in my free time. Then, I recalled the picture books I enjoyed and started creating educational illustrations, both to motivate myself to learn new things and to share that knowledge with others.
When I'm not illustrating STEM concepts or creating books, I draw a lot of sharks, strange creatures, and doodles that capture my random thoughts. I also read graphic novels, play video games, and watch animated shows, most of which influences my style over time.