It’s 11 PM. I should be sleeping… but here I am, drawing maps and drooling over fried chicken, kaya toast, and egg tarts. 😋
One of the best (or worst?!) parts of creating custom maps is illustrating all the yummy food from different cultures. That means I’m scrolling through mouthwatering photos in the middle of the night, imagining their flavors and smells, trying to capture the most delicious details… and yes, drooling all over my iPad.
It first happened when I was drawing the Fried Chicken for Diana’s Korean Travel Map. I was looking at the Fried Chicken pictures, then I was looking at Korean restaurants that sell Fried Chicken near me, and that leads to us eating at a Korean restaurant the next day!
Then it was Marissa’s anniversary map. I was looking at pictures of Kaya toast, Hainanese chicken and Roti. That leads to me looking at Kaya videos, chicken rice videos, and all the other Malay/ Singaporean food recipes. Although I could not really find one near me…
Besides the photos my customers send me, I love to research different angles, the food’s origins, and how it’s traditionally eaten. I think about how each dish fits into the map—its placement, colors, and overall vibe. I imagine my customers enjoying these treats with friends and family, sharing a piece of fried chicken, spreading kaya on toast… Every new food I draw teaches me something.
And once again, I realize how big and beautiful this world is! So many foods I’ve never tried, so many places I’ve yet to visit. It makes me even more excited to meet new people and explore this world. 🌏
I can’t wait to see what I get to draw next. Could it be something from South America? Or Central Asia? What do you think?
(featured picture is Chinese BBQ pork from Tai Wai Bistro in Hong Kong.)
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