Graduate student Kat Fu recently started Urbsvidi, an online store for illustrated prints and handmade goods. The drawings are playful isometrics of Toronto along with some of more intimate moments of urban life. I interviewed Kat to learn more about her work.
MB: How did you get into drawing and illustration? Is it something you have always done?
KF: I would say that drawing is something I’ve always done. My parents were probably the biggest influence on me because they are both interior designers. When I was growing up, they were always drawing and sketching and encouraged me to do the same. Throughout high school, I was in a program called Arts York, where I spent a lot of time learning traditional painting techniques and experimenting with different mediums. I really enjoyed it. But the kind of illustration I’m doing now is something I picked up very recently, in the last year or so.
How would you describe your illustrations in three words?
Isometric. Whimsical. Intricate.
Some of your illustrations are fantastical. In your work, what’s the relationship between observing the world and visualizing your imagination?
The majority of my drawings come from combining my own experiences with elements that are more surreal. For “TTCreatures,” I had an idea for illustrating the TTC subway system but replacing the human commuters with iconic animals from the city’s recent history. But the underlying theme ties both things together. Similarly in “Welcome to Hogtown,” I thought it would be fun to illustrate a historical map of the area but also show it being overrun by giant pigs. I wanted to emphasize the significance of pigs to the cultural history of Hogtown, as a place that processed livestock heavily. It’s something that a lot of people forget or don’t know.
Some of your illustrations use video animations. How do you see the future of illustration in the digital era?
I’ve been playing around with animation and integrating sounds into my illustrations because I think it makes them more immersive and it allows for an additional layer for story-telling. They’re also more fun to look at overall so I can definitely see technology influencing illustration in the future.
I think technology has already made a big impact. Not only in terms of animation, but there is such a wide range of tools available just for drafting. One of the biggest game-changers I’ve noticed is the ability of drawing tablets, like the iPad, to simulate the grain and feel of traditional drawing materials (like graphite pencils and paint brushes). It really looks authentic. I’ve found myself reaching for a drawing application instead of my pen and notebook a lot lately. I think technology has definitely made my workflow more seamless and portable.
What are you currently fascinated by and how is it feeding into your drawings?
Social media has been the primary platform for sharing my drawings. At first, I posted a few images of my work to Instagram just for fun. It sounds cheesy but I’ve become so fascinated by the amount of people I’ve been able to interact with through my artwork. It’s almost like a way of digital placemaking because most of my content focused on Toronto includes recognizable landmarks and buildings. A lot of people have reached out to me, excited that I drew a building in their neighbourhood or other places that have sentimental value to them. My main goal is to create things that both myself and others can connect with personally. It’s something I think about whenever I begin to draw.
It’s almost like a way of digital placemaking
Do you think your architectural background has shaped your illustrations?
For sure. Naturally, studying architecture and working in the industry has translated directly into the way I experience spaces and see places. Even the way I’ve used isometric/axonometric as a form of representation was directly influenced by architecture school and creating drawings for studio projects. Also, the subject matter of my illustrations almost always involves cityscapes and buildings in some form or another.
Toronto Axo
What is your next project?
I’m currently working with the Creative Services team at the University of Waterloo doing a series of commissioned illustrations. I can’t say too much about it right now but it should be completed in the next month or so!
In terms of personal projects, I want to make more products with my illustrations so I’m finding more ways of translating them into physical objects. For example, I’m working on making some enamel pins.
For more, check out her print store, Etsy store, and Instagram feed @urbsvidi.
Leave a Reply