Nancy Duong Art

Hi there! I'm a graphic designer specializing in print media but drawing is my main passion. This is my art blog where I put my paintings, designs, sketches and fashion infographics. nancyduong.com

[nannaia]

Nguyen Dynasty Princess. Currently a WIP

[nannaia]

Various Atla Fire Nation portraits I've done over the years. Thought it'd be fun to put them all in one pic. Someday I hope to add Azulon and Sozin. :)

[nannaia]

Work in progress

I’ve been reworking my portfolio and the historical fashion timelines. This was originally part of a very dense infographic, and I came to the realization that the infographics work better in smaller pieces.

The Nguyen Dynasty figures are based on photographs from the reigns of Emperor Thanh Thai (1889-1907) to Emperor Bao Dai (1926-1945). References here. 

Instagram | Pinterest | Website

[nannaia]

Inspired by the beautiful Mayan / Guatemalan Tocoyal hair wraps and textiles.  

I am thinking of possibly doing a Latin American fashion timeline next.  

Instagram | Website

[nannaia]

Revisiting some old artwork from 8 years ago and trying to see how and if I've changed as an artist. It's been an interesting journey to say the least. 

[nannaia]

Based on a Le Dynasty Vietnamese Queen’s hat/crown and totally ran away with it. Lol!

Instagram || Deviantart || Pinterest

[nannaia]

Who’s on Instagram? Would love to follow more artists there too! ^^

instagram.com/nancyduongart

[nannaia]

When I’m not illustrating, I’m graphic designing!

Here is a design collaboration with VGX Design (project director and the biggest paper geek I have ever known). 

The business card is specialty printed on silk with spot UV. The client is a painter by trade and initially wanted his logo to contain multi-color paint splatters. MANY concepts later, the logo became a Resplendent Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, to reflect his heritage.   

[nannaia]

Colorizing old photo for fun... It’s a lot harder than I had anticipated!

[nannaia]

I spend most of my time doing graphic and print design nowadays. Once in a while, I get to be able to design and illustrate (and practice my non-existant photography skills)! This gatefold wedding invitation was tricky but very fun to work on! 

[nannaia]

FireNation Royal Family - various portraits of our favorite royals I had done over the years. 

[nannaia]

ALTA stuff I’m re-working/doodles

[nannaia]

Kimono by Liza Dalby

“In the sixteenth century, the nobility ceased to be the sole source of fashion inspiration. Playgirls (asobime) – multitalented, trendy ladies who led rather public lives (sometimes glossed as ‘courtesans’) – wore their kosode belted with long tasseled silk cords. The cords, called Nogoya obi, were woven according to a style then popular in China, roped about the hips six or seven times, and tied in a looping bow.” (Dalby 37)

“Playgirls also did their hair into Chinese chignons, initiating a fashion for women to put up their hair. In previous ages, men had been the ones to oil and arrange their tresses. Women had favored long straight locks, or perhaps a simple ponytail.” (Dalby 37)

“Late Edo fashion for women was undeniably restrictive. [...] Hairstyles for women had developed into the elaborate comb-studded coiffures familiar from woodblock prints. With such a coiled oiled structure on her head, a woman couldn’t even sleep freely. Finally, the practice of applying lead- and mercury-based whitening cosmetics, originally a custom limited to the noblility, had now spread into common popularity. By the nineteenth century, being fashionable was truly hazardous to a Japanese woman’s health.” (Dalby 50)

[nannaia]

Hopefully 2016 is me getting back to historical fashion drawings. Had no time for personal art in 2015...

[nannaia]

Thought it would be fun to create a series showcasing nth century fashions of the Sinosphere (aka the East Asian cultural sphere/Confucian world, countries culturally influenced by China). I decided to depict middle to upper class women and avoided royalty, concubines, dancers, and so on.

If I am able to find adequate references, I’d like to do a series for the Indosphere (India-influences on Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, etc), Pacific Islands, Middle East, etc.

[beezeeart]

Okay I understand artists charging more than mass producers for items. But your prices are a little high. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I’ve said this a hundred times. Other artists have said this. People who aren’t even artists but care about others being able to support themselves from their work have said this. This is my job where I make my full time living. My prices are the way they are for a reason. And even if it weren’t my full time job I am performing a specialized skill producing luxury goods that takes time, money, and years to perfect. I deserve to be compensated for that work even if the money doesn’t go to basic survival necessities.

My products may be out of your price range, which is okay. That just means you aren’t my target market. But that doesn’t mean they are overpriced. And that doesn’t make it okay to walk around telling others what they should charge. There are a hundred resources on why artists price the way they do out there, please read the following and take some time to educate yourself:

- This is a “simple” forumla for pricing.  It does not include any specifics and simply includes “expenses” as a lump category.

- A more in depth guide to pricing.

- Here is a post from Magweno which does a good job of summing up all the “hidden” costs in crafting. It also includes a discussion on whether the perceived value of art should be taken into consideration. It doesn’t even take into account sales, self employment, or income taxes. 15% of my income alone goes to self employment tax. 15-30% (depending on how much I made that year) will go to income tax.

- If you want to spend some money to learn, there is an entire book on ethical pricing.

- Another blog post from Mill Girl who writes further on what goes into pricing, arts and crafts as a luxury item, what you support when you purchase handmade, and who/what you harm when you devalue handmade.

- A tumblr post which highlights the pitfalls of people who undervalue art and their negative impact on the entire art community. This includes both artists undervaluing themselves and clients undervaluing artists.

- Here’s an article on pricing as a freelancer and industry standards. For the record I consider myself under the category “Someone with a few years of experience and a good portfolio: $50 - $85+/hr.” I can promise I am charging nowhere near $50 an hour, and close to $25 since I supplement my income with “passive income” from pattern sales.

And that is just a few of the resources out there available. I sincerely hope you will read them and stop spreading negative attitudes on pricing.

[peppertreeart]

I love this. Thank you for putting this all together. This gives a really good insight into why we price things the way we do.

[aatoast]

Really excellent answer curating some great resources.

[cetriya-mangaka-dairy]

cause you can’t afford it does not mean its over priced. over priced to me means its not worth my day. that is different from something being out of my budget.

[nannaia]

A quick little drawing for the Toko week prompt: offspring. When I found out that Grey DeLisle (Azula) voices young Lin Beifong in Korra I just had to draw my crackship. (°∀°)

But I also immediately thought of this too, ha!