I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to find out that Alina Chau would be illustrating The Nian Monster. Her watercolor illustrations are gorgeous — detailed and whimsical, vibrant and humorous. She made Nian ferocious and toothy yet adorable and sympathetic at the same time. Xingling is brave and sassy and joyful. Alina’s own childhood in China and Hong Kong enriched the artwork with authenticity — although she’s never been to Shanghai, she conveyed the atmosphere of this bustling, ancient-yet-also-modern city perfectly.
Now you can get a peek behind the scenes of the artwork in The Nian Monster! Alina and Albert Whitman produced two wonderful videos about her process and inspiration. Check them out below!
