This Spring Workbook’s beautiful cover illustration for was created by Amy Ning in 2016 and is a depature from the whimsical style for which she is most known.
Titled “Naked Truth,” she says, “We all have one…and it was fun to explore mine at the time,” and she describes it as a “personal piece, created purely for self indulgence.” The image represents the beginning of a series she will continue to investigate.
Amy readily acknowledges the influence traditional Japanese art has on her work, from her use of iconic cultural references, to the fluid lines and shapes of the Master Ukioye Printmakers and Sumi Brush Painters. But, she also tells us the emphasis on conformity and orderliness in Japanese culture has pushed her to also think outside the box. She has experimented with every kind of media: gouache, acrylics, watercolor, and pencil airbrush but says there are also many more possibilities yet to be explore within the digital realm.
