The future is digital. We talk about bitcoins, immersive metaverses, exclusive NFTs, and more that continue to merge the physical and virtual world. As we keep painting such grand imaginations, most of us fail to keep up or understand these new concepts and ideas. There may be loads of opportunities for all but time is needed for these dreams to become a reality.

To see how an artist fits into this new world, we spoke to 

, a digital creator known for his detailed 3D figures and spaces. You can find anime, games, and sci-fi elements with the occasional humor infused into his work. If you’re a 90s kid who loves Maple Story, check out his intricate 

Discover Jun’s story on his transformation from a civil engineer, the definition of success in the digital sphere, and potential metaverse offerings for digital creators.

Jun Wai [Jun.obj] is currently a freelance 3D artist. 

Who is Jun Wai? 

What will the future unfold? 

When I was working full-time as a civil engineer, I realized the industry is corrupted and underpaid. The risk-reward ratio isn’t there. I didn’t see myself doing that long term and decided to take the plunge to shift my focus elsewhere. Somehow along the way, I met Edmond Looi. I get to work with him on a gunpla [Gundam models] project for fun. It was to customize a Z'Gok model with Yeezy 700 Wave Runner colorway. We became friends from there. He shared the process of his journey, his train of thoughts on everything else that matters, and his take on sneakers and fashion. All these added up to the catalyst of my switch. 

The only connection between a civil engineer and a digital artist is the logic behind the software. I used to work in a consultant agency. The software I used gets to visualize the building in 3D wireframe form so you can do the calculations for the structure. That to me was interesting but boring at the same time because of the limitations of the software. You can do building stuff but can’t create anything you want in your mind. From there I just switched.

How did you transition from a civil engineer into a digital creator?  

OBJ [Object] is a widely use filetype in a 3D space. It’s fun to use it as my IG handle. I’ve seen people, for example, if they’re into music, they would use .wav. If they’re photographers, they would use JPEG or PNG. It’s fun and also establishes that I am a digital 3D artist.

What is the story behind your artist's name – Jun.obj?

I don’t have a specific art style. I gravitate towards glass or chrome texture because it is hard to manipulate materials like that to what you desire in reality. In 3D, I have the freedom to do all that. 

The results are always unexpected. I find a lot of joy in doing that. I’m also inspired a lot by my black cat [Lucifur]. I love him, he’s so cute. I find the actions he [Lucifur] does inspire me daily to make edits from his pictures. It’s a mood he makes me feel that inspires me to do something related to him, that’s the intention behind it.

Tell us more about your art style and the message you want to convey. 

I’m heavily inspired by games. They can depict a very different world from real life. For example, maybe I like a sword design from a game. I would have the urge to make my adaptation of it in 3D. 

Do you think your art is mostly influenced by games or films? How did you use this source of inspiration to create your original artwork? 

There is growth but I won’t say it's massive. I’m constantly learning as I work on my side hustles. I found out about NFT about 1-2 years ago. I was researching about crypto and I came across some articles related to NFT. Like everyone else, I couldn't grasp the idea of people paying so much money for a digital visual. I started digging more into it and found that people are building art communities with this. It is a very good platform to get like-minded people together. I would say you have to be careful when you buy into NFT. Always do your research and ask others who are familiar with this field before putting your money in.

In the past 2 years, there’s definitely been growth on a personal level, thanks to the local brands that are willing to work with me such as 

. I'm thankful for the people I met and worked with along the way. The process brought me new perspectives and opportunities that I would never imagine to come across alone.

our Instagram feed shows a massive change. From experimenting with textures and elements, designing intricate characters and scenes, to creating NFTs. How do you see your growth in these past 2 years? Any takeaways that you can share with us? 

you still need to take that virtual goggle off

In the digital sphere, if your collection sells out or has a massive following, you are considered successful. [Success] to me, you should focus on being able to live on your own terms. That to me is a success. Anything else more than that is a bonus. Yes, you need luck but it’s the amount of effort you put in to achieve what you want. 

What do you think makes a successful creator and artist in the digital sphere? 

Metaverse is a very confusing word. People are throwing it around like it’s a space that exists but, in reality, it’s not there yet. Even Facebook is using this term to get in more new investors while the buyers have no idea what is this about. This will definitely open a lot of opportunities for digital creators, graphic designers, or non-creative people in general because you need people from different backgrounds to run the entire thing (e.g., programming, managing community…etc.). Regarding the loss of human touch, I believe it is up to the person how they approach creating the art piece.

With the Metaverse up and coming, what do you think it means for digital creators? 

To be honest, I intend to bring something out from it instead. My current plan is to make my own figurine series. I will design and sculpt some figures in the 3D software, then try to 3D print them and bring it into real life. It’s a fun concept to think about and execute. Rather than adding it into the digital space, I want to create a physical model of it. Creating something in the digital world and bringing it to the physical world. So, you get the best of both worlds and not only nose dive into the digital space. In the end, you still need to take that virtual goggle off and live in the real world. 

NFTs aside, what do you intend to bring to the Metaverse? 

My NFT collection and website. My website, hopefully, end of this year. The NFT collection will take a while to plan this and execute well. 

Any projects we should look out for this year? 

Introducing the Cross The Line liquid eyeliner! 👁️✨

 Being present in the moment and finding oneself

Bay Doucet

Expressing oneself with colors and accessories

Afie Rohim

The future of digital art

Jun.obj

 is a 23-year-old Malaysian artist who is seizing every opportunity to learn and grow. She is a graphic designer, content creator, model, photographer, singer, sustainability and mental health advocate; the list goes on. 

Bay hopes to inspire others to take the courage and break free from the expectations of others, self-doubt, and uncertainty to find true happiness. On the journey to achieve or discover our dreams, we must first understand ourselves, then take steps, risks, to fail, learn, and continue to face the challenges head on. Having anxiety and depression, the young female urges us to embrace our vulnerabilities, translating our growth through our voice, actions, and art.

We encourage you to read on as Bay shares her thoughts to be present, connect to our environment, and finding oneself through the process.

Describe yourself in 10 words or less. List from the most prominent to the least. 

Green. This is a hard question because I love all colors. The color green always reminds me of being outdoors, and the feeling of freedom that comes from running across a field or lying in the grass. I’m always chasing that carefree feeling when I’m outdoors.

One color that defines who you are. Why? 

Beauty to me is finding comfort and acceptance for who I am as a person. The most beautiful people to me, are the ones who are truly and wholly comfortable with who they are.

What does beauty mean to you?

Struggling with anxiety and depression can sometimes negatively affect my relationships with the people around me. I take care of myself so I can show up, care for my loved ones, and be a better person. 

Having anxiety and depression, what motivates you to take care of yourself?

I love going on walks. We take all the beautiful things around us in nature for granted. I go for walks with my phone on ‘airplane mode’ and allow myself to appreciate the things around me. I take photos of the things that catch my attention, remember to slow down, and take a moment to observe my surroundings. Each moment never ceases to surprise me. 

How do you stay mindful to appreciate and capture the beauty around you? 

You don’t grow unless you put yourself in situations that challenge you. I’ve never been able to choose one single profession because I love all the different aspects of every job I get to do – With every job or activity, the skills you learn along the way will all overlap and help to improve your overall work. I say yes to trying everything at least once because you never know until you try. We will never be at a loss for trying something new, and I love that it keeps me on my toes, always learning, growing, and expanding who I am.

Why should we take risks to explore and try different things? 

My work is a reflection of who I am. A lot of my photographs and videos are created through my inner feelings, emotions, and experiences – people are connected to stories and emotion, and being able to translate that into everything that I do makes my work uniquely ‘me’ (at least I hope it does!). Making time to get to know myself better is an extremely big part of my work, and I try to make sure that there is a piece of me in everything that I do. 

How do you create something soft and simple but also stand out? 

Spend time by yourself! Our generation consumes so much content, from TV to music to social media. We constantly scroll Pinterest for inspiration, which isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes it can cloud our own personal style and make us instead try to be someone we are not. Spending time by myself, trusting my gut feelings, and keeping a journal helped me get to know myself better, and that gave me the confidence to be who I am, even if it does not always match what is currently trending. Switching from constantly ‘consuming’, to ‘creating’ more instead, helped me find my own style.

How do we discover our signature look or style? 

I love all the colors! I’ve always loved color, and I love that the “Cross The Line” liquid eyeliners come in so many colors, making it so easy to express myself and bring a little more fun into my day-to-day life.

What is your favorite part of the “Cross The Line” liquid eyeliner pen? Why?

I like matching my makeup colors to my outfit through eyeshadow or eyeliner. I didn’t enjoy makeup until I started experimenting with more color, and I haven’t looked back!

Tips to spice up a daily makeup look for brunch.

Plain and boring are never the words to describe makeup enthusiast, 

. The 26-year-old Malay artist has a background in fashion design and has created makeup looks from conceptual art, editorial, cosplay, up to her recent work for Harith Zazman’s “Shut Up” music video.

The creative soul started her jewelry business – 

 during the pandemic last year with handmade mask chains with signature bead designs which slowly expanded to include keychains and earrings with 8-bit characters and elements. Afie also bonds with her nephew and nieces through makeup and jewelry, boosting their confidence and creating happy memories.

Read on to find out Afie’s insights to overcome creative block and her styling tips to better express our personalities.


1. Awkward.
2. Weird.
3. Creative.
4. Quiet
5. Anxious.
6. Colorful.
7. Strict.
8. Fun.
9. Messy.
10. Artistic.

Describe yourself in 10 words or less. List from the most prominent to the least.

Red. I feel this [color] represents myself more of the fiery and hot-headed spirit that I am. 

Beauty to me means individuality. Everyone has their own way of beauty and it shouldn’t be defined as a specific thing in a box.

What does beauty mean to you? 

My dream is to be one of the best editorial make-up artists in Southeast Asia.  too!

What is your dream? 

I truly don’t feel that I have a signature look where people will know it’s my work. With many opportunities at hand, I haven’t been able to constantly produce new looks. However, I’m pretty well known for trying to experiment and stick materials on my face like pearls, crystals, fabric, thread, and even wood clips. I’m still trying out new and innovative things so maybe one day I could find my signature look.

What is your signature look? 

A creative block is definitely one of my biggest downfalls when it comes to creating a look. Sometimes I feel the constant pressure of needing to come out not just with regular content, but amazing content that blows people’s minds. The way I overcome, however, is trying not to push myself to create content and take breaks when I need to. Sometimes playing games and watching new shows help me find inspiration too!

What are the challenges you face when creating a look? 

Accessories can be that finishing touch for looks. It’s okay to complete a make-up look and immediately take photos of it but I do feel that accessories can truly define a look even more especially when you style it correctly. It gives out that sense of fun into your look. You can wear earrings or hairclips that matches your eye makeup or wear a bunch of necklaces and chokers if you have a more punk look. Tips to accessorize for people who wear a tudung or hijab. 

Try to experiment with a hijab style that you like. It could be a turban; it could be a simple shawl where you can be creative with the access fabric. You can play with hair clips, hats, beanies, or even add another scarf to your hijab. Personally, I love using hair clips and baker boy hats because I dislike using pins for my shawl and it also shows my personality more.

How can accessories elevate and overall look? 

 Try to experiment with a hijab style that you like. It could be a turban; it could be a simple shawl where you can be creative with the access fabric. You can play with hair clips, hats, beanies, or even add another scarf to your hijab. Personally, I love using hair clips and baker boy hats because I dislike using pins for my shawl and it also shows my personality more.

 Tips to accessorize for people who wear a tudung or hijab.

“Try to experiment with a hijab style that you like. You can play with hairclips, hats, beanies, or even add another scarf onto your hijab.”

I love how there’s more than one color and they are all very pigmented. You can play around with the eyeliners however you want. Also, the nylon brush tip is an A+ for me! It’s easier to glide and the brush tip would last longer.

Adding on a simple eyeliner can always spice up a look. I love having one dot (or three) below each eye in any color to make a daily look interesting yet not too wild.

Tips to spice up a daily makeup look at work.

 Art comes from the bond with oneself, others, and the environment

Teebai

A Malaysian visual effects artist who worked on iconic movies such as “

”. Today, this man owns a humble studio to express his art through drawings, sculptures, and experiments. This is 

With long earlobes and flowers for eyes, Teebai’s iconic character is a white human-like figure inspired by “Guan Yin Ma” (Goddess of Mercy) that helps portray elements of freedom, humor, and sarcasm. Primarily created with the color white, his artworks are imbued with movement through characters, colors, or texture that brings you on a sensory and playful experience. If you look hard enough, you may spot his doodles on the streets, walls, signs, your friend’s phone case, and many more random places.

This week, Teebai invites us into his world to understand the concept behind his iconic character, his struggle as an artist during the pandemic, and his perspective on art with the self and strengthen a bond with our loved ones.

I’ve never actually thought about it hahaha

Tell us about yourself in 10 words or less. 

I don’t have a specific color. There are too many. Different moments represent different colors for me.

2021 was not bad, I had quite a lot of happy memories. Sadly, people around me were not due to the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic. A lot of events happened that made them lose their jobs. What I’m proud of this year is my consistency. If what I did was not fun or doesn’t have the outcome that I wanted, I would stop doing it. Honestly, I don’t have any goals, I just go with the flow. 

Of course, many things are going on right now, but whatever happens, good or bad, it’s okay. Such as in 2021, I don’t know what will happen. How did the pandemic affect your work? Initially, I planned to have an exhibition but we couldn’t execute it. Since people mainly stayed at home, the pandemic made it more fun for me to doodle my artwork on roadsides. It’s only wrong if you get caught hahaha

Teebai Kittie Yiyi Cross The Line Christmas Campaign Share with us the resolutions you achieved in 2021 and goals for 2022?

When I was young and did something wrong, my mom would always tell me to kneel in front of the “Guan Yin” statue. I spent a lot of time staring at the sculpture and realized her earlobes were very long, her face was peaceful. I asked my mom, “why are her earlobes so long?”. She said it represents good fortune. It was very inspiring.

Your artwork features a character in white inspired by the Chinese Bodhisattva - "Guan Yin". Could you tell us more about that?

I hope everyone can see reality from another perspective, see reality as heaven. Heaven to me is a place of freedom. In life, many things are very simple, it’s not complicated.

Tell us about the messages you want to convey through your art.

It’s fun! Why limit yourself to one medium when you can try and explore everything?

Why should we experiment with our art with different mediums?

Don’t look for the answers outside but focus on the inside. Spend more time with yourself and express it out. Don’t judge yourself too much.

What is your advice to budding artists out there who are looking for their style or expand their reach in the art industry? 

I’ve never specifically encouraged her. I let her be to explore and support whatever she wanted to do. 

How do you encourage your children to be creative? 

 When I share the thought process of each art piece with my family, they can see the world through my eyes, gaining a new perspective while understanding each other. It’s a way to communicate, learn, and appreciate each other better.

What can you benefit from bonding with your family through art?

The “Cross The Line” liquid eyeliner is a very fun tool to play with. I tried to use other types of pens to draw on my face. Because our face has oil, it’s hard for the color to stay in place. When I brushed this eyeliner on my face, the vibrant color appears and stayed on my face. It’s very fun!

What is in your mind when you create an artwork with the “Cross The Line” liquid eyeliner pens?  

A thoughtful perspective on cruelty-free makeup products 

Vivien

Down to earth with a passion for art, content creator and makeup enthusiast – Vivien has been challenging herself and serving us a variety of looks, creating bigger and bolder designs every year.

 Each concept was illustrated using patterns, illusions, and colors that tell an interesting story. Besides that, she is a vegetarian with two dogs – Nina (her boyfriend’s rescue dog) and Blossom (a previously depressed Beagle adopted by her mother). Vivien also rescues stray cats or dogs, cares for them, and uses her platform to help them find a new home. A wholesome being who practices what she preaches. Below, we reached out to the rising artist about her makeup inspirations and thoughts on cruelty-free makeup products.

1. Persistent.
2. Hardheaded.
3. Soft-hearted.
4. Pushover.
5. Organized.
6. Chaotic.
7. Strong.
8. Fragile.

Pink because I used to consciously avoid it as a teen so I could “stand out.” The power it has over me omg.

One color that defines who you are. Why?

Power. Whenever I explore a makeup look, put together an outfit, curate my contents or form my opinions, morph myself and my personality as I learn and grow; I’m always in full control. That feels like power to me.

Anybody and everybody that makes me happy through their personalities or their art.

Who inspires you?   

 I usually stumble upon ideas, triggered by literally anything that lights up my mind - a photo, a painting, plants, something someone said, music, etc. When my mind lights up, a blurry vision of what I could do with makeup comes up.

How do you decide on a theme for a look?

I’m trying very hard to think of just one thing but my mind is blank. I think it’s because I like experimenting and find it exhausting to stick to one style for too long.

 What is your favorite look/theme? 

According to Google, they are BAD and may negatively affect hormones. But I have no clue if it’s legitimately proven or not.😂 

Parabens in makeup. Are they bad? Why? 

 My heart says animals feel pain and fear too. They don’t deserve to be mutilated. My head says I also use a lot of other products that could’ve come from inhumane treatments towards animals—makeup, clothes, bags, soaps, etc. On the topic of what others should do, I think people should be aware of how animal testing is done and why it’s done, and form their own opinions on it. I share this world with billions of individuals, each with their own individual moral principles. I don’t have a short and cute answer to this because it’s not a cute matter.

Why should people care if makeup products are tested on animals?

“I think people should be aware of
how animal testing is done
and why it’s done,
and form their own opinions on it.”


The lacquer-esque formula that’s long-lasting and peels off instead of melting.

What is your favorite part of the “Cross The Line” liquid eyeliner pen? Why? 


Draw all the shapes and things that bring you joy all over yourself—face, arms, body, everywhere!

Tips to spice up a daily makeup look to attend a festival/event

Evoking emotion with storytelling in art

Eelhum

A picture is worth a thousand words. Now more than ever, the power of visual communication is strong in the digital age. We share our lives, offerings, issues we care about, and things we love, all accessible in the palm of our hands. Coming across so many visuals every day, we slowly become desensitized, constantly swiping, shutting our brains off, and losing track of time. We rarely connect and evoke emotions with a picture such as the excitement of a product launch or even the jealousy of our ex with someone new. This is where art comes in.

, an aspiring digital artist who loves taking on new challenges and experiments with 3D, illustration, GIFs, and AR. Much like her real name (Ilham), she intends to inspire and create unique meanings with storytelling through art. Her usage of comic strips, illustrations, and colors with a hint of dark humor brings the audience to wonder in their imagination and form their own stories. Visit her 

 and make sure to follow for more interactive innovations coming soon!

Read on as Eelhum shares her advice as a student and freelancer, the exploration of art mediums, and contributions through the art of storytelling.

I’ll describe myself in 5 words. I am quiet, chaotic, colorful (as you can see), introspective, and curious. I’ll use quiet and introspective as a way to introduce my artworks. You can see a lot of my work is very quiet and what you see is not what you get. You need to put a little thought into it and that’s where the introspective comes from. Colorful, pretty obvious, I love colors. Chaotic is more like an organized mess. I like compartmentalizing my thoughts and everything. I like classifying things which probably is an element in my work as well. Filtering the chaos and funneling it down into the simplification of things.

Who is Ilham Alshahab? 

What is the inspiration behind your logo (blue eye)? Eelhum is a wacky spelling for my name. People used to call me either Eel or Hum and I thought, those are actual words that stand on their own and I’ll put them together. As for the logo, the eye is an “e”. I like the eye motive a lot. I wear a lot of rings and necklaces with the eye motif because I feel I’m a very observant person, internally and externally. I’d imagine I have an inner and outer eye. That’s why I’m very connected to the eye motif.

What is the story behind your artist name/IG handle - eelhum? 

How I usually describe my art to people is that I like to see the maximum with the minimum. You can see this a lot in my animations or comics that are very silent. No text, no narration, just sequential frames. What I want people to experience in my work is that I don’t want to tell them the story from A to Z. I want to take them halfway and let them to complete the story in their head because that’s where the magic comes from.

Tell us more about your art style and the message you want to convey.

As of now, I want to expand my reach, specifically in more interactive works. I want to make work that invites audiences to contribute or give their say in such a way that completes the art piece. I want that sort of connection with people, two-way communication and connection. Not only from the artist but also garner more meaning from the audience. That way, my work will be personal to them because it relates to them in some way as well.

You have an impressive line of artworks ranging from 2D, 3D to AR creations. As a Jack of all trades, do you see yourself constantly expanding your reach? Or do you intend to explore, then master specific mediums in the future? 

Animation and illustration. Animation because it’s so limitless, you can do a lot with it. On the technical side, I like the problem-solving challenges such as figuring out how to move something a certain way and figuring out the quirks along the way. Illustration because of how limiting it is. It allows me to think about what details are necessary for me to show and what details aren’t for people to figure things out themselves.

To date, what is your favorite medium to work with? Why? 

let them to complete the story in their head

because that’s where the magic comes from.”

There’s a big difference because I’m doing both of them at once – working and school. At school, most of its just you working on yourself, sort of in your little world. You do the work, submit it, and whether you get a good mark or not, it’s fully on you.

At work, there’s a bigger responsibility for yourself, the people around you, your co-workers, and so on. There are more of those soft skills you need to learn and navigate through your work life, to deal with a lot of different people, especially when you’re a freelancer like I am. I meet loads of different clients, some are easy, and some are difficult. You have to find the middle ground between dealing with the client and giving them what they want while maintaining your vision and identity as an artist.

It is really important while you work on your technical skills in school, also keep in check that you need to work on your soft skills. Once you get out there, you will be more comfortable with your technical skills that you can focus more on meeting people and making connections.

Congratulations upon receiving your degree in media and digital arts from MMU last year. With your experience as a thriving artist, what is the difference in school compared to the workforce? Do you have any takeaways or share any gaps that can inspire or assist aspiring artists?

I believe in the latter. I’m a really stubborn artist. I believe you need to be able to express yourself in your own style. I guess we also need to find jobs in the real world. Once again, it’s about finding that middle ground between what does this assignment asks of me and how can I, the best way that I can, still make this very me in my work. Always look for opportunities, never let the current opportunities go because they’re not the top priority. Everything could help you either way. You could never know this challenging assignment could suddenly help you figure out and uncover a different talent you never knew. Good to step out of your comfort zone sometimes.

We heavily rely on grades in school. As an artist, do you think we should purely focus on grades or finding our own style? The reason being grades don’t matter much in the end, also art is very subjective. What is your take on this? 

When working with clients, there’s always a communication barrier, especially when you’re starting out because I had that problem too. It’s really important to understand the client doesn’t have to know everything from A to Z. 

You need to know which details to pick out, how to package it in a simplified way, and update them throughout the process. That’s one. Another thing young designers tend to get wrong; we tend to do whatever the client wants. I believe you as an artist also have a say in it. You need to know when to listen and when to stand your ground. At some point, it would help to improve your relationship with your client and with your work as well.

With working experience in advertising and with clients, what do you think are the barriers that limit artists or designers? What solutions do you propose for both ends? 

I contribute more in the emotional sense. My work helps people build that emotional connection maybe first with me as the artist showing the work, then with the people around them, and most importantly, within themselves. 

A lot of themes of my work talk about human connection and internal conflict which I have. Because I’m vulnerable with my work, it comes across to people as well. My work has a lot of gaps and people fill those gaps themselves. It’s very personal and special to them. I even have people come up to me saying, “looking at your work makes me feel very seen and vulnerable”. That is something I am happy to give to people when they see my work. To harness that emotional connection and intimacy with the audience through storytelling and art.

How do you contribute to the world through your art of storytelling? 

Still too early to tell. Since I’m graduating this year, it’s more exciting and I’m working more on interactive works. Wink wink maybe games? A lot of ideas in the bank 😉 