My name is Carson Ting. I'm a visual artist based here in Vancouver. I am also the owner of Chairman Ting, an art and design studio and the founder of the brand Billion Buns. I create art that is fun, whimsical and oftentimes a bit chaotic and sometimes intricate and detailed.

I'd say it's been a bit of a full-circle path. As a kid, I wanted to become an illustrator and artist, but after entering the Communications and Design program at OCAD, also known as the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, I immediately fell in love with advertising. At the time, I had never experienced that level of passion. But after spending almost two decades as an art director in ad agencies all over Canada and the US, I found myself longing for more artistic freedom through illustration and art. So here I am, back to square one, embracing a purer form of creativity.

Ever since I can remember picking up a pencil and drawing, I knew I wanted to do this for life. I remember my dad showing me how to draw Tarzan when I was a kid. It truly blew my mind. But to think of myself as an artist? That's a really good question. For almost two decades, I mainly identified as an art director and designer. I'd say it wasn't until I painted my first mural back in 2009 that I really started to think of myself as an artist. In short, 2009, when I started using Chairman Ting as my handle, was when I felt like I truly stepped into this (artist) role.

Funny enough, although I don't normally use the exact phrase "for the long run," I've always embraced the concept. For two decades now, my mentor and ex-boss Glen Hunt, back when I was living in Toronto, taught me that life is a marathon, not a sprint. So I'm always in it for the long haul, building and creating at my own cadence.

Yeah, so the artwork is called Mad Scramble, and it was inspired by my own personal marathon experience. I've done two full marathons in the past, and both were a mad scramble. I remember being the dumbass that I am (laughs), signing up for my first full marathon back in 2008 just weeks before the race, which was pretty stupid. I did horrible. My friends thought I was crazy, but I did it anyway. It was a mad scramble. So there you have it.

Yeah, I really find it hard to think creatively when I'm stationary. I believe that by walking around or changing your environment, you're allowing your mind to open up. Your body's pumping, blood is circulating, and I think it really helps your brain work more efficiently. It also allows you to interact with the world around you. Inherently, I think that's how you come up with really good ideas, just by moving around and keeping your mind active.

Yes, people have often described my work as "chaotic joy" and I love it. I love creating artwork that allows my audience to truly immerse themselves in it, even if it's just for a brief moment, to get lost in the work. I consider that a win. There's definitely an element of chaotic joy in this piece called Mad Scramble, as I'm literally depicting a runner in a chaotic state, scrambling and trying to finish their race.

I'd say Google Calendar. I'm always carving out schedules for myself by time-blocking my day into one- to two-hour intervals per project, whether it's client work or personal work. But the sad truth is, client work almost always gets first priority because it is more time-sensitive, while personal work gets pushed to the back burner. But fun, creative work always keeps me going. Otherwise, what's the whole point of this, right?

Honestly, it's just the act of creating, the passion for creativity. I just love creating, whether it's a doodle on a napkin, an iPhone photo, a painting, or a big-ass mural. Just being able to create something new, something completely unknown at the start, is what really excites me. Because you never know who will see the piece or what kind of impact it will have on the audience.

Oh, this is a huge soft spot for me. Just being able to be part of my community and contribute through my art, that's all that matters. It's a huge win for me.