Hong Kong Artist Steven Tang Captures Local Cuisine Through Colored Pencil Realism

• Hong Kong artist Steven Tang has gained a significant following for his hyper-realistic colored pencil drawings of local culinary staples.
• Since starting his Instagram account in 2018, he has amassed over 45,000 followers by illustrating everything from roasted meat rice to iconic dim sum.
• Tang views his work as a way to preserve memories of food and eateries that might otherwise disappear due to the city's frequent store closures.

Creative Approach and Process

• A self-taught artist, Tang composes his drawings by blending reference photos with his own creative adjustments to enhance visual appeal.
• He consciously avoids depicting dishes that appear messy or unappealing, focusing instead on what is visually inviting and "sellable."
• To maintain interest, he experiments with presentation, such as styling pork patty rice in the shape of Lion Rock or skewering dim sum.

Career Challenges and Future Outlook

• Tang faces the ongoing struggle of balancing his studio work with teaching classes, noting the physical exhaustion of long hours and the financial uncertainty of relying solely on art sales.
• To navigate changing social media algorithms, he incorporates real-life utensils into his content to boost engagement.
• Despite the rise of AI-generated art, Tang remains confident that artists can maintain value by building a unique personal brand.
• He is preparing for his first solo exhibition in September 2025 and plans to revive his dormant YouTube channel to offer drawing tutorials.