EXCLUSIVE: Meet Karmen Loh, the Malaysian Artist Behind the Pokémon Championships 2023-24 Key Art 

The key art for the Pokémon Championships 2023-24 tournament in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines has recently been revealed and it features none other than Malaysia’s very own artist Karmen Loh, sometimes known by her online handle Bearbrickjia.

With Pokémon Championships 2023-24 Malaysia approaching this coming June, we got the lovely opportunity to catch up with Karmen Loh in an interview about her art adventures and her love for Pokémon.

Karmen Loh was a character concept artist in the game industry, contributing her work to titles such as Street Fighter V. After switching to freelance, she has also created key visual illustrations for Costa China, as well as book cover illustrations for various publishing companies such as HarperCollins, Hachette Books, and many more.

Collaborating with The Pokémon Company

Working with The Pokémon Company is no doubt a very fortunate opportunity, so we asked Karmen about her reaction when she found out she was going to work on the project based on such a well-beloved IP.

“Certainly, I was tremendously excited,” Karmen responded. “I had never envisioned the opportunity to collaborate with The Pokémon Company. Consequently, I feel profoundly honored and enthusiastic about this prospect.”

As for the most enjoyable and memorable experiences when working on the project, Karmen said “I believe it’s certainly stimulating to be drawing and designing Pokémon, as it diverges significantly from my typical work of mainly creating human characters.”

“Engaging with creatures like Pokémon adds an exciting dimension to my artistic endeavors. Consequently, I find it immensely enjoyable, and I believe I am also gaining valuable insights from this experience. Overall, I’m quite content with it.”

Maintaining a Personal Artistic Style 

If you have a look at her artwork, Karmen has a very recognizable art style. Sometimes it can be difficult to illustrate an art piece based on a major franchise while putting your own personal artistic style to it, especially when it comes to representing certain character designs.

As such, we were curious about how well she showcased her unique style while not altering the original designs and keeping the characters recognizable.

“Initially, I created artwork for the human characters that were quite distinct from the final version,” Karmen talked about her experiences. “However, upon submitting it, they were not satisfied, indicating their preference for artwork with more realism.”

“They specifically requested artwork reflecting my unique style, which was both surprising and gratifying. Consequently, I revised the human characters according to my personal aesthetic, which was well-received by the team. This outcome brought me joy.”

“Despite my limited experience drawing creatures, I didn’t perceive the process as drastically departing from my usual style. I applied the same rendering and lighting techniques to the Pokémon, albeit on different subjects transitioning from humans to creatures.”

Keeping the Originality of the Pokemon 

Art of each Pokémon pic.twitter.com/wNJY8h9MV6

— Karmen Loh 茗匀 (@Bearbrickjia) April 19, 2024

On the topic of her Pokémon Championships 2023-24 key artwork, Karmen continues to elaborate on the attention she paid in order to keep the originality of Pokémon.

“Throughout the project, they provided me with all the original designs of the Pokémon, including specific color codes and facial expressions that needed to be adhered to as closely as possible. This meant I couldn’t arbitrarily change colors or apply lighting that might alter the final color. I had to be cautious not to apply overly strong lighting that could affect the desired colors.”

“Additionally, I was required to maintain the default design of the Pokemon, such as Ogerpon, which predominantly features various shades of green. Ensuring accuracy in replicating these shades of green according to their color sheet was crucial, and I couldn’t simply use any green tones. Sometimes, even after adding certain lighting effects, I had to ensure that it didn’t distort the final color, as per their specifications.”

Experience Influence 

As mentioned, Karmen worked in the game industry as a character concept artist before, so we wonder how much her past work experience has influenced her latest art style.

To that, Karmen replied, “Working at the game company definitely enhanced my drawing and rendering techniques, as well as deepened my understanding of anatomy. This experience allowed me to refine and elevate the finish of my art style significantly. Comparing my current skill level to the past, I recognize substantial improvement in this regard.”

“Moreover, beyond honing my drawing abilities, I’ve also developed strong communication skills through interactions with clients. Understanding their needs, asking pertinent questions, and accurately interpreting their desires have become second nature to me.”

“These communication skills are invaluable in ensuring that my artwork aligns closely with their expectations. I believe that these multifaceted skills acquired from past experiences greatly benefit me in my current projects.”

Paradox Pokémon

With her being a fan of Pokémon while also a professional artist, we asked Karmen about her opinions regarding the design of Paradox Pokémon – a unique group of new Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Karmen said she does love the designs of Paradox Pokémon, saying “I find it highly enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. I appreciate the juxtaposition between the Pokemon originating from historical epochs and those envisioned for the future.”

“The former evokes reminiscences of dinosaurian elements, while the latter embodies futuristic themes such as sci-fi, metallic, and mega attributes. This stark contrast contributes to the designs’ intriguing nature and aesthetic appeal. I derive immense satisfaction from the process of illustrating them.”

Malaysian Art Scene

For her success, there is no doubt that she put a lot of effort into her journey to make a name for herself. We asked Karmen, as a Malaysian artist, how much the Malaysian art scene has helped shape her career today.

“I find great enjoyment in attending art events such as Comic Fiesta and, more recently, the KL Illustration Fair. These gatherings provide me with the opportunity to encounter numerous exceptionally talented and hardworking artists who inspire and motivate me to push my own boundaries and strive for excellence in my work. Overall, I consider these events to be immensely beneficial experiences.”

Malaysian Artists Who Inspire Her 

Keeping on with the topic of the Malaysian art scene, we asked Karmen if there were any particular local artists whom she looked up to.

Karmen responded, “Among the many artists, I particularly admire Zeen Chin for his distinct style, which differs significantly from my own.”

“His recent works predominantly feature black and white sketches, yet upon further exploration, one encounters breathtaking fully rendered artworks. This duality in his creations is truly captivating and serves as a constant source of inspiration for me.”

If you wish to see more of Zeen Chin’s artwork, you can visit his Instagram and X.

Message for Aspiring Artists 

Malaysia is a colorful country and one with many aspiring artists looking to further their journey into art. As someone who is working professionally as an artist, we asked Karmen if she has any advice she would love to give to aspiring artists in the country.

“I believe in creating art that brings joy and pride and remaining open-minded to learning new techniques and concepts. Additionally, I advocate for traveling whenever possible, whether domestically or internationally, as it exposes me to diverse perspectives and fuels creativity.”

“When feeling lost, I seek solace in meeting new people and engaging in meaningful conversations. Furthermore, I find reading, watching shows, and exploring documentaries to be enriching experiences. Continuously studying and learning enables me to perceive the world from different angles, facilitating personal growth.”

Karmen’s Feeling

As we were concluding the interview, we asked Karmen if she had any more messages to share, to which she responded the following.

“I express a profound sense of honor regarding this opportunity. Initially, I found it difficult to believe when they reached out to offer me this position. It’s a reminder that anything is possible, and I want to encourage fellow artists not to limit themselves. This experience has been a tremendous honor for me, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity.”

Here concludes the interview. We would like to thank Karmen Loh for taking the time to answer all of our questions. If you wish to see more of her awesome artwork, you can visit her X and Instagram.

Additionally, registration for the upcoming Pokémon Championships 2023-24 tournament is now open, and set to take place in Indonesia from June 1st to June 2nd, at Kota Kasablanka, and in Malaysia from June 29th to June 30th, at The Starling Mall. You can refer to the page below for more event details for each respective country:

• Indonesia
• Malaysia

Join Us!