一張白紙，一支墨水筆，可以走到多遠？
對插畫家 Danlin Zhang 來說，答案是：從童年的中國，一路畫到紐約，再畫進《福布斯》30 Under 30 的榜單。沿途她為軒尼詩畫過農曆新年，為騰訊QQ設計過北京地鐵，也為奇幻小說的封面創造了另一個世界。
A blank piece of paper and an ink pen – how far can they take you?
For illustrator Danlin Zhang, the answer is: from her childhood in China all the way to New York, and onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Along the way, she painted the Lunar New Year for Hennessy, designed Beijing subway campaigns for Tencent QQ, and created entire worlds on fantasy book covers.
Danlin Zhang 在美國讀研究所時，創作了一個叫《情感》(Emotion) 的畢業作品—記錄她搬到美國後的兩個重要時刻。這兩件作品不僅是她創作生涯的重要轉折，更入選了 2019 年美國插畫協會（Society of Illustrators）學生獎學金競賽。對她來說，插畫從來不是憑空想像。必先感受，而後方能描繪。
When Danlin Zhang was in graduate school in the US, she created a thesis project titled “Emotion” – documenting two important moments after she moved to America. These two pieces not only marked a significant turning point in her creative journey, but were also selected for the 2019 Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition. For her, illustration has never been about pure imagination. One must first feel, then depict.
《情感》鳥 “Emotion” Birds
2019
《情感》釣魚 “Emotion” Fishing
2019
Danlin Zhang 的編輯插畫也曾登上《紐約時報》。2017年，她為一篇關於夏洛茨維爾市長的文章創作了兩個版本的插畫，用墨水與數位技法傳達城市在創傷後如何繼續前行。她也與騰訊 QQ 合作「新國風」項目，在北京地鐵 4 號線、14 號線、16 號線及大興線推出地鐵廣告。她的插畫《獅情畫意》靈感來自中國舞獅與山水畫《千里江山圖》。
Danlin Zhang’s editorial illustration has also appeared in The New York Times. In 2017, she created two versions of an illustration for an article about the mayor of Charlottesville, using ink and digital techniques to convey how a city moves forward after trauma. She also collaborated with Tencent QQ on the “New Chinese Style” project – a subway campaign at Beijing Subway stations (Lines 4, 14, 16, and Daxing Line). Her illustration “The Grace and Vigor of the Lion” was inspired by Chinese lion dances and the classic landscape painting “Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers”.
夏洛茨維爾 (版本 一) Charlottesville (Version 1）
2017
墨水、數位 Ink, digital
6.8”W x 4.46”H
獅情畫意 “The Grace and Vigor of the Lion”
2019
Danlin Zhang 與 Inbetween Design Studio 合作，為全家 (La Maison Bakery) 設計「禧月」月餅禮盒。設計概念圍繞湖北地區的民俗風格與傳統建築。這個禮盒不僅獲得 A’Design Award，也贏得了 DNA Paris Design Awards。
Danlin Zhang collaborated with Inbetween Design Studio on the “Happiness Mooncake” package for La Maison Bakery. The design concept revolved around the folk style and traditional architecture of the Hubei region. This package won both the A’Design Award and the DNA Paris Design Awards.
「禧月」月餅禮盒
Happiness Mooncake Package
2019
「禧月」月餅禮盒成品 Final Product of the Happiness Mooncake Package
2019
2023年兔年，軒尼詩委託 Danlin Zhang 為《Food & Wine》雜誌「釀酒廠特輯」創作封面及四張內頁插畫。整體藝術方向圍繞中國各地的飲食與酒文化—這些文化總是讓人們團聚在一起。封面插畫融合了中國四大區域的標誌性菜餚與建築，傳達各地凝聚的向心力。戴著不同酒杯的兔子們，代表著不同的酒文化在新年時刻齊聚一堂。
For the Lunar New Year 2023, Hennessy commissioned Danlin to create the cover and four inner-page spot illustrations for Food & Wine Magazine’s “The Winery Issue”. The overall art direction theme revolved around food and wine culture across China – cultures that always bring people together. The cover illustration integrated iconic dishes and architecture from China’s four major regions, conveying the cohesiveness of each region coming together. Rabbits wearing different wine glasses on their heads represented diverse wine cultures gathering for the New Year.
軒尼詩「兔年」《Food & Wine》封面 Hennessy “Year of the Rabbit” Food & Wine Cover
2023
Danlin Zhang 為 Eliza Chan 的奇幻小說《Fathomfolk》和《Tideborn》創作了 Illumicrate 獨家版的封面。她用細膩的線條與深沉的色調，描繪了一個充滿神話生物與海洋魔法的世界。書封本身就是一則等待被打開的故事。
Danlin Zhang created the exclusive Illumicrate edition covers for Eliza Chan’s fantasy novels “Fathomfolk” and “Tideborn”. Danlin used intricate lines and deep tones to depict a world filled with mythical creatures and ocean magic. The covers themselves are stories waiting to be opened.
《Fathomfolk》Illumicrate 獨家版封面 | “Fathomfolk” Illumicrate Exclusive Cover
2024
《Tideborn》Illumicrate 獨家版封面 “Tideborn” Illumicrate Exclusive Cover
2025
從中國到紐約，從墨水到數位，從東方到西方——Danlin Zhang用她的畫筆，證明了文化可以是流動的，記憶可以是具體的，而線條，可以說出千言萬語。
讓我們在她的畫作中學習，然後開始描繪屬於我們自己的故事。
From China to New York, from ink to digital, from East to West ——Danlin Zhang proves with her brush that culture can be fluid, memory can be tangible, and lines can speak a thousand words.
Let us learn from her art – and then begin illustrating our own stories.
烏托邦 Utopia
2021
圖片提供 Courtesy of Danlin Zhang Instagram: @danlinz_art , IllustrationZone