Regina Linke: Illustrating Philosophy
Episode #320 | Art by Lee White
Regina Linke didn’t take the traditional illustrator’s path. Join Jake Parker and Sam Cotterill to learn how she developed her Eastern-inspired style, the philosophy behind her work, and how creative practices evolve with the seasons of life.
SHOW LINKS
REGINA LINKE: reginalinke.com, @reginalinkeart, books
Oxherd Boy: oxherdboy.org, @oxherdboy
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
Art school is not the only gateway into illustrating; learning on your own is possible.
Allow your focus to evolve with the seasons of your life.
If you’re not thriving, make a shift.
Decentralize yourself and let people connect with the message of your art.
Let your life drive your art, not the other way around.
SUMMARY
REGINA LINKE didn’t take the traditional illustrator’s path. Born in the United States to Taiwanese parents, she never went to art school. As a young adult, she worked in corporate finance, joined the Peace Corps, then worked in microfinance, travel, and tourism before dipping her toes into art. After moving to Taiwan, she took up gongbi, a traditional Chinese painting style, on a whim. Her current style is a contemporary take on the original.
Regina’s webcomic, The Oxherd Boy, is a celebration of Eastern art and philosophy. Her characters—a boy, an ox, and a rabbit—represent the Three Harmonious Teachings: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Uniting the wisdom of these teachings with simple, elegant illustrations, Regina has introduced thousands to Eastern ideas about life, balance, compassion, and internal strength. The Oxherd Boy’s internet popularity led to the release of three books: The Oxherd Boy: Parables of Love, Compassion, and Community, Big Enough, and Little Helper.
As a mother, Regina’s creative life is seasonal. While some seasons have been devoted to illustration, the present moment has her focused on her children, gardening, and conservation. Her acceptance of different purposes for different times provides her the flexibility to be in the moment and receive inspiration from all areas of life. She lets life drive her art, not the other way around.
Regina lives in Rhode Island with her husband, their children, and their rescue Yuki.