Panda Frog Meet the Artist

There's no doubt that when I first saw the the Pandazilla pump clip I was ten times more impressed than I thought I would be. There's no doubt it has caught a lot of attention.  The question is who is the artist behind this masterpiece?

Here Rob's Beer Quest reveals all about the unsung master of the canvas in a Beer Wench meets Beer Reviews Andy style interview.

Name: Dana Zhang

Occupation: Student/Freelance designer

1.       How did you get into Manga style artwork?

From a very early age I was interested in beautiful designs, and spent much of my time sketching and colouring – as long as I remember it is all that I have wanted to do. Manga-style is of course an Asian style of cartoon, and being from China it is natural that I would enjoy that style! I have since completed a Bachelors’ degree in Fine Art, and am currently studying for my Masters’ at Northumbria University in Graphic Design. I have quite a varied portfolio now, from paintings of Beijing Opera characters to portraits of friends, and even stop-motion animation (think Morph from Tony Hart’s Hartbeat ), so it is not exclusive to Manga-style art. However, Panda and Frog Brewery gives me more of an opportunity to showcase my talent in the UK, and is a particularly fun project as the concepts are quirky and fun!

2. How long have you been an artist/designer?

I completed my Bachelors degree in Fine Art back in China in 2009, but I have also done a lot of artwork in my free-time; some freelance work, but some just out of hobby

3. What is your favourite beer?

Well, I don’t really drink very much to be honest, but when I do I tend to stick to low volume drinks as I’m a bit of a lightweight!

4. Which do you prefer, frogs or pandas?

Haha, I prefer the colour of frogs because green is very cute, but with the Panda being a national symbol of my home country, China, I would have to say the Panda. If we’re talking more philosophically, I’d say that Pandas are a lot more powerful than frogs too, so have more control; frogs are little and helpless and too easy to be controlled, so again I’d have to empathise with the Panda, as I am quite a strong-minded individual!

5. What are your hobbies?

I watch a lot of movies – Leon is my favourite! Natalie Portman is one of my favourite actresses. I also watch a lot of TV shows, drama or comedy mostly. The Big Bang Theory is one of my favourites, but I’ve finished that now and have moved on to Two Broke Girls. I also like to travel in my spare time, and since living in Newcastle have travelled a little bit around the area: Durham, York, Sunderland, Edinburgh, and even went to a public bonfire up in Hexham, but I’m still yet to go to London!

6.  What inspires your designs?

I am inspired mainly by things that I find beautiful; these are the things that draw people’s attention the most, colours in particular. For example, the colour of the sky – in fact, colours from nature in general. Nature is a big inspiration to me. One of my favourite artists is a Chinese artist called Benjamin Zhang Bin, who is a famous graphic novel illustrator, and has even made covers for Marvel Comics. I think there are many things to learn from his use of vivid colours.

7. Who is your favourite ninja turtle?

Hmm, it has been so long since I watched it I can’t really remember, but I would have to say Donatello because purple is my favourite colour! Plus, anyone who can fight with just a stick rather than a sword or blade deserves more respect!

Some good answers there. Tho for that last question I would have said Leonardo. I would also like to add that although Pandas appears more powerful than the Frogs, Frogs can move around quite quickly. Thus if a Panda and a frog were ever to fight the frog could easily avert the the slow clumsy movements of the bear. Further more if the frog was a poisonous frog, then frog could indeed easily cain it's ass.

However, if the Panda was armed with some kind of makeshift weapon, a flamethrower say, then the Panda would win. As far as intellectual arguments go this is all open for debate.
Thanks ... your duty to Panda Frog will be recognised forever.