About

I grew up in Los Angeles- loving art, picture books, and the beach.  My parents immigrated from Hong Kong to the US, where I was born (in Hawaii).  I spent my early childhood there until my family moved to Los Angeles.  I was lucky to grow up by the beach (my favorite place to be), and to be surrounded by amazing art.  I have loved drawing and painting since I could hold a pencil. The minute I held that pencil in my little hand, I knew it was the ticket to my imagination.  I would carry my sketchbook everywhere, filling its pages with everything from the world around me to whatever my imagination dreamed up that day.  Carrying a sketchbook with me was handy because I didn’t have a camera, so I would capture what I saw in my sketchbook.  I also thought unicorns were real when I was a little girl lol!  But then I found out that they were not real, so I would draw them in my sketchbook where they lived.  I had always dreamed of being an artist, wanting to share my art with everyone, especially with children.  So I set my heart on making that dream come true.

From that point on I focused on drawing and painting, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration. In my senior year, I entered my artwork to the Student Show and received 2 awards.  Since then I have been featured in Artist's Magazine, Skipping Stones, Utah Valley Magazine, The Daily Herald, Art Quench Magazine, and the Big Bear Grizzly Newspaper.  

I have also done work for New Moon Magazine, Ladybug Magazine, The Friend Magazine, BeachHouse Publishing, Brown Books Kids, and many others.  Some of my favorite books that I illustrated are  "Brody Bear Goes Fishing" by Babl Books, "Maddy Lou and Mack at the State Fair of Texas" by Brown Books Kids, "Canines Unleashed- Hank’s New Pack" by Clear Fork Publishing, and "Rock a Bye Baby Hawaii" by BeachHouse Publishing.  "Happy Trails with Abby and Taz" and "Lucas the Lion Loves the Tiny Talker" both published by Brown Books Kids, won an award from Moonbeam Children’s Books Award.

I also illustrate for art licensing, so you can find my art in puzzles from Bits and Pieces, diamond art, wall art, and more. I also work on fine art drawings and paintings, pet portraits, commissioned pieces, and I’m also available for hire. My art is also available for purchase at Snowline Acres and Sassafras in Kalispell, Montana. Or you can email me to purchase. I also have a YouTube channel where you can find easy step-by-step tutorial videos on how to draw! It’s perfect for everyone, especially for kids. Grab a pencil and paper and have some fun! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVIIQH48I3KBLG1kIBIr7Pg

When I'm not working on a new project or book, you can find me having fun with my family...or just relaxing at the beach in sunny Los Angeles, or hiking in the majestic mountains of Montana where I now live.  I’m loving my new home in Montana, enjoying the mountains and the fun seasons, and visiting Glacier National Park frequently (my favorite national park!), but the beach will always have my heart.  You can find more about me and my art on X @alvinakwong, Facebook @alvinakwongillustrator, and Instagram @alvinakwongillustrator.  See you there!

E-mail: alvinakwongillustrator (at) gmail (dot) com


AWARDS

BOOKS

  • “HAPPY TRAILS WITH ABBY AND TAZ ROCKY ROADS” - CHRISTINA BROWN

  • “CAnines unleashed” - clear fork publishing

  • “abc is for catalina island” - katie elia

  • “HAPPY TRAILS WITH ABBY AND TAZ” - BROWN BOOKS KIDS

  • “MADDY LOU AND MACK AT THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS” - BROWN BOOKS KIDS

  • “BACK TO SCHOOL WITH MAC” - LITTLE PUMPKIN PRESS

  • “SAND MOUSE’S SOUP” - BEACHHOUSE PUBLISHING

  • “ROCK A BYE BABY IN HAWAII” - BEACHHOUSE PUBLISHING

  • “BRODY BEAR GOES FISHING” - BABL BOOKS

  • “THE GIRAFFE THAT ATE THE MOON” - BABL BOOKS

  • “OFF THE CHART! THE AMAZING STORY OF THE ALPHABET ZEBRA” - BROWN BOOKS KIDS

  • “LUCAS THE LION LOVES THE TINY TALKER” - BROWN BOOKS KIDS

  • “THE MAGIC OF CURIOSITY- EMILY AND GRANDPA EXPLORE HONG KONG” - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - POSTIES

  • “MY IMAGINATION” - KRBY ENTERPRISE

  • “ANIMAL MAGIC” - MICHELLE LOPEZ

  • “THE MAGICAL MELTING POT” - CHERRY PRESS

  • “BROCCOLI CHRONICLES” - TANEEKA BOURGEOIS-DASILVA

  • “LITTLE KIDS, BIG VOICES COLORING BOOK” - TANEEKA BOURGEOIS-DASILVA

  • “LITTLE KIDS, BIG VOICES MATH WORKBOOK GRADES 1-3” - TANEEKA BOURGEOIS-DASILVA

  • “LITTLE KIDS, BIG VOICES INTERACTIVE JOURNAL” - TANEEKA BOURGEOIS-DASILVA