πŸ—ΊοΈ Maps, book covers, and interiors that weave worlds. Clients include Orbit, Macmillan, Netflix, TBB, Knights Of. Repped by @LitAgentClare. 🌈 ace

Malaysia, Southeast Asia
Joined December 2008
Hi #PortfolioDay! I make intricate maps and book covers inspired by the visual cultures of their story worlds. I mostly work in adult and YA fantasy but recently illustrated THE LAST DRAGON, a fiery MG novel by Polly Ho-Yen. 🎨 charisloke.com πŸ–ΌοΈ inprnt.com/gallery/charislok…
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Front endpaper art + notes, @binding_broken's edition of Jade War by @FondaJLee. AD @PetrikReads asked for the airport fight in Tialuhiya where we see (from left) Vinn, Lott, Juen, Hilo, Doun, and Tar, each employing one or more of the jade disciplines. Sketch, close-ups below:
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The superhuman speed at which trained Green Bones fight gives them a huge advantage over jadeless combatants, so much so that the fight and violence feel almost farcical and senseless. It's certainly a sentiment that gets evoked more and more as we progress through book 2 and 3.
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In contrast, my rendition of Shae on the edges places the turbulent halo around her heart (iykyk). The halo is a motif that recurs across all three Peranakan glass edges, following the sequence hands-heart-head, linking the Kaul siblings. [book photos by TBB rep Melissa Rose!]
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Charis Loke πŸ’œπŸ€πŸ–€ retweeted
Endpaper art + notes for @binding_broken's edition of Jade City. Spoilers in the 2nd slide! @PetrikReads suggested depicting an imagined scene that would make for a good intro to the setting and characters: the No Peak clan having a meal at the Twice Lucky. Close-ups below:
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Endpaper art + notes for @binding_broken's edition of Jade City. Spoilers in the 2nd slide! @PetrikReads suggested depicting an imagined scene that would make for a good intro to the setting and characters: the No Peak clan having a meal at the Twice Lucky. Close-ups below:
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And that ornately framed, large painting will be a familiar sight to anyone walking into a Chinese diaspora family restaurant (although you might have carp or horses or a SEAsian village instead of mountains).
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Thanks to TBB rep Melissa Rose for the shots of the hardback and endpapers as they appear in the physical book! I'm still waiting eagerly on this side of the world for my copies to arrive.
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Charis Loke πŸ’œπŸ€πŸ–€ retweeted
And here's the map of Kekon for JADE WAR, since @binding_broken shared pics yesterday. I wanted to reference events in the book and flesh out the world a bit more through the items: the monument pamphlet, car keys, stone scrap...I'm glad the Hilo sketch made it to final art ;)
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And here's the map of Kekon for JADE WAR, since @binding_broken shared pics yesterday. I wanted to reference events in the book and flesh out the world a bit more through the items: the monument pamphlet, car keys, stone scrap...I'm glad the Hilo sketch made it to final art ;)
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Looked at a lot of mid-to-late 19th and 20th century maps for inspiration, decided to go with a blend of Chinese and Japanese brush map styles. The compass rose features the same flower seen in the edge design, which is taken from Peranakan-style windows and furniture.
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Thanks as always to Fonda and Matt and Petrik from TBB for the creative freedom and trust!
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Charis Loke πŸ’œπŸ€πŸ–€ retweeted
A huge shout out to @charisloke for the incredible map produced for our special edition copies of Jade War by @FondaJLee πŸ’š Absolutely stunning 😍πŸ₯Ή
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Since folks have asked, yes, I'll have prints of the maps for sale, but they'll only be made available after the TBB books reach subscribers at least. I do think all three maps will look great as posters or prints side-by-side on a wall.
A map of Janloon for @FondaJLee's JADE CITY, in the upcoming edition by The Broken Binding. Loved getting to do worldbuilding through the paraphernalia for all three maps, though I can't show the rest just yet. Lots of refs to the story included, some more subtle than others.
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A map of Janloon for @FondaJLee's JADE CITY, in the upcoming edition by The Broken Binding. Loved getting to do worldbuilding through the paraphernalia for all three maps, though I can't show the rest just yet. Lots of refs to the story included, some more subtle than others.
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Close-up. Thanks Matt and Petrik from TBB for being so great to work with on this project, and Fonda for the input on changes and additions to the map!
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The edges are based on Chinese and Peranakan glass windows found in Southeast Asiaβ€”what I thought of when @PetrikReads floated the idea for the edges. The Kaul mansion holds furniture and crafts from different regions, so l imagine there are Peranakan-style panels somewhere!
We are thrilled to reveal the mock ups for the July-September Fantasy Sub picks! 😍 Green Bone Saga by @FondaJLee
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Charis Loke πŸ’œπŸ€πŸ–€ retweeted
πŸ‰ It’s publication day! πŸ‰ Happy publication day to @bookhorse and illustrator @charisloke on the publication of The Last Dragon! Get your copy today via the link in our bio!πŸ“— Photo credit: @charisloke
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Hoping that this'll be Benoit Blanc meets The Name of the Rose πŸ™πŸΌ
The next Benoit Blanc mystery, the follow-up to Knives Out and Glass Onion, is called Wake Up Dead Man.
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Charis Loke πŸ’œπŸ€πŸ–€ retweeted
Stop for a moment. This work attracted you . This painting was painted to complete a dream that was interrupted . Help complete this dream, even with any small amount . πŸ‰ gofund.me/b90972fb
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