“I started doing it part-time, and it eventually became my full-time job,” says the cartoonist, who has been drawing since he was five.
Ng initially began work as a video editor with a major broadcast company but, upon getting his first book deal in 2013, decided to pursue his passion full-time.
“I didn’t quit on a whim; I made sure I had enough money and gave myself a year to focus on my books and comics to see where it could go,” he tells FMT.
Ng, who wasn’t formally trained in art, refined his craft over the years. “I’m still trying to improve my drawings. It’s a continuous learning process.”
He creates his comics digitally using a tablet and Adobe Illustrator software. “After I plan out the story and layout, I work on the dialogue, sketching, inking and colouring,” he explains.
He gets his inspiration from everyday life, adding that “my colouring style is heavily influenced by the Saturday-morning cartoons in the late 90s and early 2000s”.
In terms of storytelling, he draws inspiration from manga – comics or graphic novels originating from Japan.
During the pandemic, Ng came up with the “Covidball Z” series, which was very well received. The ongoing series is based on characters and events that make news headlines.
One of his most memorable moments was when several frontliners reached out to him, saying his comics made their day.
“It was a pleasant surprise. I’m glad that besides being entertaining, my comics can also make someone’s day better.”
Book 5 of “Covidball Z” has recently been released and contains bonus chapters and content that aren’t available on his social media.
In total he has published 14 comic books, and those prior to “Covidball Z” are available at Popular bookstores.
Ng’s goal is to release all remaining chapters of “Covidball Z” that are on his social media into books so his fans can collect the entire series.
“I also plan to design more t-shirts and merchandise as I’ve been getting requests for them.”
In addition to other side projects that he will reveal in the near future, Ng intends to get back to creating content on YouTube.
“I’ve appeared in many YouTube videos with my friends as it used to be a part of my daily routine,” he says.
Looking back, Ng almost gave up making comics as it was very tiring to do it while juggling a full-time job.
“But I kept at it until I came to a point that I was confident enough to pursue it full-time,” he says, adding that although it isn’t easy building a brand, consistency is key.
“It’s also a lot easier nowadays thanks to technology and social media.”
While many people still think being a cartoonist isn’t a viable career path, he refutes this, saying: “I actually have a few friends who are full-time comic artists.”
Ng says aspiring artists shouldn’t shy away from sharing their work with the public. “It will suck in the beginning, but with practice, you will eventually improve.”
He also advises against chasing after fame or money as it will affect one’s motivation as well as quality of work.
At the end of the day, drawing relaxes him, and he is motivated by seeing his skills improve over time.
“It’s also very encouraging when readers reach out to me. At times their responses make me laugh, too,” he smiles, calling Malaysians “a hilarious bunch”.
“It’s great that we can all laugh together. Hopefully my comics can help unite people. That will be the ultimate dream.”
To check out Ernest’s comics, follow him on Facebook and Instagram. You can also purchase his comic books and t-shirts via his website or Shopee.