Alice Cao

An antique pictorial map of Cambridge with landmarks drawn like a miniature set and an elaborate border showing the many Cambridge coats of arms

A painting of The Field of the Cloth of Gold with a dragon in the sky, rolling hills, adorably elaborate temporary lodging structures and the procession of two kings

The miniature landmarks were inspired by two things — the 1945 pictorial map of Cambridge by Kerry Lee, and The Field of the Cloth of Gold, one of my favourite paintings of all time 😌

Me: I see we’re going to have a lot of ocean on this map. May I please use this as an excuse to draw a stupidly elaborate compass rose and a sea monster completely unrelated to the story?

Alix’s editor: Yes, but only if you can squeeze my bullet pointed list of things into the border

Me: Deal 😎

Draw fanart of all the things you love! You never know where it may lead. Sometimes it leads to getting to draw lady knights for your favourite author with elaborate borders where we tried our damnest to squeeze as many Easter eggs in as possible 😌

The Apennine Colossus is the more direct reference I used for him. Resemblance to Blake is purely coincidental but one I cannot be more pleased about 😁

You probably have seen it already, but if distraction is phone based, have you tried Focus Friend? I can’t hold me accountable for myself, but I would rather die than let a little knitting bean down 😤😤

Tariffs! On the dopamine! It’s an economic and health and safety HAZARD DON’T YOU KNOW HOW DARE YOU

The EU: You need an EU representative to ensure your product meets health and safety standards also follow these twenty pages of packaging rules

The US: flat tariffs, for everything. $80-$200. Don’t care what your product is

Me and my little Etsy shop: Babes it’s literally ink on paper 😭

I have your St George print and it’s one of my favourite things on my bedroom wall. Time to get him a buddy ☺️✨

Been a huge fan of your work and meaning to buy a print for a while. Today’s the day! 😌

WIP 🖋️✨

Oh no that’s so sad! Discovering you was the highlight of my MCM Londo n experience last year! 🥲

QTP with powerful women ♥️

Grendel’s mother, from Beowulf. I love her so much you don’t understand 😌

Thank you! I’ve no idea what I’m doing 😂

Two characters from the book Inkheart by Cornelia Funke having a fight in a dungeon at sunset. One man has a knife to the other’s throat while pressing him against the wall.

That time I got got given the Inkheart job and discovered I only want to draw fight scenes if I can charge them through the roof with homoeroticism 😌

Digital painting, a barge approaches a run down wharf. An elderly couple await with their cat

Qrp with an art piece you’re proud of!

Pen and ink

I wanted to draw this scene from Piranesi from the moment I read it. I loooove drawing statues, and drama. Took me weeks on and off, and every moment was a delight 😌

Death & The Maiden 💀💃🏻✨

If you see this, post a knight!

She’s technically a queen, but… she’s on the battlefield nonetheless ⚔️

Hello! I’m Alice! Vietnamese pen and ink illustrator currently based in Shropshire, UK. I like illustrating for books, anything historical and fantastical, ESPECIALLY if it involves knights and swords and people in distress ⚔️✨

Portfolio: alicecao.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alicecaoillu...

If you see this, post a knight (compromising position optional 😉) 🗡️

If you see this, post a knight! 🗡️

I feel it’s fun to make this kind of video once because you get to feel all “ooooh my life is like a film!” But filming and editing take so long. A filming day cannot also be a productive work day. A lot of them just edit the same footage over and over because not everyday can be like a film.