Nho Huy Le: Piecing Together the Artistry Behind Bear Park Puzzles

A Milestone in Bear Park's Series One

Last October marked a significant milestone for us – the unveiling of the third and final illustration in Bear Park's Series One! This moment wasn't just another step forward; it allowed us to offer the entire series as we had initially envisioned. Finishing this trio of puzzles, each brought to life by the incredibly talented Vietnamese artist Nho Huy Le, is a major achievement for our team. This milestone not only secures our place in the puzzle market but also opens up exciting opportunities to introduce these creations to a wider audience. It stands as a testament to our fruitful collaboration with Huy and the vibrant, whimsical world he has depicted through his art.

Curiosity has been growing about the artist behind these captivating illustrations, so I organized a virtual sit-down with Huy. This provided him an opportunity to share his artistic journey, the inspiration behind the Bear Park series, and to offer a sneak peek into his future plans. Let's jump into this Q&A and learn more about the artist who brought such wonder to Bear Park.

—Patrick

Q&A with Nho Huy Le

Q: Huy, can you tell us about your background and your journey into the art world?
A: Drawing has been my interest since I was a kid and I continue to be self-taught. After graduating from high school, I attended some classes and was lucky enough to be a full-time storyboard artist in a studio. Then in 2020, I decided to be a freelance illustrator and started to do puzzles since then.

Q: How would you define your artistic style?
A: I've never been to any college or university so my art style is kind of simpler, it feels a little childish and I always want to mix some fun in it.

Q: When you first heard about the bear-themed amusement park idea for Bear Park, what were your initial thoughts? How did you approach the design?
A: A lot of pop-up ideas came to me when I first heard about the idea. Then I started to research the bears' habitat and imagine how they would design their park. And I let the visitors appear in the park naturally and their activities have just happened at the same time in my head, then I just draw it down.

Q: How does it make you feel to know that your art brings joy to people as they assemble Bear Park puzzles?
A: That's what I'm hoping for. I'm so glad if I have a chance to do that.

Q: Of the three illustrations you've done for Bear Park, do you have a favorite?
A: It's hard to choose. I think it's the second one because it has the Indiana Jones theme, which is one of my favorite films.

Q: What unique challenges do you face when designing illustrations for jigsaw puzzles?
A: A thing I find hard is how to keep every single piece interesting and have something fun in it. Therefore, I have to create a lot of details and sometimes I wish there'd be more time to add more to the puzzles.

Q: In your free time, do you enjoy putting together jigsaw puzzles? Any other hobbies you'd like to share?
A: My biggest hobby is playing board games. And I think puzzles are one of them, so yes, I do play jigsaw puzzles sometimes.

Q: What do you have planned for your future art projects?
A: I actually have some new ideas to elevate the puzzles. So I'm experimenting, hope it can be shared someday.

Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our audience about yourself or your work?
A: I'm so thankful that my work is loved. This seems like a dream work for me. So I hope that I can continue to work with puzzles. Thanks again.

More from Huy

For a deeper dive into Huy's work, check out Nho Huy Le's Portfolio on Behance. You can also explore the specific projects from the Bear Park series with Bear Park 1 and Bear Park 2 to see more of his captivating illustrations.