Andrea Cheung illustrates for Our State magazine
Our State magazine is the official monthly publication of North Carolina and Andrea Cheung has had the pleasure of being the resident artist of their Book Club section for the last two years. Each month, the Book Club highlights a different local author along with their work. Collaborating with Art Director Jason Chenier, Andrea developed a series of illustration inspired by the stories of these featured authors. While there are so many stunning illustrations in this collection, we have curated a few in particular that stood out. Starting with Andrea’s very first Our State assignment on Local Souls, a collection of novellas by Allan Gurganus. Andrea takes a conceptual approach, beautifully conveying the idea of obsession and how it can take over the mind, a prominent theme found in the short story, Decoy. This illustration along with the following 3 were awarded winner of the 2025 Applied Arts Editorial Series.
January 2025 - Local Souls by Allan Gurganus. In the short story "Decoy", a man recounts the story of a beloved town doctor who discovers an obsession with carving and painting wooden ducks just as the narrator realizes his own obsession with the doctor he’s long admired.
February 2025 - Together: A Memoir of a Marriage and a Medical Mishap by Judy Goldman
Judy Goldman, from Charlotte N.C., tells the story of her marriage, in good times and in bad, with gratitude for the man with whom she’s shared a life.
March 2025 - The Returned by Jason Mott
"The Returned" opens with an elderly couple named Harold and Lucille Hargrave as they receive the shock of a lifetime: Their son, Jacob, who died decades earlier at the age of 8, is standing on their front porch as if no time has passed at all.
June 2025 - The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton. A 20-year-old fundamentalist tries to stake his claim as a traveling Bible salesman.
Continuing with this series it is evident that Andrea herself has a remarkable talent for telling stories. Each piece created is layered, allowing for the viewer to observe, follow and unpack. Overall landscapes establish the setting, intricate details draw the viewer in and intentional colour selections set the mood. Savouring the journey through each illustration, the plot unfolds, every layer revealing another part of the story. The longer you linger, the more there is to see.
May 2026 - Saddest Girl on the Pier by Heather Frese. A novel narrated by a young woman named Charlotte who seeks solace at the Outer Banks following her father’s death.
Andrea’s striking use of light and shadow demonstrates her understanding of these elements. Her sophisticated use adds an element of drama as it guides the eye through each illustration; sparking interest, illuminating characters and revealing clues about the story. Whether you’re looking for juicy details, luscious colour palettes or dreamy landscapes, Andrea’s illustration is always a feast for the eye and mind.
June 2026 - The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont. The disappearance of novelist Agatha Christie in 1926. After leaving letters explaining that she needed to get away, Christie’s car was found near the edge of a quarry, the headlights still burning, her fur coat and other belongings inside.
September 2026 - Evil Eye by Etaf Rum. A novel about a Palestinian American woman coming into her own in a small Southern town.
Take some time to devour more of Andrea’s art. We promise it will be satisfying!