Weitong
Mai

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them fans will know all too well that Bowtruckles are very protective little fellows, as Newt Scamander taught us with his lovely companion Pickett. This is very much part of a Bowtruckle’s modus operandi, as their role as tree guardians often sees them protecting wand wood trees. On this gorgeously green Herbology page illustrated by Weitong Mai you can spot a little Bowtruckle in the corner – presumably keeping an eye on things. Thank you for your services, little guy!

Plant-lovers will enjoy browsing this page to see some other lesser-spotted flora and fungi from the wizarding world illustrated here, such as Puffapods and even a Flutterby Bush alongside the more well-known Mandrakes and Devil’s Snare. Neville Longbottom would love to... leaf through these pages, wouldn’t he?

You think you know absolutely everything about Harry Potter – and then boom – someone asks you what wand core Remus Lupin has. Yes, life comes at you fast. (And it’s a unicorn hair, if you wanted to know.) Fortunately, the Almanac has you covered, and can provide all sorts of fascinating specifics to make you the toast of your next Harry Potter party. 

Take this page, for instance, illustrated by Weitong Mai, which examines the wand cores of key characters from the Harry Potter stories, straight from the records of Mr Ollivander. Are there any cores here you didn’t know?

The Harry Potter series has become a global phenomenon and has been appreciated by readers and moviegoers for many years. The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac, the first official magical companion to J.K. Rowling’s iconic series, is set to be launched by the Bloomsbury Publishing on October 10, 2023. 

The almanac is considered the ultimate compendium of wizarding lists, charts, maps and all things magical. 

It is divided into seven chapters, each with a theme presented by a different illustrator. 

The illustrators are from different countries and one of them is a young Canadian Chinese-born freelancer Mai Weitong, who was born in 1995 and is currently based in London, the UK.

Through her interpretation of art, Mai included the unique Chinese aesthetic of “leaving a blank” into her paintings, which represent an intersection of traditional Chinese culture and Western culture. 

“What I have been doing is to combine Chinese traditional culture with some modern methods and expressing it in my paintings,” Mai said.

A sense of accomplishment 

When Mai was a child, she was often sent by her parents to after-school programs, but all the classes she took inspired in her just a short-lived interest. 

“The only thing that really fascinated me and that I kept on was painting, but I did not expect to work in this industry after graduating from the Camberwell College of Arts for BA Illustration major in 2017,” she said. 

Mai told the Global Times that during her studies she did not think too much about career planning, she simply wanted to draw as a hobby while working a “real job.” 

“Fortunately, in my sophomore year, I received an ­illustration job offer and during junior and senior years, I realized that I could make some money in this industry, so I kept gaining work experience and contracts as an illustrator while I was in college,” she said. 

“It was a huge surprise to receive the offer to illustrate The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac in 2021, there was a trial period for Harry Potter content at first, which lasted for about six months, until I was informed that I had passed at the end of 2021,” Mai told the Global Times. 

She started painting in early 2022 and it took her a year and a half to complete the task. 

There is a sense of accomplishment that comes from drawing books, Mai said. 

Drawing a picture generally takes time and patience, but thanks to her passion for illustration, Mai enjoys every aspect of the painting process.

“When you finish your work, it brings you a sense of pleasure and achievement, and of course, recognition from the outside world,” she said.

‘Pursuing essential expression in art’

Mai’s painting leans toward the abstract style, which is evident especially in the shapes she gives to clouds, wind and birds, and in the artistic concept, at the same time all of these also reflect Chinese-style aesthetics. 

“I think this is one of the reasons why the Harry Potter team chose me. In The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac, some of the parts I was responsible for drawing were the effect of the lights coming out of the wands and scenes surrounded by smoke, which are something more abstract and mysterious,” she told the Global Times.

Although Mai was painting a subject of Western origin, such as the magical world of Harry Potter, her art combined Chinese painting aesthetics coming from her own life experience.

“I was born in China and the Chinese cultural traditions and the way of thinking have been deeply rooted in my mind since I was a child. My early art and ­aesthetic were established during my training in painting and calligraphy in China,” she said. 

“When I was drawing the book, I needed to put a lot of information on the same page, or the book had to contain a lot of information, so I would tell the team that instead of piling up the pictures, it would be better to ‘leave a blank’ to ­reduce the overwhelming feeling given by a composition that is too full. This method naturally leads the reader to direct their eyes to the subject,” she said. 

She believes that in Chinese culture, it is more important to get rid of the superficial forms and to pursue instead the core subject.

“When I get to work with publishers and businesses, they want me to show Chinese elements in my works, but I don’t think that purely superficial elements like the red color, dragons and clouds can sufficiently express traditional Chinese culture, although they are of course very representative,” she said. 

“The artistic concept of my paintings is that of expressing the essential inner meaning of something,” she added. 

China’s profound, traditional culture has been beneficial to Mai’s works, as she wants to combine it with modern artistic expression, while putting aside stereotypes and keeping the core essence of the characters and objects in her paintings.

Lift the lid on everything you ever needed to know about the world of Harry Potter with the first *official* magical companion to J.K. Rowling’s iconic series.

The ultimate compendium of wizarding lists, charts, maps and all things magical!

The only official companion to the Harry Potter stories – the ultimate compendium of wizarding lists, charts, maps and all things magical!

Whisk yourself away to Harry Potter’s wizarding world with this Whiz-bang of an illustrated companion. Discover magical places, study wandlore, encounter fantastic beasts and find out about the witches and wizards who lived. From the Sorting Hat to spell-casting, it’s all packed inside!

This dazzling gift book brings together beloved characters, unforgettable moments and iconic locations from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone all the way through to The Deathly Hallows. It’s the ultimate magical miscellany, filled with facts and fun about the wizarding world, beautifully catalogued and brilliantly explored. Joyfully illustrated throughout in full colour by seven stunning artists and tingling with things to spot on every page, this is the ideal introduction to the Harry Potter stories for new readers and the perfect book for families to share. The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac also features an astonishing level of detail that is sure to surprise and fascinate lifelong fans. From incredible cross-sections to magical maps and ingenious lists, lose yourself exploring Hogwarts and beyond...

Weitong Mai is a Chinese-Canadian artist based in London. A multiple award-winner and guest lecturer at the University of the Creative Arts in England, Weitong uses a soft, rich and unusual palette to illustrate the fumes of bubbling potions and shimmering streams of wand magic. In The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac , readers can look for her apothecary shelves, dormant mandrakes and a bewitching collection of magical objects small enough to fit in a wizard’s pocket.

Below, check out an exclusive Q&A with the artist:

Why did you choose to be part of this project and what is the most exciting part of it for you?

Harry Potter is one of the most well-known works of fiction of the 21st century. Being part of the team of illustrators working on this project is a pleasure for me. What I find most exciting is the opportunity to delve into the intricate details of the books and rediscover elements that I may have previously overlooked.

What do you remember about reading Harry Potter for the first time?

As a Canadian immigrant, my family and I moved to Vancouver when I was 14 years old. English was not my native language, so I had to take additional classes to keep up with local students. The Harry Potter series was on the suggested reading list. I was captivated, and the imaginative story inspired me to improve my English skills. Unlike other classic books, Harry Potter helped me through this challenging time of adjusting to a new environment and learning a new language. The series gave me comfort during those difficult times.

Who are your favorite Harry Potter characters ?

Dobby is definitely my favorite character because he is always there for Harry Potter. I am touched by how kind and caring he is, especially considering the way he was treated by the Malfoy family. His strong belief in the freedom and rights of house-elves left a lasting impression on me.

How did you become an illustrator? Have any other artists or illustrators in particular inspired you and your journey?

I always loved doodling in class when I was a kid. With my parents’ full support and trust in me, I started taking drawing classes throughout my childhood. One day, I came across a children’s book by Shaun Tan in the school library and was completely blown away by his art. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to become an illustrator and embarked on my artistic journey, which continues to this day.

How did you approach illustrating your parts of the book? Was it difficult to illustrate the wizarding world?

There is a lot of detail and information in the Harry Potter series to work with. When approaching the task of illustrating The Wizarding Almanac, my first priority was to conceptualize ideas for the illustrations. Each double-page spread has countless surprises and little details. Every page is full of surprises and little things to look at, such as magical objects, strange creatures, and famous places. The process of illustrating such a work was undoubtedly a huge challenge, but it also brought a sense of satisfaction and achievement.

Bloomsbury has already shared its stunning Ollivanders illustration with readers around the world as a preview for publication in October 2023. Could you tell us a little about the creation of this work?

When illustrating Ollivander’s, the highlight was undoubtedly the wand wheel. It’s crucial to show each character’s personality through their wand. To ensure accuracy, I first illustrated each of the wands separately on a separate canvas, making sure their sizes and designs were approved before including them on the wheel. I also enhanced the illustration by including the shop itself, the wand boxes, and some measuring tapes, adding richness and detail to the composition.

Besides Ollivanders, what was your favorite illustration and why?

Of all the pages, the Herbology illustration was my favorite to do. It showcases a variety of magical plants that appear in the Harry Potter series. I take great pleasure in bringing to life the vibrant visuals of the Mandrake Life Chart, the mesmerizing glow of the Shivering Bush, and the movements of the Venomous Tentacle, among others.

What is your Hogwarts house?

Slytherin.