Life as a artist: 5 years in

These posts serve as a reflection on the past year of my life as an artist. I share my thoughts and experiences since I left my studio job in 2018 to pursue an independent career as an artist

Moving to Vancouver Island

For a few years, my partner and I had been feeling increasingly out of place in Ontario. Life there had become harder, with worsening seasonal depression that seemed to get worse every year. I longed to be surrounded by nature, and honestly, just somewhere with better weather. For a long time, the only spark of creativity I could find came from scrolling through Pinterest, and it was starting to feel really superficial.

We still wanted to stay in Canada since it was simply easier that way, so we began looking into other province around the country, British Columbia, specifically Vancouver Island, really caught our eye. It was beautiful and had that charming small-town feel. We decided to take a trip in 2023, and from the moment we landed, there was a sense of calm and serenity that we haven’t felt in a very long time. The forests, the coastline, the mountains rising in the distance, it was like the world had slowed down just enough for us to catch our breath. It soon became clear: this was where we belonged. Leaving my family behind was heart-wrenching, and it still weighs heavy on me till this day, but we knew we had to try something different for our own sanity. Even if it might not have worked out, it was a risk we were willing to take.

After returning from that trip, we immediately started looking for homes in British Columbia. With the housing market so unpredictable at the time, it felt like a now-or-never situation. By July, we had purchased our first home in the countryside, packed up all our belongings, and set off on a five-day road trip across the country. And now, here we are! Living here for the past six months has been everything I hoped for and more. I have access to an abundance of nature, surrounded by towering trees, rolling meadows, and breathtaking views of mountains and the ocean. It truly feels like a dream come true.

A Big Transition: Digital to Traditional

This year, I made the decision to transition from digital tools to traditional mediums. Although I had wanted to do this for a while, I had always been hesitant. After being in the industry for so many years, it was clear that digital art was more marketable due to its speed and versatility. However, I craved a deeper connection with my work that digital art was no longer fulfilling.

Since making the shift, the process has been slower and sometimes frustrating, but it has also brought me so much satisfaction. Every brushstroke, every texture, and every layer of paint feels deliberate, meaningful, and alive. The work demands my full attention and presence, and in return, it gives me a sense of intimacy with my art that I couldn’t find when painting digitally. The slower pace has allowed me to explore ideas more deeply, experiment with techniques, and truly enjoy the whole process from start to finish.

Turning 29 was a milestone that brought with it a newfound wisdom and confidence, qualities I deeply value about aging. With each passing year, I found myself trusting my instincts more and letting go of the self-doubt that had once held me back. I’ve also realized that a life without taking risks can quickly become monotonous; the courage to step into the unknown adds meaning and excitement to life.

I’m proud to announce that I’ll have my first solo gallery show in April 2024 at Gallery Nucleus, a dream I’ve had since… well, forever.

Learning a New Medium

I had always been very familiar with gouache and watercolor; I used them throughout my childhood and all the way through college, but there was one medium I had never really touched, but it always intrigued me the most: oils. I loved watching oil painting process videos; the process was so satisfying, and there was something about oils that made paintings truly come alive. I had played around with it a little a few years ago, but never really got the hang of it and hadn’t picked it up since.

Around the same time, I also picked up a book for the first time in years, Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. I had been seeing it everywhere on IG and was curious to see what the hype was about. Honestly, I hadn’t been obsessed with a book since Twilight, and I had always craved that feeling again. To my surprise, the series gave me that and more. The vivid images that ran through my mind as I read were exhilarating, and it was exactly what I needed to reignite my creativity.

With this new excitement, I got out my oil paints that were collecting dust and decided to give them another try. It was a gloomy December day on the island, with foggy forests and windswept mossy trees; it served as the perfect inspiration. That’s when I painted Raventhorn. And wow this time felt so different from the previous times I had used oils, for some reason, it just clicked. I was so happy I had picked it up again because it reignited my love for painting.

It’s amazing how life’s twists and turns, both big and small, led me to this pivotal moment, a painting I truly believe has forever altered the course of my life and career. It’s a beautiful reminder of how life truly is a remarkable journey.

Raventhorn - Oil on Paper 11×14”

Life as an artist: 2 years in

March 11, 2020

Not just a year older, but another year wiser/cuter LOL

There’s something about freelancing that makes the year go by so much slower. I feel like I’ve compacted such an immense amount of work into what seems to be a very short period of time.

I’m trying to think of how I can summarize 2019 but it’s hard to even remember where I left off… this is what I do remember:

• I opened a new online shop and replaced all cardstock prints with all giclee prints (harder than I thought it would be)

• Moved out of my parent’s place in the suburbs and into the city with my partner, Roosh, only to realize the city is NOT for us

• Had the opportunity to work with some amazing clients including Apple, Armani Exchange, Biossance, National Geographic, Adobe, Procreate, Demetres, and Alduk

• Finally picked up oil painting

• Financially, I’m doing better (which is a good sign)

• Made some new friends (I still rarely go out though :p)

• Got closer to my family even though we’re physically further apart

• Traveled to Hawaii and got to check swimming with sea turtles and dolphins (all in the wild) off my bucket list

• Got to see my partner do amazing things, ie: selling his artbook and continuing his comic

• Bonded with Shibo even more… if that’s even possible

• I’ve been more productive than ever

All in all, I’m very content with how things turned out in 2019. Each year I’m afraid that I’ve already reached my peak and things probably won’t get better but God seems to be looking out for me and has blessed with me with opportunities I could have never imaged of acquiring.

I like to publish these short articles in hopes of inspiring others to follow their passion. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in, or what interests you have, you can be doing what you love and be able to support yourself too, I BELIEVE IN YOU.

I’m able to fully support myself now by doing commissions and selling my prints online. I’m happy because I’m truly doing what I love, and I have the freedom to grow and explore on my terms (that’s priceless!). Best of all, I get to stay in my PJs ALLLLL day (yes it’s as good as it sounds). This job gives me a lot of fulfillment and I want everyone to feel the same satisfaction in their field of work too. However, getting to this point has not been easy, there were many obstacles I had to overcome but it’s taught me so much in terms of work ethic, client communication and also growing as an artist.

Lastly, my only goal in 2020 is to work even harder so that I can hopefully purchase a home out of the city and I’m also thinking of releasing some sort of artbook? I don’t know… we’ll see ;)

I hope you have a wonderful 2020, don’t take life too seriously and laugh lots okay bye xoxo

Life as an Artist: 1 Year In

July 25, 2018

One year ago, I took a major leap. I left my salary job as a concept artist at a studio (I’ll explain why later). The problem was, I didn't know what I was going to do next. In the back of my mind, I figured finding another studio job was probably my safest bet (considering my financial situation at the time). Let's also not forget that I have two Chinese parents that held success at a very high standard, and I didn't want to let anyone think that I've given up.

To many people, any stable job was a good job, so everyone encouraged me to look for work at another studio that guaranteed a more steady income, but I knew it wasn't for me. Rarely does a studio (especially in the animation industry) allow you to express your creative freedom. You have to draw whatever you're told, meet ridiculous deadlines, and even change your art style to better suit what they're looking for. All they want are for things to be done quick and cheap and that for me, was really draining. It took away my love for art and my passion to create. Every time I came back home, the last thing I wanted to do was to pick up another pencil, sit on a chair for the rest of the day and draw. 

What actually really pushed me to quit was my trip to L.A. To keep it short, I had a life-changing experience, and it really opened my eyes to the opportunities that I was missing out on. It inspired me to take a risk and start investing in myself (can't begin to emphasize how important that is). It also helped that my boyfriend and I worked at the same studio and we made the decision together to both quit the day we got back (yes I know, we're very dramatic), and that's exactly what we did.

Fortunately, he knew what he wanted to do the day he quit, and that was to start pursuing the dream of writing his comic (Kings of Nowhere, I hear it’s pretty rad). I, on the other hand, just knew that I liked to paint and draw, especially things related to fashion and beauty, but was very lost on how to do so or how to start. One thing I did know was that social media was very powerful, and seeing people strive and find opportunities from it made me want to do the same. I started with less than 5000 followers on Instagram when I quit my job and I made it my goal to amass a greater following. Every time I finished an illustration, I'd post it on all my social media (Instagram, Facebook, Behance, Deviantart, and Artstation) and as my illustrations started to improve, the more followers I would get, that led to more exposure, which ultimately led to more jobs and opportunities. Before I knew it, I no longer had to look for a studio job! Although this isn't the only way to transition into freelance, it was what worked for me.

Below are a few of my earlier works that helped me realize my potential:

Freelancing isn't for everyone, you need to have a lot of discipline, a good work ethic, and a whole lot of passion for what you do. You're essentially becoming your own boss, so if you think you lack any of these qualities, I highly suggest working on them before you decide to freelance full time.

I know losing stability can be the scariest thing. The hardest part of freelancing is not knowing how much you'll make the next month, but once you get over that fear and just focus on the work, it can truly become a reality for you. I'm proud to say that I'm comfortable with where I am right now (and with my standards, that's saying a lot). It took me approximately 4-5 months to really get things together and running smoothly, but we all have our own journeys and obstacles we must overcome. You might take less time or more, and that's okay. Good things never come easy (which is why it's also important to have some money saved up, but you already knew that haha). I'll just end with saying; if you work hard, and you put in 100% of your effort, passion, and yourself in what you do, you can't fail. 

Finding my style

October 17, 2017

One of the most common inquiries I am asked pertains to how I developed my distinctive artistic style. It is a question that I had difficulty answering with the trite response of "just keep drawing and your style will eventually develop organically." It was an unsatisfactory answer because I had difficulty visualizing the concept of my personal style, which felt integral to my identity as an artist. Looking back at my previous works, there was an evident lack of consistency and direction, and I struggled to find my niche. I oscillated between striving for hyper-realism and simplistic drawings inspired by graphic design.

It was only after a long and arduous journey that I came to the realization that the emphasis should not be solely on the development of one's style, but instead on the refinement of one's craft. It was a paradigm shift that allowed me to focus on areas that needed improvement, such as anatomy, painting techniques, and color theory. I relinquished the notion of finding a signature style and instead allowed myself to explore and experiment without reservation.

This lesson was not learned easily, as it required a significant investment of time, effort, and resilience. Nevertheless, I did not allow my frustrations and demotivation to deter me from my passion. Instead, I used them as fuel to continue pushing myself to create art that I could be proud of. The journey to finding one's personal style is unique to every artist, and it is more about the process and growth than the end result.

Below on the right is a piece I painted when I was heavily inspired by graphic design and still trying to “find my style”. To the right, you’ll see a more recent piece where I incorporated some graphic design elements but went for a more realistic painting/rendering for the girl, creating an interesting visual contrast, which felt much more “me” at the time. It wasn’t intentional, I was just having fun.

After nearly a decade of cultivating my craft, I am now content with the work I produce. However, this contentment is not due to a specific style that I have discovered but rather my art's continual evolution. I find solace in the fact that my work is always progressing and evolving, reflecting my growth as an artist and as an individual.

In conclusion, my advice to aspiring artists is to focus on honing your craft and exploring your creativity without limitations. Do not be constrained by the need to conform to a particular style or trend. As you progress and mature, so will your art, and it will eventually reflect a style that resonates with you. So, my fellow artists, relax and let your art flow. And if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.