Today we’d like to introduce you to Camily Tsai.
Camily, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born and raised in Taiwan until the age of nine and spent the majority of my time thereafter in Los Angeles. Ever since I was little, I have always enjoyed telling stories. While most people are more or less forced into extracurricular activities as a child, I was the kid who attended speech competitions willingly simply because I loved reciting passages in an animated fashion (and perhaps I too had a competitive streak.) At some point, drawing became an extension of that passion and I found myself illustrating characters and scenes from my favorite animated series. Soon enough, I expanded my horizon beyond recounting existing tales as I started creating worlds where my own characters and narratives thrived. This hobby took on an even bigger role in my life when I moved to the States. In lieu of my initial lack of English speaking skills, drawing became a way for me to communicate and tell stories to my peers. And thankfully, I am fortunate enough to also be drawing and telling stories to people up to this day.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
By day I am a designer at Buck telling the stories of various brands and products, and by night I illustrate to tell my own stories; and most of my own stories are told through explorations of lines, shapes, and spaces.
Just as a well thought-out narrative can inspire effective communication, a well-designed composition of shapes and lines can change the way a person may view the subject. Even with the simplest drawings, how you decide to place and depict a single line on the blank canvas can suggest varying degrees of motion. Likewise, a crowded scene can be rendered calm and collected depending on how the space is used. I try to tackle most of my personal works in that fashion, and in a way, it’s like trying to solve a creative puzzle. By considering all the pieces, I myself start to look at the subject — be it a character portrait or a scene for a short comic, in a different light; and when juxtaposition of these lines and shapes make formal and conceptual sense, the feeling is incredibly satisfying.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
One of the challenges that many creatives face — perhaps now more than ever, is the fear of being pigeonholed in their professional career. With the abundance of online platforms and resources, many artists nowadays are able to expand their disciplines and apply their skill sets to various arenas. However, because the internet alone is already saturated with talents, the modern market becomes increasingly competitive. In order to catch the eyes of potential employers or clients, many creatives have to brand themselves in ways where their expertise is detected at a single glance. Conversely and understandably so, employers and clients to tend to hire artists based upon what seems to be their best asset. This market relationship can create a circumstance where personal branding takes precedence over creative growth. When artists stay within their brand, both parties benefit economically as workflow and qualities are ensured. However, this pattern can also stifle artists’ growth as the fear for loss of opportunities prevents them from branching out. While this phenomenon may affect every artist differently, it’s crucial as a creatives to try new things and to grow consistently. After all, when disciplines are crossed and new approaches are implemented, artists and clients alike may find themselves treading on new, exciting territories.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My works can be viewed on my website (www.camilytsai.com) or on my Instagram (camily.mart). The latter is updated frequently with newer works, work-in-progresses and any information about upcoming participation in local exhibitions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.camilytsai.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/camily.mart
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