Meet Jessica La

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica La.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a freelance motion designer, illustrator, and animator based in Los Angeles. Born and raised in San Gabriel, aka the 626, I grew up with great Chinese food and boba to help fuel my creativity.

As a kid, it was really hard for me to concentrate because I was always daydreaming and letting my imagination takeover. I went to an academically driven high school so you can see how this became a problem. But the one class I always succeeded in was my art class. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an artist, so I poured all of my energy into creating a portfolio to submit for colleges.

After graduating high school, I attended Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles where I discovered digital art. Until college, my portfolio was all traditional drawings and paintings so there was a huge learning curve. Even though it was rough in the beginning, I ended up loving drawing digitally. I moved forward on the motion track and learned how to apply my new found skill. Since graduating from college, I’ve been freelancing in the greater Los Angeles area and continuing to learn in my freelance work and personal work.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many others, my first hurdle was to overcome my mother’s disapproval. Most Chinese parents want their children to be doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, or any profession that is stable and pays a lot. My father is one of the few that supports what will make me happy, but my mother was a whole different story. Both my parents didn’t have easy childhoods so I can understand the concern of wanting me to have a better life. After seeing me work really hard in school, I think she sensed how serious I was about building a career. And now that I’m finding work as a freelancer, she’s fully accepted it now.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I design, illustrate, and animate in the motion industry. The core of what I specialize in is an illustrative style. Whether the spot is similar to my style or not, I am able to adapt to a variety of looks a design frames for my clients. I always try to enter each job with an open mind and willingness to learn and collaborate.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory would have to be the day I got my dog. His name is Bailey and he’s my best friend! He’s hitting 17 years old this year.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jessicalilyla.com
• Email: jessicalilyla@gmail.com
• Instagram: @jessica.l.la
• Other: Behance @jessicalilyla

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