Meet Melanie Yu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Yu.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Melanie. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I’ve always known that all I wanted to do is art. I can’t picture myself doing any other jobs all day for the rest of my life. Asian families tend to make their children go a certain safer path, but my parents let me choose art as my major and supported me when I got accepted by Art Center College of Design. After graduation, I accidentally got a job in a toy company as a toy illustrator/designer, but I soon realized that I wasn’t as passionate about toys as I was about animation. I stayed in that company for three years, saved up enough money to last myself for about a year to just work on my portfolio and look for a job in animation.

At the beginning of 2018, I wanted to start building an online presence and improve on my painting skills, so I decided to challenge myself to do one painting each day no matter how sketchy or ugly it is. Thanks to the people I love and people who love me unconditionally, I pulled it through! As a result, I gained the habit of drawing every day, and more followers on my Instagram account. Throughout the year, I also took two classes from Concept Art Academy to help building my portfolio. However, the most important thing I learned is networking. It does matter that you are a good artist, but it’s also important that you put yourself out there for people to know about you.

As of now, I’m 90% sure (😅) I got a freelance job to work on a visual development project (still waiting on reply). I’m still struggling and trying to get better, but I am one step closer to where I want to be in my life.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has NOT been smooth. For me, the struggles are mostly mental. I have no idea of where to start, so I try to do everything I could think of. There’s no one to tell me exactly what to do because everyone is different. There are many days I thought there was no way I can make it into the animation industry, and that it’s just impossible to get as good as the artists I look up to.

Especially when I submitted for a job posting and got rejected, or in most cases, no reply at all. It’s very nerve-wracking to keep trying and keep telling myself to be patient. Luckily people around me kept telling me how much they like my art, and they believed in me 100%.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a visual development artist and illustrator. I like visualizing stories, designing everything that helps to put words into images including backgrounds, props, characters, and story moments!

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plan for 2019 is to keep looking for ways to break into the animation industry and to develop a story of my own in graphic novel form.

Also, my friend and I are going to be tabling at CTN road trip on 5/18 and 19 in Burbank. Hopefully, I can get one book finished by then.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.melanieyuart.com
• Email: melanieyuart@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanies.art/

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