Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stacy Hsu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stacy , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is my Olympic National Park illustration series. This project started as a personal exploration — I was spending a lot of time hiking and camping in the park, and felt deeply inspired by the biodiversity and the range of ecosystems packed into one region: temperate rainforests, alpine meadows, rugged coastlines. I wanted to capture the spirit of the landscape in a way that reflected my own awe and reverence for the place.

At the time, I was going through a major transition in my life — I had recently left a long career in tech to pursue illustration full-time. I was asking myself what kind of work I wanted to create and who I wanted it to serve. This series helped clarify that for me. It reminded me that illustration can be a tool for connection — to land, to memory, to each other.

Each piece in the series is rooted in close observation, both from time spent outdoors and research into native plants and animals. Creating this work felt like a conversation with the land — a way of listening, learning, and giving something back. It has since resonated with others who also feel connected to the Pacific Northwest, which has been an unexpected and really moving outcome.

Stacy , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a botanical and wildlife illustrator and designer based in Seattle, Washington. My work is rooted in a deep love for nature and place. I create detailed, hand-drawn illustrations that often explore the relationships between plants, animals, and the environments they call home. I specialize in creating artwork for murals, packaging, publishing, home decor, and educational materials, and I also design and produce my own line of illustrated goods, including art prints, stationery, and wrapping paper.

I came into illustration in a roundabout way. I spent over a decade working as a digital product designer in tech, but outside of work, I was always drawing — especially during hikes, travels, and time spent in my garden. Eventually, I decided to follow that pull more seriously and completed a graduate certificate in science illustration, which helped me develop the skills to combine my love of storytelling, art, and ecology.

My work often begins with a sense of place — a coastline, a forest trail, a city garden — and I build out visual narratives from there. I’m especially drawn to projects that involve environmental education, conservation, or bring more beauty and meaning to everyday objects. What sets my work apart is the level of care I bring to research, composition, and emotional tone. I want the illustrations to feel both accurate and alive.

Whether I’m working with a nonprofit to illustrate an oyster reef food web, with a publisher on a botanical field guide, or creating a personal series inspired by a national park, I aim to create visuals that invite curiosity, reflection, and a deeper connection to the world around us. What I’m most proud of is when my work sparks someone else’s memory of a place they love — when they tell me, “This reminds me of home,” or “I’ve seen this bird on my walk.” That kind of connection is why I do what I do.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is that I get to do work that feels deeply aligned with my values. I care about the environment, education, and helping people feel more connected to the natural world — and illustration has become the way I can contribute to those conversations. When I’m creating, I feel like I’m showing up as my most honest self. There’s no need to pretend or perform — I’m just following my curiosity and offering what I see and feel, in a way that hopefully resonates with others too.

There’s something incredibly fulfilling about knowing that my work doesn’t just reflect who I am, but also helps express things that other people care about too — whether that’s a love for native plants, a memory of a favorite hiking trail, or a shared desire to protect what’s wild and beautiful. That sense of alignment — between who I am, what I value, and what I create — is something I don’t take for granted.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that security should always come first — that success means following a safe, predictable path. I grew up in a very structured household where stability was seen as the ultimate goal. Creative pursuits were often considered hobbies, not something you build a life around. That mindset shaped a lot of my early choices — I went into a practical career in tech, stayed in jobs longer than I should have, and was always measuring myself against external markers of success.

But over time, I realized I was living a version of my life that didn’t feel true. I was deeply unfulfilled, and it took a lot of inner work to start listening to my own instincts again. Leaving a secure career to pursue illustration wasn’t easy — it went against everything I was taught — but it was the first time I felt truly alive and in alignment with myself. I had to learn to trust my intuition, take risks, and believe that the universe responds when we move in the direction of what lights us up. It’s still a practice, but I now hold a different definition of success — one rooted in meaning, joy, and integrity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stacyhsu.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacy.hsu.art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacymhsu/