We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Claire Lee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Claire below.

Alright, Claire thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

My relationship with art has always been a bit of a rollercoaster. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an artist, and by high school, I was certain that a creative career was the only path for me. Today, I’m thrilled to be an artist and feel incredibly grateful to be a part of this industry. I work full-time as a Textile Designer, do freelance Illustration and Design, and run a small stationery business on the side! I’m blessed with these opportunities and wouldn’t trade them for anything.
However, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the challenges and doubts I faced while developing as a professional illustrator. I always knew that a career in art, especially in the entertainment industry, would be highly competitive. I remember the first time I questioned what it might be like to have a regular job instead of pursuing an artistic career. Attending ArtCenter was one of the most challenging experiences I’ve ever had. Transitioning from high school straight into the intensive illustration program was a shock—I thought I already had all the skills I needed to be successful in this career, but it was only the beginning. I didn’t anticipate how much I had left to learn. It made me wonder what it would be like to pursue a more stable and secure path.
Despite these uncertainties, I chose to persevere and see where this journey would take me, and I’m so glad I did. Rather than letting my doubts deter me, I embraced the opportunity to grow, learn a wide range of skills, and take on any challenge that came my way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Since the beginning of my artistic journey, I’ve had a strong interest in the entertainment and consumer products industries. Currently, I work full-time as a Textile Designer at Hot Topic Inc., where I create graphics and print patterns for licensed collections. It’s been an incredible experience to enter the fashion industry and work with a variety of entertainment properties!

In addition to this, I’ve been freelancing as an Illustrator and Designer for NBCUniversal over the past two years. My freelance work includes a range of projects such as graphic design, illustration, packaging, and style guides. One project I’m especially proud of is an illustration I did for the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Studios Tram Tour. I created a vintage-style illustration of the Glamour Tram for the anniversary campaign, and this was the largest scale I’ve ever seen my work featured. Contributing to this project has been a significant highlight in my career, and seeing it come to life has only grown my passion for consumer products design.

I believe what sets me apart from others is my versatility and eagerness to keep learning as I explore different opportunities within the industry. I approach each new challenge with the mindset that I’m just getting started and there’s always more to learn. I’m incredibly grateful for these opportunities and look forward to what the future holds!

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

One lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that drawing inspiration from others is a form of imitation and somehow diminishes my skill. I used to hesitate to look outward for inspiration, worrying it would make me appear unoriginal. However, this mindset only limited my growth as an artist.
At ArtCenter, many of the lessons involved analyzing historical art and design in order to shape our own perspectives. This experience taught me that incorporating a variety of influences into my creative process is highly valuable. Now, I start every project by creating mood boards filled with diverse sources of inspiration. The key to maintaining creativity and originality while drawing inspiration is to build upon it to create something uniquely your own. Embracing this mindset has made me more open-minded, collaborative, and has expanded my creative process.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In an era where AI-generated art is gaining popularity, it’s crucial for businesses and society as a whole to support artists and creatives. I believe that nothing can replace the authenticity and emotion of human creativity, and the true beauty of art lies in its expression of who we are. Art has the power to inspire, educate, and bring people together. Therefore, we must continue to support artists in any way we can—whether it’s through shopping from small businesses, hiring them for projects, or attending exhibitions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.claireleeportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yellolem/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lee-436576229/
• Other: Etsy: lemonnlimeshop.etsy.com

Image Credits

Headshot: Dani Ayala