We recently connected with Sherry Shih and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sherry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Earning a Full-Time Living as a Chinese Calligraphy Artist: My Journey
Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work as a Chinese calligrapher and painting artist, but it wasn’t something that happened overnight. It was a journey shaped by technological advancements, key opportunities, and a deep commitment to my craft.

How It Started: Passion Meets Accessibility
My love for Chinese calligraphy has been with me since childhood, but the ability to turn it into a career came much later. Back in 2014, when I was studying architecture, I had the same passion, but access to materials, tools, and specialized knowledge was extremely limited. Finding high-quality ink, brushes, or even the right paper was difficult without being physically in Asia.

Over the years, the development of e-commerce and online resources changed everything. Suddenly, I could source premium calligraphy materials from overseas and access a wealth of knowledge, techniques, and inspiration online. This accessibility was a game-changer—it allowed me to practice, refine my skills, and expand my artistic vision in ways that weren’t possible before.

The Turning Point: From Passion to Profession
A major milestone in my journey was taking a Chinese painting class, where I met my friend Rancy, who is also a Chinese calligrapher. She introduced me to an opportunity that would shift everything: being an onsite artist during Lunar New Year celebrations.

That first event was when I realized:
✔️ I could make money doing what I love.
✔️ There was a demand for high-quality, live calligraphy experiences.
✔️ I could build a business that aligned with my lifestyle and artistic passion.

Building a Sustainable Business & Artistic Lifestyle
Once I saw the potential, I structured my business around the seasonality of Chinese calligraphy work, allowing me to create a lifestyle that nurtures both my creative growth and financial stability.

🧧 Lunar New Year (Jan–Feb): My schedule is packed with live calligraphy events for luxury brands, corporate activations, and cultural organizations. I collaborate with brands that want to provide a high-end, culturally rich experience for their clients—often writing auspicious messages on luxury goods, stationery, or personalized red envelopes.

🌸 Spring Travels & Artistic Development (March–April):

March: I travel to Kyoto, Japan, where I immerse myself in traditional scroll mounting techniques, visit historic temples, and explore classical art to refine my craftsmanship.
April: I return to Taiwan to further develop my expertise in Chinese painting, calligraphy, and seal engraving. I take this time to study original masterpieces at places like the National Palace Museum and connect with other artists, continuously evolving my artistic vision.
🎨 Asian Heritage Month & Commissions (May): May is Asian Heritage Month in the U.S., and I return in time to participate in cultural events, conduct Chinese calligraphy workshops, and fulfill custom commissions. This is also a season where I explore live calligraphy for weddings, an area I’m excited to expand into, offering personalized calligraphy on wedding invitations, menus, and keepsakes.

🌕 Mid-Year Creative Explorations & Seasonal Events (June–September):
After May, my schedule opens up for creative and business growth. Some of the exciting opportunities I am exploring include:
✔️ Workshops at Luxury Hotels – Offering calligraphy and cultural workshops as unique experiences for guests.
✔️ Chinese Calligraphy or Seal Engraving on Wine Bottles – A fun, interactive service that adds an elegant, personal touch to high-end bottles for celebrations or corporate gifting.
✔️ Moon Festival & Other Major Asian Holidays (Mid-Autumn Festival in Sept.) – Hosting workshops and collaborations centered around these important cultural moments.

🍂 End-of-Year Custom Projects & Holiday Season (October–December):
As the year winds down, I anticipate working on:
✔️ Corporate Gifting & Holiday Custom Commissions – Creating elegant Chinese calligraphy scrolls, personalized artwork, or custom engravings for end-of-year gifts.
✔️ Festival & Event Collaborations – Engaging with organizations that want to bring cultural richness to their holiday programming.

Was It Like This from Day One?
No! In the beginning, I was navigating:
🔹 How to price my work confidently without undervaluing it.
🔹 How to find the right audience and clients willing to invest in high-end, handmade calligraphy.
🔹 How to balance the creative side with the business side.

But each experience helped me refine my business model. Today, my work is not just about writing beautiful characters—it’s about preserving and sharing a cultural art form, working with brands and collectors who appreciate fine craftsmanship, and educating others through workshops and live experiences.

What I Would Have Done Differently
Looking back, I could have sped up my journey by:

1️⃣ Narrowing My Niche Sooner – Instead of offering everything, I would have focused on luxury calligraphy and brand collaborations earlier.
2️⃣ Leveraging High-Value Opportunities – The live calligraphy event industry was a hidden gem I wish I had tapped into sooner.
3️⃣ Confidently Charging for My Expertise – Chinese calligraphy is not just handwriting—it’s an art form that takes years to master. Understanding the value of my work earlier would have helped me grow faster.
4️⃣ Building Stronger Online Presence Earlier – If I had known the power of SEO, social media marketing, and content strategy, I would have made my business more discoverable from the start.

Final Thoughts
Earning a full-time living as a Chinese calligrapher and painting artist is not just about creating beautiful work—it’s about strategic positioning, embracing opportunities, and continuously nurturing my artistic growth.

The best part? I’ve built a life that allows me to travel, learn, and create while preserving a rich cultural tradition. Instead of being tied to a traditional job, I get to follow my passion on my own terms.

Would I trade it for anything else? Absolutely not.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Honoring Tradition, Creating Beauty: My Journey as a Chinese Calligrapher & Artist
About Me & How I Got Into This Craft
My name is Sherry, and I am a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and seal engraving artist based in Los Angeles. My journey into this art form started when I was seven years old in Taiwan, where I first held a brush and began to explore the beauty of Chinese calligraphy.

However, it wasn’t until later in life that I realized I could turn this lifelong passion into a full-time career. I initially pursued architecture, a field that gave me a deep appreciation for structure, design, and aesthetics. But my heart was always drawn to the expressive power of Chinese calligraphy and painting.

In the past, access to high-quality calligraphy materials and professional guidance outside of Asia was incredibly limited. But thanks to the development of e-commerce and online resources, I was finally able to source the finest brushes, ink, and paper from around the world, allowing me to refine my craft even further.

A turning point in my career came when I took a Chinese painting class and met my friend Rancy, a fellow calligrapher. She introduced me to my first live calligraphy event during Lunar New Year, where I created personalized calligraphy in front of an audience. That moment changed everything—I realized that not only could I share my love for this art with others, but I could also build a career around it while embracing a lifestyle that allows me to travel, learn, and create.

What I Offer: A Modern Take on Traditional Art
I specialize in bringing Chinese calligraphy and painting into modern life through custom artwork, luxury experiences, and interactive workshops. My work bridges the past and present, preserving tradition while making it accessible to contemporary audiences.

📜 Custom Chinese Calligraphy Art & Scrolls – I create bespoke calligraphy pieces that are deeply personal and meaningful. Many of my commissions are heartfelt gifts, such as:

A child’s handwritten poem turned into a calligraphy scroll for their father.
A custom tattoo design symbolizing eternal love for a spouse.
A calligraphy piece expressing a life philosophy, gifted to a respected father-in-law.
A mounting project of a father’s handwritten calligraphy, preserving his wishes and blessings for his newborn grandchild.
Every piece I create is a lasting expression of love, respect, or aspiration, infused with deep cultural and emotional significance.

🏮 Live Calligraphy for Luxury Brands & Events – I collaborate with luxury brands, cultural institutions, and corporate clients to provide an immersive live calligraphy experience. Whether it’s a Lunar New Year activation, a high-end gifting event, or a private celebration, I create personalized calligraphy on red envelopes, stationery, leather goods, and even fine wine bottles, offering guests a unique cultural experience.

📚 Workshops & Cultural Education – I host Chinese calligraphy and painting workshops for both beginners and advanced students, making this art form accessible, interactive, and engaging. I collaborate with luxury hotels, cultural organizations, and schools, offering hands-on experiences that allow participants to explore the beauty of brushwork, ink, and artistic expression.

🔖 Seal Engraving & Artistic Personalization – In addition to calligraphy, I specialize in custom stone seal engraving, a centuries-old tradition that adds a unique and elegant touch to art, documents, and personal branding.

💍 Wedding & Special Event Calligraphy – I provide personalized calligraphy for weddings and special events, from handwritten invitations and guest gifts to live calligraphy experiences, adding a touch of tradition and luxury to once-in-a-lifetime moments.

What Problems Do I Solve for My Clients?
✅ Creating Meaningful, One-of-a-Kind Gifts – In a world of mass-produced items, people seek personalized, handcrafted artwork that carries emotion and significance. My calligraphy commissions transform words, sentiments, and philosophies into timeless pieces.

✅ Bringing Cultural Authenticity to Luxury Events – Many high-end brands and event planners want to incorporate Chinese cultural elements in an elegant, authentic way. I provide luxury calligraphy experiences that align with their aesthetic and storytelling.

✅ Making Traditional Art More Accessible & Engaging – Many people admire Chinese calligraphy but don’t know how to incorporate it into their lives. Through workshops, events, and commissions, I help them experience and appreciate this art form firsthand.

✅ Elevating Corporate & Luxury Gifting – Companies and brands looking for premium, customized gifts turn to me for elegant engraved wine bottles, scrolls, and other hand-painted keepsakes that carry both artistry and meaning.

What Sets Me Apart?
🎨 A Legacy of Artistic Excellence – I’m fortunate to have inherited both the knowledge and talent from my mother, a professional Chinese painter. In traditional Chinese art, calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving are deeply interconnected, and she mastered them all. Because of historical circumstances, she had the rare opportunity to learn from some of the greatest masters of her time, and I am lucky to have learned from her. This heritage shapes the way I create and approach my art.

🌍 Bridging Cultures Through Multilingual & Global Experience – Having lived in different countries and speaking multiple languages, I can share Chinese art and culture with diverse audiences in a way that feels relatable and engaging. My ability to communicate across cultures allows me to connect deeply with both Eastern and Western audiences.

💎 A Passion for Quality & Luxury – I have high personal standards when it comes to the quality of materials and craftsmanship. I love beautiful things, and I make sure that every brush, ink, and paper I use meets the highest artistic and luxury standards. This dedication makes my work especially appealing to high-end clients and collectors who appreciate artistry at its finest.

🌱 A Mindset of Growth & Artistic Exploration – I am constantly refining my craft by traveling, studying, and immersing myself in different art forms, historical inspirations, and contemporary aesthetics. Whether I’m in Kyoto learning traditional scroll mounting, in Taiwan studying calligraphy and seal engraving, or exploring modern design influences, I bring a rich and evolving perspective into my work.

🤝 The Ability to Capture Emotion & Purpose in Art – What sets my work apart is not just the execution, but the intention behind it. I take the time to understand the deeper meaning of every commission—whether it’s a gift, a tattoo design, or a live event piece—ensuring that each artwork is deeply personal and one-of-a-kind.

What I’m Most Proud Of & What I Want My Audience to Know
❤️ Every piece I create carries a story, an emotion, and a deep cultural heritage. I don’t just write characters—I translate feelings, traditions, and philosophies into tangible works of art.

🖌️ Chinese calligraphy is not just an ancient tradition—it is alive, evolving, and relevant today. Through my work, I want to inspire more people to appreciate, experience, and celebrate its beauty.

✨ I take pride in bringing calligraphy into modern spaces—whether it’s in a luxury brand experience, a heartfelt gift, or an elegant wedding celebration.

🎁 If you’re looking for something truly special—whether a commission, a live event, or a workshop—I’d love to create something meaningful with you.

My journey as a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and seal engraver is about honoring tradition, embracing creativity, and creating meaningful connections through art. Every brushstroke I make carries not only history but also a personal touch that transforms ink into something truly special.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience as an artist isn’t just about persevering through challenges—it’s about continuously adapting, evolving, and finding new ways to connect with people. One of my biggest challenges has been introducing Chinese calligraphy and painting to Western audiences in a way that feels accessible, engaging, and relevant to them.

Chinese calligraphy is fundamentally different from Western lettering—it’s not just about writing words, but about capturing energy, rhythm, and spirit in every brushstroke. Similarly, traditional Chinese painting emphasizes philosophy, emotion, and the relationship between humans and nature, which can sometimes feel unfamiliar to those outside the culture. I quickly realized that if I wanted to truly share the beauty of these art forms, I needed to reframe how they were introduced to non-Chinese audiences.

I started by focusing on universal visual elements that people could easily connect with. Instead of immediately diving into complex calligraphy strokes or abstract concepts, I began my workshops by showing participants how Chinese characters evolved from ancient pictographs—turning everyday objects into symbols. For example, when they see how the character for “sun” (日) or “tree” (木) originally looked like a simple drawing, it suddenly becomes fascinating and intuitive to them.

For Chinese painting, I carefully chose subjects that are easier for Western audiences to appreciate and relate to. Instead of starting with bamboo or orchids, which hold deep cultural meanings that may not be immediately familiar, I introduce them to landscape painting—mountains, rivers, and nature scenes—because these themes are timeless and universally beautiful. Once they feel connected to the art, I can gradually introduce the cultural philosophies and deeper meanings behind the techniques.

This approach transformed the way people engaged with my workshops. Instead of feeling like an outsider to a foreign art form, they felt curious, involved, and eager to learn more. Over time, I realized that resilience as an artist isn’t just about mastering a skill—it’s about understanding your audience and finding ways to make the art meaningful to them.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. My mission is not just about sharing Chinese art with the world—it’s about helping people truly understand, appreciate, and connect with this beautiful art form on a deeper level.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up immersed in Chinese calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving. Unlike many who discover it later in life, I was lucky to inherit this knowledge, talent, and appreciation from an early age. My mother, a professional Chinese painter, mastered the full spectrum of traditional Chinese art, from brush techniques to composition and engraving. Because of historical circumstances, she had the rare privilege of learning from some of the greatest masters of her time—and I was lucky enough to learn from her. This deep foundation gave me not only technical skills but also an understanding of the philosophy, history, and meaning behind every brushstroke.

But what makes my journey unique is that I also have the capacity to translate and share this traditional art with people across different cultures and backgrounds. Having lived in different countries and being multilingual, I can bridge the gap between East and West, helping those who may not have been exposed to Chinese art find a way to connect with it in a way that feels personal and meaningful.

Most importantly, my mission is fueled by my own love and appreciation for this art form. I don’t share Chinese calligraphy and painting just because I know it—I share it because I deeply love it and believe in its beauty, significance, and timeless relevance. Whether I’m creating a custom calligraphy piece, performing live at an event, or teaching a workshop, my goal is always to help people experience the elegance, depth, and emotion of this art form in a way that resonates with them.

At its core, my creative journey is about honoring my heritage, preserving a centuries-old tradition, and introducing it to new audiences in a way that makes them feel inspired, engaged, and connected. I believe that art is a universal language, and through Chinese calligraphy and painting, I hope to create meaningful moments, bridge cultural gaps, and share something truly special with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sheshinesmore.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherry_chinesecalligraphy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sheshinesmore

Image Credits

Vacheron Constantin image credits to the photographer Mojda.