We were lucky to catch up with Sheryl Yap recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sheryl thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I was always that kid who loved to draw. It was something that came naturally to me and I would spend endless hours doodling whatever came to mind. Back then, I found immense joy in bringing my imagination to life on paper using any medium I could get my hands on — crayons, watercolors, even ketchup. The outcome didn’t matter; I was purely focused on ‘playing’ and enjoying the process. The reason I’m mentioning this is because as children, we don’t obsess over outcomes; instead, we revel in the process of creating itself. Engaging in the process and practicing it consistently is ultimately what accelerates our learning.
Throughout my career, I’ve come to understand the importance of the phrase “kill your darlings.” As we mature and learn to discern between what we’re told is good art vs bad art, this awareness causes us to worry about how our art would be perceived. It isn’t inherently bad as it reflects our care and love for what we do. However, when we become overly attached to our art, our focus shifts towards the end result and this fixation can hinder us from experimenting and making the necessary changes to improve it.
Eventually, the joy of creating diminishes because of the emotional toll it has on us, discouraging us from making more art and, consequently, inhibiting our learning process. Why? Because creating more leads to learning more – It’s a never ending cycle.
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.
I’m a Visual Development Artist and Illustrator working in the animation industry. My journey has led me
through experiences with Netflix Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon and
others. I’ve had the joy of contributing to projects like ‘Despicable Me 4’, ‘Thelma The Unicorn’ on Netflix,
and ‘Merry Little Batman’ on Amazon Prime.
As a Visual Development Artist, my responsibility is to design and establish the visual look and
storytelling of the film, from the initial concept to the final production. Everything you see on screen, from
the color and mood of the film, down to the characters, to the environments they live in, the clothes they
wear and the things they carry; we design everything.
As someone who’s always been captivated by people and what makes them who they are, I personally
believe my strength lies in my ability to deeply empathize with characters and to conscientiously and intentionally craft the worlds that they live in. This empathy allows me to delve deep into the emotions and motivations of the characters, enabling me to bring their stories to life and connect them intimately with their surroundings through color, lighting, form language and so on.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As an artist, one of the most personally rewarding aspects for me is witnessing the designs I create come to life. As mentioned earlier, from my childhood days spent joyfully bringing my imagination to paper, seeing this progress and evolve into a career has been incredibly fulfilling. For me, It’s honestly really about the process of transforming ideas and concepts into expressive, relatable characters and captivating environments. It is even more meaningful when people are able to genuinely connect with the world that has been thoughtfully built. It’s this blend of creating and emotional resonance that truly makes being an artist so heartening for me.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Personally, my journey of building an audience on social media has been a process of consistent
engagement and participation, especially on Twitter (or now, X). While I wouldn’t say I’m the most active
on the platforms, I’ve realized how valuable it is to utilize relevant hashtags and participate in events like
Portfolio Day on Twitter. Portfolio Day is a day that gathers artists and creatives worldwide to showcase
their portfolios, allowing them to connect with other fellow creatives and clients. It opens doors to exciting
new opportunities in the creative industry, including job offers which I’ve been fortunate enough to receive
as well.
Additionally, I would say participating in art and design competitions has also been crucial in boosting my
visibility and expanding my audience on social media. Winning the 3×3 International Illustration Annual No. 21
, Creative Quarterly 73 and being a runner-up in Creative Quarterly 72, 73, and 76 have also given me opportunities to showcase my work
and connect with other artists in the creative industry because top industry professionals take note of the
winners of these competitions, as it is a competitive process. This was a great achievement in the
industry and something I am very proud of.
At the end of the day, while I do believe that having a following is important and beneficial for getting your
work out there, the focus shouldn’t solely be on the number of followers. What should matter most is the
ability to share your art in a way that resonates with people. It’s about creating content that you genuinely
enjoy and inviting them to connect with your creative journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sherylyapsl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swimmingspinach/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-yap-80251876/
- Twitter: https://x.com/sharerr
Image Credits
Despicable Me 4 courtesy of Illumination
Thelma the Unicorn courtesy of Netflix Animation
Merry Little Batman courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation