We were lucky to catch up with Sitong Liu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sitong thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

When I first started my freelance illustration career, I realized that being ignored or passed over by potential clients was completely normal. As a recent graduate entering the industry, I found that securing a steady stream of clients was much harder than expected. Even after sending hundreds of cold emails, I often got no response. This harsh reality isn’t something we were taught in school—where good work seemed like the only thing that mattered. But what students see as ‘good’ doesn’t always align with market demands. The only way to change that is by researching industry trends and emphasizing what makes our work unique.

Right now, I’m in the early stages of my career, and I push myself to take on projects I don’t want to do or have little interest in. It isn’t easy, but it helps me understand how to communicate with clients and gives me more commercial work to strengthen my portfolio. Freelance success isn’t just about talent; waiting around won’t change anything, and there’s nothing wrong with reaching out to experienced professionals for advice—seeking guidance isn’t something to be embarrassed about.

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’ve been passionate about art since childhood, which led me to major in Illustration during college with a focus on commercial art. Currently, I’m pursuing my graduate studies, where I specialize in creating picture books and narrative illustrations. My long-standing interest in suspense novels has influenced my work, especially crafting picture books with dark humor and horror themes aimed at adults and older children. 

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

As a new freelance illustrator, I’ve learned that building a list of art directors and agents is far more effective for finding a job than constantly revising my portfolio. Building this network can take months or even years, and I had no idea about this when I was in college. If I could offer any advice to artists in a similar situation, it would be that having a plan is more important than just making more work when you’re unsure of your next move.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’m currently figuring out how to manage my social media as an illustrator. By observing the accounts of successful artists, I’ve picked up a few key tips: First, keep your social media active—regular updates are one of the most effective ways to grow your following. Second, think about what your audience wants to see—something many artists may hesitate to do—but catering to your fans’ preferences can be a shortcut to gaining more traffic. Last but not least, videos tend to capture more attention than photos.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://sitongliu.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlenehtee?igsh=MzN4Z2swb3MxZGR1&utm_source=qr

Image Credits

Sitong Liu