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

Alright, Siyang 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 would say my learning path wasn’t linear. I found my way to picture books after seeing Society of Illustrator’s Original Art Show. Shortly after that I started taking an online Children’s Book Illustration class taught by Monica Wellington at SVA Continuing Education. Monica carries a thoughtful, caring, and determined spirit. When times are difficult and I’m lacking motivation, I can still hear her saying “You must do it!” in my head. I had a wonderful time, and made some friends. We are still meeting every week to talk about each other’s ongoing picture book related projects. From that class, I learned the fundamentals of image-making, and the importance of playing and creating something for my heart. After Monica’s class, I attended SVA’s Summer Illustration Residency program, aiming to continue working on my first book project that I started in Monica’s class. It was a meaningful program for me, I gained a deeper understanding of visual storytelling, and grew my passion for picture book making. After that, I took another picture book class with Claudia Rueda at SVA Continuing Education. Claudia brings so much passion, encouragement, and revolution to the class. Her class made me rethink the infinite possibilities words and images can create. Everyone in the class was motivated and dedicated in bringing their brilliant stories into life. For ten weeks, my subconsciousness was marinating in that highly creative and inspiring environment, and I created something I couldn’t imagine before. It was just very interesting to see that happen.

Looking back, I wish I had stronger technical skills to begin with. Without doubt, knowing how to work with perspectives, colors, values, compositions, etc. could be really helpful in capturing the essence of an image in my mind. But I think the most essential skills are more abstract. I would say for me is the courage to play and be free throughout the creation process, and the persistence of trying something over and over until it feels right.

Now I reach to a point where I still have so much love for what I do, but I need more technical and conceptual agency to tell these stories, and more importantly, in order to do so, I need to go to places in me that I know exist but I don’t know how to access yet.

Siyang, 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?

Hi! My name is Siyang Lim, and I’m a picture book maker based in New Jersey/New York. I was born and raised in China, and moved to the US at the age of 16. Even though I never received formal art education, I have always hoped that one day I could fully pursue artistic creation. I was working as a data analyst for over six years, and in 2022, I left my job to search for the meaning of my life as a creative.

A few months after I left my job, I went to see the Society of Illustrator’s The Original Art Exhibit, which inspired me to create picture books for both children and our inner child – books that are filled with colors, textures, patterns, feelings, words, and heartfelt messages. Since then, I have attended several SCBWI conferences, taken a few children’s book illustration classes at SVA Continuing Education, and worked on my picture book projects at SVA’s Illustration Residency Program. I feel deeply grounded that my path led me to picture book making, where I feel finally at home.

My works draw inspirations from moments of daily life and childhood memories. I enjoy exploring different types of methods and mediums, both traditional and digital, to bring my visions to life. I love creating whimsical and playful creatures from imagination, as well as telling emotional and personal stories that connect all of us.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

For a while I believed that finding a way to send my book out to the world was my goal as a picture book maker. Although I still believed that was a crucial goal for me to have, something felt missing. As time passes by, I realize how much I have been craving for a place that brings out the version of me that’s most needed for this lifelong pursuit. Being able to go to that special place and finding something wonderous and surprising about myself almost feels like I’m back to being a child again, and that motivates me to create everyday. To keep that version of me alive.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a picture book maker is when I see people genuinely connect with my story! And also the wonderful feeling of finding myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://siyanglimillustration.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfinished.drawingpad/