We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yueyue (lydia) Zhang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yueyue (Lydia), thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Art had always been my companion, especially since I wasn’t very outgoing, and drawing became my way to express what words couldn’t convey. As a child, I loved drawing on the walls, and my bedroom was filled with my artwork. I’ve always been easily drawn to colors, beautiful paintings, and landscapes. It was during high school that I realized I wanted to pursue an artistic path professionally. While others prepared for exams and followed conventional academic routes, I quietly spent my time sketching in the margins of my notebooks and textbooks.

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

My name is Yueyue Zhang, and my nickname is Lydia. I’m a storyboard artist and illustrator. I pursued my passion by studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). I’ve had the privilege to work as a storyboard artist for several projects, including internships and collaborations. As a storyboard artist, I specialize in transforming scripts into compelling visual sequences that bring characters and stories to life. In my free time, I enjoy creating daily illustrations to capture moments of inspiration.
I’ve also worked as a lighting artist in animation, contributing to short films like The Pope’s Dog, which was nominated for the 42nd College Television Awards, and the feature film Harold and the Purple Crayon, which was released in August.

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

Throughout my life, art has been my friend, offering both comfort and challenge. I don’t consider myself a talented artist, and I often struggle with the fear of putting my work out there for the public. There have been countless times when I’ve felt like giving up, doubting whether I was good enough.
I believe that the life we experience shapes who we are, and my resilience has been built from many moments rather than just one. Seeing the short films I worked on come to life on screen, having my name in the credits of the feature film Harold and the Purple Crayon in theaters, and realizing that my story Olive and His Shadow moved my classmates to tears—all of these moments remind me why I’m on this journey. There are times when I doubt my abilities and want to give up, but these sparks never fade, always guiding me back to the path I’ve chosen

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Creation comes with both joy and pain. It’s challenging to translate what’s in my mind into something visible in reality, like a drawing or a craft. Many times, it requires patience and constantly pushing myself. But when I see my art improving and notice my progress, it makes everything feel worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yuesaki.wixsite.com/website/storyboard
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiazhang_life/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia0425/

Image Credits

all images are my personal work