ISIE YANG

I’ve always appreciated visual culture from a young age. I loved going to the library to look at picture books, staring at pretty storefront displays, and watching animated movies. My favourite hobby was always drawing, and I filled my household to the brim with art supplies.

I never really gave much thought to my future until I heard
other people around me lifting me up and encouraging my work.

Ever since I could hold a pen to paper, I have been drawing. I guess that it paid off, because I received my very first A+ in Visual Arts in the first grade. I remember not understanding what visual art meant at the time, and I asked my parents what the term meant, and they told me it was mostly about drawing and painting. I thought to myself, “Oh, I love doing that! Maybe that’s why I did well in it”. After this point, I decided to dedicate even more time to art. I took classes outside of school, and always put my full effort into all the art I made. It felt really good to be validated by other people who told me I was talented.

However, all of this changed gradually as I got older. I knew that I wanted to do something related to creating art in the future as a career, and discovered the potential to study illustration when I was in high school.

But, I grew up in a tech-centred town, and it felt difficult to tell people at school that I wanted to pursue illustration. I remember someone once telling me that if I didn’t want to pursue science or technology, I could consider pursuing business.

I can’t imagine a world where those three fields were the only viable career options!

Despite feeling embarrassed about my decision to go to art school, I decided to go anyway. I applied to way too many programs, but ended up getting my first choice, which was going to Sheridan College for Illustration. Sometimes people don’t even know what illustration means when I tell them that it’s what I studied! After moving away from home,

I experienced a ton of self-growth and acceptance through being surrounded by a positive creative community.

I began exploring more interests, and fell in love with graphic design after working part-time as a Junior Designer at my college’s Student Union.

I’ve always enjoyed design, but really started developing my skills in it professionally in the past three years.

The world of design also opened a door to the discipline of
art direction, which I am slowly beginning to learn as well.

During my time at Sheridan, I was able to intern for Chatelaine Magazine and have my illustration work published in their magazine and online, was invited to a two-day Creative Retreat for Adobe, and volunteered at Issues Magazine Shop’s first annual Illustration Portfolio Review. Now that I’ve graduated, I’m so excited to be jumping into the creative industry full-time with the support of my professional community and creative friends.

I’ve just made the move to Toronto, which has been my dream forever! I’m still unsure exactly what the future will hold, but I feel so lucky to be selling at local art markets and taking on freelance illustration projects while working as a designer.

To all of the young and aspiring creatives out there, choose the people who you want to be surrounded by.

Keep conversations flowing with people who will always support you
in your decision to be an artist, and build a beautiful creative community.

In stressful times, we must always rely on each other to lift each other up!

Join Isie’s creative journey @wafluffles