Thank you, Lisa, for stopping by. Lisa is an amazing illustrator and it’s a pleasure interviewing her this month. 

Where are you from? I was born in Penang, Malaysia. It is a multicultural country with predominantly Muslim, Chinese, and Indian. The same country as Michelle Yeoh. 

Did you love drawing at an early age? I started art when I was 4 years old. I would spend a lot of time doodling and color-pencil drawing. I never stopped drawing even when I started nursing school. After working as a nurse for a while, I felt it was time to go back to art.

Where did you learn your craft? I always felt that talent cannot be taught, but it can be nurtured. That’s why I often seek out teachers, mentors, or an online-courses to help me develop my skills and art career.

Where do you get your ideas from? Being out in nature, in the wild is an amazing source of artistic inspiration and is also very good for our souls. I notice of all the fascinating shapes, textures, and colors of nature. Things that are easily missed.

Where is your favorite place to illustrate? I go to a coffee shop where the buzzing of energy and people make me feel that I am part of something bigger.

How long does it take for you to create an illustration? It depends upon the topic and how complex the subject matter is. I usually spend a lot of time sketching, refining then sketching again before committing to a specific idea.

Do you submit to publishers or do you seek out self-published authors? I have the privilege of working with both. Each journey is different in its pro and cons.

How do you handle rejections? I know rejections are normal. I don’t need all of them to say “Yes”. I just need one to say “Yes”.

Who reviews your work? (Writers have critique groups-what do illustrators have?)

Illustrators have art directors and community mentors.

What is next for you? I am currently working with Jacksonville Public Library illustrating urban parks. This is something I am passionate about as I love to encourage kids to go out and be close to nature.

Lisa one last question, tell us something that no one knows—something about you that isn’t posted anywhere on your website or social media. I am really shy in person. 

And, remember to support human illustrators, not AI.

Thank you, Lisa, for letting us peek into your illustrator’s world. If you wish to follow Lisa, below is her contact information. 

lisawee12@gmail.com
https://www.lisawee12.com/

END

The Winner of March’s Free Book Giveaway is Melissa from Lynchburg, Virginia. 

My next free book giveaway is April 1, 2023. 

Thanks for reading!
As always, Happy Fishing!   
Leslie Eva Tayloe