Meet illustrator from Los Angeles, Rebecca Shieh

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Rebecca Shieh, I was born in Tainan, Taiwan, and moved to Southern California when I was 5. I am currently located in LA, working as a full-time visual development artist for animated feature films and part time illustrator. I also dabble in amateur photography and needle felting. In my down time I love reading comics, being bad at video games, and squishing my cat, Beanie.

 

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I live on the east-side of LA in Glendale, and have moved around this area for school and work. Los Angeles feels very different from other big metropolitan cities around the world. The public transportation is not as accessible, there aren’t as many high rise buildings, and it’s very spread out. I’ve grown accustomed to driving, as it’s hard to get around without a car.

 

My favorite thing about this city is the access to a wide variety of amazing food from different cultures. If you come from another country, you’re likely still able to find a taste of home in some corner of LA. I also love that it’s sunny year round!

 

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

My favorite thing about this city is the access to a wide variety of amazing food from different cultures. If you come from another country, you’re likely still able to find a taste of home in some corner of LA. I also love that it’s sunny year round!

My least favorite thing is how expensive the rent is, and how hot it gets during the summer. I also wish there was a little more greenery, but it’s hard for many plants to thrive in a desert environment.

 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Diverse, hustle, happening

 

How did you start your career in art?

I’ve always loved drawing as a kid and enrolled in an arts highschool (OCSA). After highschool, I attended ArtCenter College of Design’s illustration/entertainment arts track. During my 3rd year of college, I was accepted into Pixar’s summer art internship, where I worked on my very first feature film. After the internship, I finished my degree at ArtCenter and upon graduating, I started working full-time at Netflix Animation Studios.

 

I’ve always loved drawing as a kid and enrolled in an arts highschool (OCSA). After highschool, I attended ArtCenter College of Design’s illustration/entertainment arts track. During my 3rd year of college, I was accepted into Pixar’s summer art internship, where I worked on my very first feature film. After the internship, I finished my degree at ArtCenter and upon graduating, I started working full-time at Netflix Animation Studios.

 

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

My parents were mostly supportive, but I could tell that they were still worried about my career and financial stability. They could tell that I loved doing art, and sent me to art classes and let me enroll in an arts highschool, but they still encouraged me to explore other career options. It was important to them that I still got good grades, had a good SAT score, and took AP classes, even though none of those things really mattered in an art career. I volunteered at a hospital throughout all of high school because I considered going into the medical field. I even applied to nearly all the California state public schools, even though I knew I was only really interested in going to an art school. I think they just didn’t want me to put all my eggs in one basket, but it ended up working out in the end anyway.

 

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I hope I’ll be able to enjoy making art for as long as possible, whether as a career or as a hobby. My work has changed a lot over the years, and I hope I can continue to experiment and transform as an artist, and not stick to one sensibility. I’d also love to be able to travel around the world with friends and do a plein-air painting tour of sorts.

 

I hope I’ll be able to enjoy making art for as long as possible, whether as a career or as a hobby. My work has changed a lot over the years, and I hope I can continue to experiment and transform as an artist, and not stick to one sensibility. I’d also love to be able to travel around the world with friends and do a plein-air painting tour of sorts.

 

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

It might sound cheesy or generic but I want nothing more than to work together with my friends.

 

What are the biggest challenges you face in working as a creative?

As an artist in the LA animation industry, I am surrounded by tons of amazing artists that I look up to. Sometimes I even get the opportunity to work on the same teams as them, it’s both an inspiring and humbling experience. It can be hard not to compare myself with them, which can lead to feeling imposter syndrome. On top of that, burnout is a common problem in this industry. Turning what was once just a creative hobby into a 9 to 5 job can be really draining, and can change the relationship you have with art.

 

Inspiring, strong-willed, and hard-working

 

How would you describe the women around you?

Inspiring, strong-willed, and hard-working

 

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

When I was in highschool, I looked up to a lot of my upperclassmen. I work in the same industry as some of them now!

 

Don’t lose yourself in what you think what your artwork “should” look like, don’t be afraid to be self-indulgent. Lean into the things that inspire YOU, find out why they inspire you, and learn to apply it to your own work. At the same time, having interests outside of art can help inform and expand your craft. Don’t forget to take breaks and have a life beyond art!

 

Do you have any advice for other women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Don’t lose yourself in what you think what your artwork “should” look like, don’t be afraid to be self-indulgent. Lean into the things that inspire YOU, find out why they inspire you, and learn to apply it to your own work. At the same time, having interests outside of art can help inform and expand your craft. Don’t forget to take breaks and have a life beyond art!

 

---

What type of music do you like to listen to?

J-pop/rock, alternative/indie, electropop

 

What’s your favorite local food spot?

A small Taiwanese cafe/restaurant in Alhambra called Good Old Time 🙂

 

Elsa Chang asks: What are some things you do to de-stress?

Escape my worries in a video game!

 

Celestial Fang asks: How has your art changed since the start of your journey?

My process has definitely changed a lot since I started art as a hobby. After learning how to do “professional” art in school, I “think” a lot more before I “do”. What kind of feeling am I trying to create? What “story” do I want to tell? How should I compose this image? Sometimes I end up overthinking and creating nothing at all. When I was younger it was a lot easier to just sit down in front of a blank piece of paper and come up with literally anything. I wasn’t worried about creating something that was “good” or proving myself in any way, I just wanted to draw. I used to carry around a sketchbook and draw EVERYTHING. Sometimes it was mindless observational drawings or stream of conscious doodles, but I think it trained my drawing muscles. Nowadays instead of drawing in a sketchbook, I take photographs, and try to observe things more intentionally. Since I am making art all the time for work now, I try to take breaks from drawing and enjoy everyday moments a little more.

 

What question would you like us to ask the next artist?

Is there a country or place that you’d like to visit (or revisit?) and why?

 

 

Photos courtesy of Rebecca Shieh