Today we’d like to introduce you to Yeesan Loh.
Yeesan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a self-taught painter, illustrator and writer who loves food and cooking.
Born in Singapore and grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, my first loves were art and dance. My first profession was a dancer. Much of my childhood was spent going to dance classes, rehearsals and performances. I initially wanted to study art or painting, but no Asian child on mom-and-dad-scholarship was going to study something that might lead to a job title that starts with the word, “Starving”.
As a happy compromise, I eventually decided to study interior design in the U.S. I had a long career in interior design and architecture, while I continued to develop and explore my personal artwork in the background. I landed in a corporate design firm in New York and over time, the satisfaction started to waned and the work was steadily becoming a soulless job.
Three years ago, I decided to leave my position there as a design director and started my own studio to focus on my painting, illustration and writing. These days, my studio activities are split between commissioned/project work, my stationery line, my book projects, and I still consult in interior design whenever good opportunities arise. My stationery line consists mainly of cards and prints that feature my artwork. Whilst not limited to, my work is a lot about food. My book projects are illustrated, non-fiction books about food and cooking, inspired by my own curiosity and eagerness to deepen my knowledge and skills in that area.
I currently live in Brooklyn where I spend my time painting, writing, cooking and wishing I had a bigger kitchen.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, not. And I am glad it hasn’t been. The reason for saying that is that I believe that challenging yourself in the creative process is an essential part of growing. On the less philosophical side, leaving a gainful employment to go on your own is always a risk, hopefully a calculated one, but a risk nonetheless. Deciding to do art and writing is also not the easiest picks because you are dwelling into a subjective world where good or bad is not black or white. And the illustration world is highly competitive and not the easiest industry to break into. Publishing, even worse!
On the retail side, platforms like Etsy and Faire makes it really easy to get your work out there, but in terms of brick & mortar, it can literally be like asking a brick wall to carry your products. Well, that said, nothing is impossible. I think it is a matter of committing to it and doing the work.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My business is mainly about art. I specialize in watercolour. I still wait in oils but those are work that I do because I do or for exhibits, but they are not something I actively look to monetize.
If anything sets me apart…..actually, I see it more as my feeling of having found the way I paint and fully embraced it. In my younger days, there was a lot of exploring and questioning….such as, “draw more like this, paintless like that….”. Now, I just do how I do it.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Personally, I think it is the love for what I do and motivation. Also, I have no problem with creating something with really no real objective in the marketplace…..if it is an idea I want to execute, I just do it. I think this sets me free from all the internal “auditioning” that is happens when you feel pressured to secure potential returns/gains from your work. Sometimes, they become something, other times they’re just a fun thing to do. I think it is important to make spaces for “play” to keep creativity alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yeesan.com
- Email: yeesanloh@icloud.com
- Instagram: @yeesanloh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yeesan.loh.7
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
