Meet Ivy Tsai

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ivy Tsai a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ivy, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

I developed my confidence and self-esteem by acknowledging my strengths and accepting my weaknesses. Setting small, achievable goals and celebrating each success helped build my self-assurance. Daily practices of positive self-talk and challenging negative thoughts shifted my mindset. Learning new skills and stepping out of my comfort zone led to surprising achievements. Surrounding myself with supportive people and practicing self-care, like regular exercise and mindfulness, improved my well-being. Over time, these efforts transformed my self-view, instilling deep confidence and resilience.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Ivy Tsai, a freelance illustrator from Taichung, Taiwan, with five years of experience. I began my freelance journey in 2023 after working in a Malaysian agency. Specializing in children’s illustrations and street photography, my work aims to inspire curiosity and positivity. I’ve recently started experimenting with acrylic painting and ceramic art.

My notable achievements include being featured in Mélanie Johnsson’s Winter Pattern Paper 2022 and speaking at INTI International University & Colleges. I also participated in the Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair 2024 with my team GalaSIY.

Living and working abroad has broadened my perspective and influenced my art. I offer editorial and children’s book illustration, and I’m interested in packaging, branding, and graphic design. If you’re interested in my work, please drop me a message. I look forward to collaborating with you.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey as an illustrator turned freelancer were adaptability, creativity, and perseverance. Adaptability helped me stay relevant with changing trends, creativity allowed me to produce unique and compelling work, and perseverance was essential in overcoming challenges and staying motivated. For those starting out, embrace change and continuously learn, practice and refine your creative skills, and stay patient and persistent, believing in your eventual success.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, I am looking for partners to collaborate with! I am especially interested in working with businesses in need of illustrated packaging, children’s book illustrations, editorial illustrations, graffiti arts, and galleries seeking unique artworks. If you are interested in collaborating, please reach out to me via email at jiil8501@gmail.com or connect with me on Instagram, and search for @ivytsaiillustration. I look forward to creating something amazing together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jiil850.wixsite.com/ivytsaiillustration
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivytsaiillustration/