Meet Xiaoyan Sun

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Xiaoyan Sun. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Xiaoyan below.

Xiaoyan, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience probably comes from realizing that I can continue to create even after facing setbacks time and time again.
In the illustration industry, rejection is normal. You won’t be shortlisted for every competition, client feedback may repeatedly change your plans or your piece just got killed during the progress, and sometimes the market doesn’t respond to the work you put in effort. When I first entered the market, these experiences made me question whether I should change your style—or I was not suitable for the job at all. However over time, I’ve come to understand that the key to longevity isn’t obsessing over short-term gains and losses; it’s the ability to keep creating consistently.
Art itself is a process of accumulation, and no brushstroke is ever wasted. Whether it’s a rejected sketch or a piece that didn’t turn out the way you imagined, it’s like an experience bar in a game—constantly leveling up my character. So for me, resilience isn’t about blindly charging forward no matter what; it’s about recognizing that some things take time and making sure I stay on the path, no matter how long the journey may be.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Most of my work revolves around editorial illustration, which has a different approach from picture book art. It’s about working within a set framework and finding the most effective visual solution to help the audience grasp the article’s intent—while still allowing room for technical exploration. The most exciting part of this process is that it feels like solving a puzzle, piecing together clues from the text to create something both visually engaging and conceptually meaningful.

Lately, I’ve been interested in expanding into new media, particularly 2D Live animation. My illustration style was heavily influenced by screen printing, and I’ve always been drawn to bold, graphic compositions. If I can bring these strongly flat, structured visuals to life through animation, it could open up new creative possibilities for me.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Time management, reading, and reflection are what keep me “on the road.”
Managing my time well allows me to keep working without burning out. Breaking projects into phases and working during my most productive hours helps me stay efficient. Keeping up the habit of reading deepens my understanding of storytelling beyond visuals and keeps my creativity from stagnating. Reflection teaches me to learn from past experiences without getting stuck in “what ifs.” However reflection isn’t the same as regret—don’t dwell on mistakes. Instead, focus on how each challenge can make things easier the next time around.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

They gave me space—both the freedom to make my own decisions and the support to know I wasn’t completely alone.

They never imposed rigid expectations on me, nor did they interfere too much in my choices. Instead, they just provided the resources I needed while letting me figure things out on my own. Due to that, I learned to adapt quickly, make independent decisions, and take responsibility for my own path. It wasn’t about being left to struggle but about having the room to navigate challenges in my own way. That balance shaped the way I approach both life and creative work today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://xiaoyansun.net/
• Instagram: @xiaoyanillus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaoyanillus
• Other: Behance: https://www.behance.net/xiaoyansun5