Meet Hsiu Lin

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hsiu Lin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Hsiu, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

Usually when I need a break from everything, I like to turn of my working brain and just indulge in things I would find “unproductive”. Growing up in a very go-go-go environment, I subconsciously labeled enjoyment and relaxing moments as “idle”. My self-care package generally includes binge-watching shows and games, taking a long walk in nature, dressing up, and having a little “date” with myself. Other things I like to do also include karaoke – where I can belt out all of my negative thoughts and feelings, journaling, and organizing my room.

These things seem very mundane, but it’s the simple things in life that make a huge difference when it comes to self-care. I’ve come to appreciate these little moments as I’m able to finally relax and refuel my creativity and passion for work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

During the day I’m a 2D/3D designer making mobile game ads. But in the evening, I’m a freelance artist who draws assets for Vtubers and real-life streamers. If you’re interested, please take a look at my vgen (https://vgen.co/fallinotes)! I also stream on Twitch occasionally, whether it’s streaming art or cozy games.

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 qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey as an artist was: motivation, communication, and the ability to say “No”.

Breaking these points a little further:

One thing that kept me in my pursuit of art was the motivation to draw or continue creating. I believe passion is important as well, but to actually achieve or create something, you need a “call to action”. In other words, motivation to start.

Communication, in every step of my life, has been very important – whether at work, with friends, with family, etc. This is a very specific example of how I see how a little bit of communication would have helped both parties. In the vtuber community, there are many times when a streamer will commission an artist for their work. However, sometimes both parties run into a situation where there is no clear communication between them, and ends up blowing up, with either one or both of the parties being canceled. I believe that a little bit of communication and clarity helps cases like these.

For my last point, the ability to say “no” is something I wish I had known earlier. I am a people pleaser and a “yes” man. I am just starting to get better at refusing people. While it comes more naturally to others, it took half my life to learn that saying “no” is not the end of the world.

My advice for those early in their journey is to practice these 3 skills. Motivation comes in different ways – it could be asking a friend to work with you or promising ourself something if you tackle your project, etc. To improve on communication is really to “treat someone the way you want to be treated” and finding a midpoint with someone you fought with. There are also many ways to improve communication, but those are the ones that came first to me. As for the last point, just start saying “no” to things you don’t want to do. That’s all!

How would you describe your ideal client?

For those interested in commissioning, my ideal client is someone who will respond frequently and answer questions that come up. I really like it when clients allow me to express my art without trying to fix something at every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vgen.co/fallinotes
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsiu-lin/

Image Credits

Amber Chiang Photography