Meet Lilly Sundsbak

We were lucky to catch up with Lilly Sundsbak recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lilly, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

My optimism stems from a need to express creative purpose within my life. Through art, design, and storytelling, and by channeling meaning and inspiration even in the most mundane of moments gives me a sense of fulfillment and hope.
I am also deeply inspired by new opportunities to learn and grow, whether through meeting new people or gaining insights from the world around me. These experiences remind me to embrace growth and to contribute positively to the communities I am part of.
Having the chance to leave a lasting impact on the world while finding joy and purpose in the process fuels my optimism for everyday life.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m Lilly Sundsbak, and i’m an illustrator, and designer passionate about visual storytelling and exploration within my projects.
My professional focuses are currently still in many different lanes. I’m currently engaged in many different projects for the time being such as being the current Creative Director for the Columbia Chronicle with an emphasis on editorial design and illustration as well as recently I was asked to create some pre-production concept art for an upcoming short film at Columbia College Chicago, which has allowed me to bring my artistic vision to both journalism and film together which is something I’m exploring as I grow into my career more.

What excites me most about my work is the ability to connect people through art and design. Whether I’m crafting a compelling editorial layout, designing visual elements for a story, or illustrating for a narrative project, I always am striving to create visuals that tell stories in unique and meaningful ways.

For those who’d like to explore my work further, you can visit my website at lillysundsbak.studio Whether it’s through editorial design, illustration, or animation, I’m committed to crafting art that tells stories, builds connections, and leaves an impression.

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

Exploration
When I first started out in art, I would spend hours oil painting every single week. I loved the process, but I eventually realized that my heart wasn’t fully invested in the fine arts as a path. This realization led me to explore other avenues of art, and I discovered just how expansive the artistic world can be. There are countless niches to fill, and this exploration allowed me to find my passion for illustration. I fell in love with it as a medium because of its incredible variety it’s so versatile that it continues to fuel my curiosity and growth even today.

Drive
Developing a steady drive has been one of the most important skills I’ve cultivated over time. Passion and dedication are essential for growth in any artistic endeavor. For me, the journey has been about embracing mistakes and learning from them. The more art I created, the more I discovered what worked for me and what didn’t. Passion projects played a huge role in this growth they allowed me to experiment, refine my style, and evolve into the artist I aspire to be, even without external guidance.

Connection
Connection is a skill I think many artists undervalue, but it’s crucial for growth in today’s world. Art has a unique power to connect people, and building relationships with fellow artists can help your work thrive. Asking for feedback, seeking critiques, and having open conversations about your art are invaluable practices. These connections not only help you improve but also create opportunities to grow in ways you may never have expected. Collaboration and community are at the heart of what makes art meaningful and impactful.

By leaning into exploration, cultivating drive, and fostering connection, I’ve grown as an artist and built a foundation for continuous improvement. Art is a journey, and these skills have been essential in shaping mine.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely! Collaboration has always been a key value for my artistic process, and I’m always open to partnering with individuals or organizations who share a passion for visual storytelling and creative expression. I’m particularly interested in working with other illustrators, animators, and storytellers who are excited about creating narratives in creative ways, but I also am open to working with many different creatives such as writers and filmmakers looking for a visual partner to help bring their stories to life through illustration, storyboarding, or visual direction and also Brands or nonprofits that align with my values and are interested in meaningful, impactful design to tell their stories. The sky is the limit for collaboration I’m open to anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lillysundsbak.studio/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illuslills/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilly-sundsbak

Image Credits

N/A