Meet Chieh-Chih “Joey” Liao: Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chieh-Chih “Joey” Liao and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chieh-Chih “Joey”, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Be curious about everything, And always be prepared for the imminent tasks. Try my best to achieve perfection in every assignment.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I originally chose to study materials engineering in my college. But during that time, I realized that the course was not suited to my interests and aspirations. Therefore I decided to learn product design instead, and that’s how I began my artistic training. Later on, I changed my career path again to became an illustrator and visual development artist. Even though I made some major shifts several times, the craftsmanship and skills I developed along the way, like the rhythmic approach of sketching as well as the application of 3D software, are still very helpful to me.

Since my previous profession is more about pragmatism, as I changed to my current occupation, I have to deal more about aesthetic and creativity. The only way to adapt to the new norms is to do research and look for reference, which is much easier nowadays thanks to the internet. Of course, a good amount of practice is also essential. This process took me several years and I’m still perfecting my design instinct and techniques. And whenever I got stuck, I always went back and look at those great artists who inspired me. Many artists I admire are from mid-century, whose bold choices of color and graphical shapes helped me create my personal style.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
LA is the ideal place to get outside for the city is blessed with sunshine. It would be nice to spend a day out on the trails. There are various options like Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon or Eaton Canyon which is closer to where I live. Being an art lover, I would show my friend around the art museums in town. A visit to Getty Center or LACMA is a must do. Besides that, the Huntington is another wonderful place that I would definitely bring my friend to. It’s a perfect spot to spend some time not just strolling, but also appreciating the beauty of botanical gardens and fascinating artwork. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First of all, I want to thank my family for supporting me to pursue my dreams. Without them, It’s impossible for me to make it this far. Also I would like to express my gratitude to my teachers Chester, Gary, Michael and Paul, for introducing me into this wonderful art world. And lastly, my friend Yuan for her recommendation so that I have this opportunity to share my story.

Website: https://www.joeyliao.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyliaoooo/

Image Credits
Photographer: YuanTzu Huang