Meet Jessica Hsu | Concept Designer and Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Hsu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always personally felt that I was not good at anything else unless it involved creativity. I love drawing, painting, studying, and anything art related. The best part of it is the problem-solving aspect of designing. My goal is to evoke emotions that resonates with my audience on a personal level and being able to see how my work affects the big-picture and help others. My mind is constantly filled with visual compositions and trying to create a scenic moment. I want to become a great artist where others can look at me and just feel inspired.
I think it was when my dad took me to watch “How to Train you Dragon” blind, that was when I knew I wanted to be a part of something big. I started to explore all sorts of genre. From horror to anime to films, I always had the passion to draw and learn, eager to see what is in all. Eventually in my junior year of high school, I started to attend Ichen Art Academy, where I met people like me but incredibly talent and knowledgeable about the industry,
Through the academy I learned about Art Center and their entertainment concept design major and I knew I was going to be in visual development. Though I was admitted into illustration, I found more mediums and realms of work to be explored. Since I’ve graduated December 2023, my vision for visual development has never changed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a visual development artist and illustrator, I focus on composition, character gestures, and color to set the mood. I love storytelling with characters in a moment and I emphasize character poses and color keys to bring my pieces to another level. I have a very adaptive style, from graphic to realistic rendering, from style of cartoon to semi-realism. I wonder to this day where I can consider my style since it doesn’t fit into any one style. I’ve been imitating many different artists over my journey and each time it changes. Some times it would be Ikari Fukuda (Kotteri) and Celine Kim, or some days it’d be Leyendecker and Bernie Fuchs.
The journey was definitely not easy for me. I struggled with a lot of self-esteem issues and fear putting myself out in public. I’ve always been open with socializing with people and meeting new people, but when it came to sharing art it scared me greatly. It is usually because I noticed that I felt that I was never technically good enough that I will shy away when sharing personal work. My teacher at the time, Thomas Zenteno, told me since that I was so obsessed with technicals, I’ve let my creativity lag behind. This openned a new light for me and allowed to overcome my insecurities. How have I forgotten what got me into art in the first place?
Throughout ArtCenter I focused on image clarity and expanding my network, as well as studying great arists.
For now, I am working towards a new professional experience, hoping for an opportunity to be a part of an even bigger picture.

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.
I would take them to the beach. I live in the Bay Area so they’re a little far, but the beaches here are definitely worth the road trip. Starting with Carmel by the Sea, to Santa Cruz and Half-Moon Bay, to Baker beach in SF (it’s a nude beach but will be great for art friends). On days we don’t want to go so far, we can explore Westfield Valley Fair mall for some shopping and snacks or take a walk around parks and lakes. One meal of KBBQ is a must with a larger group of people. I would like to spend a day going bouldering or mini golfing for some sports entertainment. There’s not much in the Bay Area besides community parks and boba, but it’s always the people that make the environment exciting,

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 and foremost, I’d like to dedicate my thanks to all my friends and familes who have been by my side from the beginning and encouraging my love and confidence for art. They were my greatest fangirls and learning gang. I want to give credit to would be my middle school music teacher Gregory Conway. He gave me the opportunity to discover my powerful ambition to always be a student and my potential to grow as a person and an artist.

Website: https://jaysu.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jay._.su/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/