Name: Susie Lee Jin

Age: 31

Job title: Children’s illustrator

City of residence: West New York, NJ

Company you work for: My own company, Susie Studio

Time at your present job: I formally launched my company in 2005, but have been a freelance artist since 2000.

 

Describe what you do.

I am a visual artist. I sit down, pull ideas from my head and make them concrete as images. More specifically, I am a children’s illustrator, freelance graphic designer, aspiring writer and art licensor. The romantic view is that I draw pretty pictures and sell them for gobs of money. I wish. I spend a third of my time creating new art, and the other two-thirds marketing to potential clients and art licensees. When I do find companies that connect with my work, my art finds a home on their products. So far, I’ve collaborated with companies to make children’s books, candy packaging, stationery, toys and garden flags.

What’s most fulfilling about your work?

I am blessed that I can spend my time creatively every day and make a living at a craft that I love. Creating art is engaging work. It makes me feel productive and connected to the world.

Describe your path here.

I started out scribbling on the walls, much to the horror of my parents. I was an artist from that day forward. I grew up reading lots of books. Many nights were spent with my flashlight under my cover so I could read past bedtime. I also enjoyed making art from whatever materials I could find and experimented with drawing and painting till I went to college. By then, I also had discovered the joys of creative writing and teaching. I went on to become a third-grade teacher. My kids and I were equally enthralled by children’s books, the writing and the art. I eventually decided to focus more on my creative side and was accepted to the School of Visual Art’s M.F.A. program in illustration. I’ve been hooked ever since and will be an artist for the rest of my life.  

What other jobs have you held?

Muralist, administrative assistant at an interior design firm and graphic designer at a hosiery company.

What are the perks?

The real high is when I see my art as products on the shelves. I feel good that kids and parents are reading books I have illustrated and that people are using products with my artwork on them. That’s amazing.

The challenges?

The hardest part of my job is being my own boss and self-motivating. As a business of one, I have to wear lots of hats. Figuring out what I’m doing short-term and long-term is a mental challenge because I could probably watch TV all day and no one would care. I try to stay disciplined and focused. I set goals, make schedules and am addicted to check-off lists. It’s a way of making sure I’m prioritizing correctly and actually getting work accomplished.