Emily Chu is an award-winning, full-time freelance illustrator, passionate storyteller and compassionate mom. She gives us an inside look at her journey and connecting with others through art—a powerfully universal visual language.
Tell us about yourself!
I was born in Beijing, where I grew up with my aunt/grandparents, and moved to Calgary in 1994 to be united with my parents (who were here for an exchange program at the UofC). I grew up in Calgary, and in 2011, I moved to Edmonton. From then on, I started freelancing, tried a bunch of different jobs such as marketing, and built up my freelance clients. Over this time, I also worked in graphic design, printing, and taught illustration at a local college.
Since 2018, I’ve been working full-time as a freelance illustrator. The industry constantly changes. I call it a journey because I’m continually learning and adapting.
Why did you move to Edmonton?
I graduated from ACAD in Calgary in 2011, and I wanted a change. I heard that Edmonton had a great art scene and was also a great supporter of local arts. At that time, I knew about Art Walk and other festivals. My partner was also studying here in Edmonton.
In 2014, I started vending at The Royal Bison and got more involved in community work and the art community. After a while, I didn’t see a reason why I would leave! It’s been a great community of people, local creatives, and small businesses. I love working with companies that I’ve met over the years and built a bunch of roots and connections here. Why exactly? I can’t say, but I feel comfortable and supported here, where I’ve made many great friends.
I find the arts community here to be vibrant and sustainable. I feel much like myself, at “home” and laid-back here because I’m surrounded by creatives who uplift and inspire one another. I feel that I have a safe space to experiment, create, mess up and learn within my creative community! Community is everything, and I’m very grateful to have found it here.
I call it a journey because I’m continually learning and adapting.
Have you ever thought about moving back to Calgary or Beijing?
Maybe one day in the future, but I don’t feel like I’m there yet (to move). Much of my work is client-driven and in partnership with local organizations. I have recently started working on a more personal approach to art, sharing my perspective, lived-experience, and centering myself on projects. More universal themes, less location-specific or client-driven. The personal projects have been emotionally tough. As someone who has voluntarily erased their cultural identity growing up, and working as a behind-the-scenes trades artist, visibility can be traumatizing for someone who has found comfort in invisibility all their lives. I think over the next few years, as I work on more personal work and make those connections with my childhood, I’ll be able to give you more perspective on where I’m taking that, where I plan to grow more roots, etc.
How was your most recent artist residency?
A lot of being an artist is expressing our own identity. But for commercial illustrators, we don’t have much opportunity to take time off to pursue personal work. Art Residencies and workshops are essential to an artist’s path, development, and future planning. My residency at the Yorath House allowed me the time and space to just work on art, and reflect about my work without the pressure to make art to “pay the bills.” Which is refreshing! My residency was also a pairing with the very talented multi-disciplinary artist Chelsea Boos. We had a lovely time getting to know one another, learning from each other, and talking about our work. From the residency, we have developed a friendship and artistic allyship, which continues to this day.
I’m also trying to break away from categories/titles in the arts as well. Fine art is different from commercial arts, but it shouldn’t be! Fine artists should be able to do commercial art and vice versa, but there are a lot of barriers to entry between art fields. I’m very grateful to have been offered the Yorath House artist residency opportunity. These opportunities break barriers, and I hope to see more of these opportunities in the future.
What was your first commercial / commissioned project?
I painted a large portrait for a drama club’s theatre production, “Harvey,” in high school. It is an actor (wearing aging make-up) and an imaginary life-size rabbit standing side by side. It’s a bit of an odd painting, but the actor’s parents bought it afterward (a transaction made through my Art IB teacher)! It’s my first “paid” project.
Community is everything, and I’m very grateful to have found it here
What was the first project that made you feel like “you made it” as an illustrator?
My first actual project out of school was a magazine cover for Stephen Magazine in Calgary. That was exciting for me; it was a small community magazine. It was exciting because the issue overlapped with Naheed Nenshi being elected, and we integrated his portrait into the Calgary skyline. It was a great first project right out of school.
Why do you love illustration?
I like illustration because it’s a form of visual problem-solving. Each project is a collaboration between myself and the client – which is interesting because there’s a lot of growth potential. Working with people to develop an identity, a mural, editorial, I find teamwork in visual problem solving very exciting. Here is no ordinary day.
I am relatively fluent in English, and I was raised between two languages, and I still feel I’m not 100% fluent in either. Art is this universal language – the only language I can authentically express myself fully. From feelings, perspectives, and experiences, art is a powerful visual language that allows me to connect with others.
How do you continue to learn or challenge yourself in your business?
I’m slightly more extroverted than an introvert, and community connection helps me stay inspired and challenged. I find a lot of motivation from working with other people, especially emerging artists.
I try to be very transparent about the industry’s growth and pricing. I know freelance illustration is a tough industry, and I hope to share knowledge and eliminate gatekeeping in my process. Keeping connected with the community – whether that be the arts/markets/Chinatown community those relationships and conversations are helpful for me to get through creative roadblocks and find inspiration.
I’ve been a part of the Royal Bison as a vendor since 2014. I taught post-secondary illustration. I’ve met many new grads and younger creatives. And now, building relationships with cultural workers in Chinatown also create opportunities to use art to fight against cultural erasure. It’s always been about working with people and being creative together.
What’s your favorite project that our readers can visit/see in Edmonton?
I did a couple of murals recently. One is the The Beaumont Sports and Recreation Centre, where I did three murals for them in their lobby. I find public art very inspiring and essential. I’m honored to have been selected to create Beaumont’s first public art project. I worked closely with the City of Beaumont and had a very trusting and creative partnership. I am also working on murals this summer, at the Spruce Avenue Community League, a grocer in downtown, and at the Edmonton Chinatown Multi-Cultural Centre.
If you can find any copies of one of the books I made On-LocationYEG? It was a limited edition of 150 copies of on-location drawings of sites around the city. This was a grant project made possible by the Edmonton Arts Council. They’re sold out on my end, but there might be a couple of copies left at local bookshops.
I hope to do something similar and go back to Chinatown to do a few more illustrations. Whether it turns into a book or something else, we will see!
What is your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?
My biggest failure happened during my first gig for Stephen Magazine. That summer, right out of school, my computer was acting up. It was four years of school with a lot of data on that computer. I was confident that I could finish it the week before that deadline, but my computer crashed, right after I finished the illustration, a day before the deadline!
My biggest lesson is to plan, back up your files, and finish things early where you can. So much of my success has to do with working with people and meeting their deadlines. It was an unfortunate yet excellent learning experience to learn right out of school. It’s better than developing more bad habits and having this happen later down the road.
I had to re-create that piece, tell them what happened, and get an extension of 1-2 days. I even bought a new computer! It was stressful, but that feeling of loss was a lot.
From these experiences, you also learn to grow thicker skin and not take things too personally. I distance myself from client work and don’t take the process too personally.
Art is this universal language – the only language I can authentically express myself fully.
How do you feel the Edmonton art scene has evolved?
I’m proud to be a part of the art scene in Edmonton, and optimistic about its future! I love the range of diverse voices in the arts, and I hope that more diverse voices and histories find opportunities to be shared.
I want to do my part to keep it growing from my role on the equity board of the Edmonton Arts Council and co-organizer of the Royal Bison. I also want to continue to support other artists and anyone wanting to get into the arts and give them the space to tell their stories. I offer a yearly summer paid internship, and I also host free public sketch sessions during the warmer months around town. Through my side project, Chinatown Greetings, we also fund artists to create work centering on Chinatown’s heritage.
I also believe we have one of the most inclusive arts councils and communities that recognize commercial/digital artists as artists. This is very rare and greatly appreciated, and it makes us digital artists feel valued as artists.
Where are your favourite places to hang out in Edmonton?
Lately, I’ve been an enthusiastic, regular take-out customer of All Happy. Working hard and eating delicious comfort foods in my studio. When I do go out, I love hanging out at the Stanley A. Milner library in the newly renovated space. I’m at the playground a lot because of my two-year-old (current favourites are the Bonnie Doon Community League and Hazeldean playground), and I love spending time outdoors in the ravines/river valley. I also love going to Glass Bookshop because they have some very wonderful people there, and I run into friends there every time!
It’s always been about working with people and being creative together.
If you could bring one thing to Edmonton, what would it be?
Do you know Chinese Crêpes (jianbing)? It’s street food in Northern China, a freshly-hot egg crepe with spicy/salty sauce, and a crispy surprise in the centre? I’ve been on the hunt for one most of my life in Canada. I recently found one that was pretty good, at Bao, by the University of Alberta. I also found “Auntie’s Chinese Burger” in Calgary’s Chinatown. Also good! I feel like this is a secret mission I’ve been on for over 2 decades. But glad to see more popping up. It’s honestly my favourite thing.
It would also be great to get an Illustration conference here!
How do you manage work/life balance?
Honestly, it’s been interesting; it’s been a learning curve for me. The very first few years were all about juggling, multi-tasking, and hustling. There wasn’t much balance in the beginning. And just as things became steady, I had a baby shortly after becoming a full-time freelancer. In my first year of motherhood, I struggled with balancing work and parenting. But I did that to myself because I was afraid of taking time off after only 1 year of freelancing full time. So I learned to ask for help when needed. Everyone was very understanding, and somehow, it all worked out. Now, things are a bit more structured again. I try not to work outside of office hours and on weekends. And I take a personal day once a month. I also take a walk when I can.
I think that artists and creative business owners with young kids just find ways to do the best that they can. A lot of the typical parenting advice did not apply to my situation, so that’s why I don’t give many tips! Just be kind to yourself! Flexibility and freelancing can be a good combination.
If you are a creative person, putting aside your work can be hard on your brain, so finding easy to do projects helps so that you don’t neglect your creativity.
What exciting projects are coming up for you? (A children’s book?)
Currently, I’m working on a children’s book for youth about voting, to be released in March 2023! It’s a non-fiction book with 30 illustrations throughout. These book projects have long 1-2 year timelines, and I’ve just wrapped up the last illustrations this week. I’m hoping to plan a book release in the New Year, so that will be exciting to hold it in person finally!.
I am taking this year to do more personal work. Some of it extends from the residency. I’m exploring some themes of grief, cultural erasure, identity, and displacement. I’m also exploring memories of my hair, and the traditions of my grandmother braiding/combing it.
I am also hoping to do a graphic novel later in the year around Chinatown immigrants and family businesses. It’s in the early research stages, so that’s all I can share for now!
www.heyemilychu.com
Instagram: @heyemilychu
Photography by: nicholasdyee.com
