In this episode, we talk to award-winning Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu (清水裕子) about her journey from quitting a career in corporate PR to becoming a successful artist and educator—highlighting all the challenges and triumphs along the way. Our conversation touches on the importance of self-promotion, how to deal with imposter syndrome, and the role of art education in shaping an artist’s career. 

Instead of fixating on what she can’t affect, Yuko focuses on the things she can control. All we can do as illustrators at any given time is to create the best work within our capabilities—the rest is out of our hands. With over 20 years of experience, Yuko shares valuable insights on finding your unique artistic voice, the significance of mental health in creativity, and the importance of giving back to the community. 

Working in this field is all about learning to deal with disappointments. Rejection is a normal part of the creative journey and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. This episode is a treasure trove of advice for both aspiring illustrators and seasoned professionals alike. Yuko shares useful tips on how to navigate the creative industry. She emphasizes the need for artists to be genuine, to share knowledge, and to navigate their careers with honesty and humility. 

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MENTIONED LINKS: 

• Artists: Christoph Niemann, James Jean, Marshall Arisman, Minh Uong, Tomer Hanuka, Shepard Fairey, Marcos Chin, SHOUT (Alessandro Gottardo), David Sandlin, Gary Panter, Chip Kidd
• Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan
• SVA MFA Illustration as Visual Essay
• NYT email format: [email protected]
• Yuko’s FAQ page
• Thanks to Ari Liloan (aka @madeby_ari) for the thoughtful questions. 

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FOLLOW YUKO: 

Instagram: @yukoart
Behance: be.net/yuko
Facebook: fb.com/pages/Yuko-Shimizu
Website: yukoart.com
Shop: yukoart.bigcartel.com
Yuko’s Skillshare courses
Books: “The Cat Man of Aleppo”, “Up, Up, Ever Up!”, “Barbed Wire Baseball” 

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Hosted by Vicky Cichoń and Dave Leutert.
Music by Amanda Deff.