Technical and creative art lessons | All skill levels and ages | Professional illustrator with 9+ years tutoring and classroom experience

Find out more about Crystal

• When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?

  In terms of art, I started noticing as a child that when I drew pictures, it would make the people around me happy. I started using art as a way to connect with the world and my community, and my love for it spread to an interest in picture books, comics and animation. As a 90s kid who didn't have access to the internet until I was around six or seven (and it took the internet a few more years to become as usable and interesting as it is now), drawing and stories were a huge and important part of my life and development, and I love seeing how artists have helped shape our world and culture today.
  
  With teaching, I was lucky enough to get a job as a weekend teacher after graduating from university. I loved being around my students, seeing the different ways their brains worked, how they related to each other and how they solved problems. Being able to help people learn, understand themselves and reach their goals is such a meaningful job and it's always fun to be meeting new people who are curious and ready to explore.

• Which artists or works inspire you the most?

  I really admire artists who seem to have a deep understanding of society and culture, and use this knowledge to make the world a bit better.
  
  My stand-outs at the moment would be:
  * Bill Watterson (creator of Calvin and Hobbes), who made very touching and thought-provoking work that was relevant and relatable to many. I loved how he was able to convey so much meaning with such simplistic drawings.
  * Pete Docter (director of Up), who used the medium of colourful, friendly animation to talk about grief and recovery.
  * Maddy Thorson (creator of Celeste), who made a beautiful game about anxiety and your relationship with yourself.
  * I also really love the show Arcane and the two Spiderverse movies - they combine great storytelling with experimental, sharp visuals and cinematography that takes you by surprise and makes you pay attention.

• What are the specific qualities or skills required to succeed in this area?

  An attitude of lifelong learning is always helpful! Not just because your art will always be evolving, but so will the tools you'll be using to make it. Creativity and playfulness will come in handy for developing your own art style and also helps lessen the self-criticism that can come from comparing your work to others. You'll also need to be patient with yourself and develop a good understanding of who you are making your art for so you can design it in a way that will best reach your audience.

• What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?

  To keep the "why" of the project in the forefront - why are you doing this? Who is it for? What will it do? And to remember that the creative process is not a straight line - as we learn and develop, projects will almost certainly change from their initial idea, and that's okay. It's normal for us to go through cycles and iterations of a work, and to improve it each time we work on it. It's also important to take breaks, ask for feedback and critiques, and know when to stop.

• How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?

  Motivated, content and fulfilled. I feel very fortunate to have found something that is a mix of continual learning, creative expression and helping others.

• What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

  The projects that have made me the happiest are:
  * A webcomic I worked on a few years ago, which won me a year-long mentorship and sponsored my attendance to a comic convention.
  * An online game I made during the early weeks of the pandemic, and the games I made while studying in Singapore
  * The little hong bao brand I started earlier this year.
  
  I am also deeply proud of my students! Watching them try new things, overcome shyness and their own self-criticism, and work tenaciously towards their goals makes me so happy. I love getting to celebrate with them as they reach their personal and professional milestones.

• Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?

  Yes! I've been surprised multiple times - when a young student won two art competitions, when a student who struggles with confidence and anxiety sold out of multiple designs at their first art convention, and when another graduated with high marks in spite of personal difficulties.

• Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?

  Making sure I'm always learning a new skill or topic helps me empathise with my students and communicate ideas better. I really prioritise creating a fun and safe space for students to experiment in, as well as a relationship that really values feedback so they can tell me their needs and where I can improve to teach them better. It's a pretty big thing for someone to trust you with their learning, and I do my best to earn and maintain that trust each lesson.