Jocelyn Tsaih
Mural by Jocelyn Tsaih, Photo by Haoran Chen
Jocelyn Tsaih is a Taiwan-born, Shanghai-raised artist currently based in Oakland, California. She creates images that provoke introspection, curiosity, and a desire to dive further beneath the surface. She works in various mediums including illustration, mural-making, painting, and sculpture and has worked with a range of clients including Apple, The New York Times, Greenpeace, Spotify, and GIPHY.
We spoke with Jocelyn to learn more about her aesthetic, working across different mediums, and what she’s working on now.
Hi Jocelyn! Tell us a little about yourself - how did you get to where you are today? When did you first become interested in design?
Hi! I’m an illustrator and artist currently based in Oakland, California. I was born in Taipei and bred in Shanghai, and in 2011 I moved to New York to study Graphic Design at the School of Visual Arts. I didn’t know much about design at the time but knew I wanted to pursue a creative career, so I picked “graphic design” since it sounded like a practical option in the creative industry. During my time at SVA, I learned that while I really appreciated design, I was also seeking more outlets for artistic expression and storytelling. I realized that I really enjoyed crafting narratives within my work, which led me to experiment with illustration and set me onto the path I’m on now.
Illustrator and Artist Jocelyn Tsaih
How would you describe your aesthetic and how has your visual style changed over time?
I’d say my work is a combination of abstract and figurative. When I first started making personal illustration work, I only worked in black and white. I liked the boldness and didn’t feel the need to incorporate colors. I also worked pretty flat and graphic, maybe due to my background in graphic design. Throughout the years, I’ve learned to embrace the use of colors and I’ve also started using more three-dimensional painting techniques (both digitally and physically) so that the work has more depth rather than being flat.
Are there particular themes you like to explore through your work and/or any types of illustration work you enjoy the most?
I like making illustrations that are emotive and making work that allows both myself and the viewer to be inquisitive. Whenever I’m approached to create an editorial illustration about something that’s more abstract or related to a feeling/mood rather than a specific, tangible thing, I’m always excited for that challenge.
You’ve worked with a range of clients, from Apple to Spotify, Airbnb, and Greenpeace, and across a range of mediums from large-scale murals to illustrations, paintings, and sculpture. What’s your creative process like and how do you approach collaboration with your clients? Which medium do you like working in most?
Digital work like editorial illustrations or commercial illustrations usually have very specific subjects that I need to cover, so the collaboration process can be pretty straightforward for those. With projects like murals, clients sometimes come to me with a theme they have in mind but some will leave it open-ended and allow me to have a lot of creative freedom. It’s nice having a variety of projects in different mediums so that I get to flex different muscles and keep things interesting for myself. I don’t think I can pick a favorite medium but I do enjoy the tactile quality of painting murals and how I’m able to interact with others during the painting process. Otherwise, I’m always working alone as a freelance illustrator, which can feel kind of lonely sometimes!
What’s been one of your favorite projects to work on so far and why?
I recently painted a mural for Industry City in Brooklyn, which was a really amazing experience. This mural project was very open-ended and I was pretty much commissioned to create a piece of my choice. I really wanted the artwork to be reflective of how I was feeling at the time and to act as a time-capsule in that sense. My self-imposed challenge was creating something that was hopeful yet melancholic. Nothing is ever just one thing so I wanted to hold space for multiple realities in this installation. It was also my first time incorporating a 3D element to a mural, laser cut acrylic mirrors. It was really gratifying to see how the mirrors added another layer to the mural, both literally and figuratively.
Where do you find creative inspiration and do you have any favorite design resources?
Films, books, music, museums, travel, conversations, being surrounded by people who are driven and pursuing their goals, challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone.
I like browsing It’s Nice That, Juxtapoz, and Art Maze Mag to see what cool new things people are making these days.
What advice would you give to artists and illustrators who are just starting out?
Don’t pigeonhole yourself into just doing one thing or one style for the sake of consistency! I tried a ton of different things before I landed on what I do now, both style-wise and career-wise. I learned a lot having all those different experiences and wouldn’t have gotten where I am now without trying new things. Trial and error is great for understanding what works for you and what you actually enjoy doing.
Chinatown Mural by Jocelyn Tsaih
What are you working on now and what’s up next for you?
I’m currently working on a new series of paintings for my first solo show, which is opening in August at Glass Rice. The work is very personal and vulnerable, which makes me both nervous and excited about finally sharing it with the world. In October, I’ll be attending an artist residency in Oaxaca. It’ll be my second artist residency and I’m looking forward to it.
Thank you for sharing with us Jocelyn! To view more of Jocelyn’s work visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
All images courtesy of Jocelyn Tsaih.