I was waiting for a good time to come back and run this blog
like a BLOG. It already has been more than a half year since I posted lastly, I think it's too much time to get away by just saying 'Sorry I've been lazy updating'. I'm back from SCBWI conference in LA last weekend, it's just right time to come back.
I met my tribe there. They were huge, more than thousand people and they were not all. We just recognized each other at first sight, I felt like in a big family gathering among them.
It was my first major conference, so I was really nervous and already tired from preparing stuff to show. But from the first presentation, I knew I belong to them. The word 'like minded people' stayed in my mind all through the conference, and boosted my courage to say hello to the people I first met.
Meeting my favorite artists in person and hearing the wisdom from them were just priceless. Making new artist friends and sharing our love of what we do were amazing.
The most valuable lesson that I learned was that there's no other secret to masterpiece than time and effort. They spent years to develop stories and characters, and devoted themselves to it. I really appreciate everything they shared with us. How genuine and humble they were, made me think that I love those people so much and I want to grow old with them. On my way home I was so happy and confident that I'm an illustrator. My first thoughts when I woke up next day was 'I'm so fulfilled with the happiness to know that I'm in the right place.'
I'd like to appreciate my colleagues Kelley, Shih Fen and Hyoji for being wonderful conference buddies and most of all, my husband who encouraged and supported me to go.
My wonderful conference buddy Kelley described about details of the conference well in her blog. I would've been less nervous if I saw Tina Kugler's kind posting before the conference. Also I found Juana Martinez 's posting about making physical portfolio which would've been really helpful. Even though I had my cold allergy situation from air conditioning, I'd definitely go back to meet my tribe again, next time, with the better portfolio and maybe a proper outfit for the Gala.
