In conversation with... Arty Guava (Lay Hoon)

Nick: You’re now based in Vancouver, right?

Lay Hoon: Yes.

Nick: With Malaysian roots. Let’s start there—how did you make the journey from Malaysia to Vancouver?

Lay Hoon: It’s quite a long story, spanning many years, so I’ll give you a brief summary. I was born in Penang, Malaysia. Have you been to Penang?

Nick: No, but I’ve heard it’s famous for its food!

Lay Hoon: Exactly! It’s a beautiful island with amazing food. I grew up there until I was 19, then I moved to Singapore to further my studies. I did four years of bioengineering, but when I was about to graduate, I realized engineering just wasn’t for me. It wasn’t fulfilling. So, I decided to take night classes in multimedia design, with the goal of eventually switching to a more creative career. I didn’t initially think it would lead to art, but I wanted to do something more creative.

After that, I worked in branding, advertising, and packaging in Singapore for over a decade. Then, when I had my son, my husband and I decided we wanted a more balanced lifestyle for him, away from the pressure of Singapore’s school system. We moved to Canada, just before COVID hit. Moving to a new country with no connections, while raising a young child and juggling work, was overwhelming, especially with everything that happened during the pandemic.

Nick: That sounds incredibly stressful.

Lay Hoon: It really was. I started my full-time design job, but within the same week, I lost daycare and COVID lockdowns began. It was a lot. But amidst all that chaos, I just thought, “I want to make art.” I started creating illustrations on my iPad as a way to de-stress. At first, I wasn’t doing it for likes or social media validation, just for myself. But I began posting them anyway. To my surprise, things started snowballing, and six months later, I received my first commission—someone paid me $50 for a piece. That was the start, and five years later, I’m now a full-time artist in Vancouver.

 

Nick: That’s an amazing journey! Your art reflects a lot of your Malaysian roots. Do you find that living in Vancouver has also influenced your work?

Lay Hoon: Absolutely. I think my lived experiences shape my art. Since living here longer, I’ve been inspired by the natural landscape—Vancouver’s nature is so different from Malaysia’s, and I incorporate that into my work when it feels right. My art is a reflection of my experiences, both past and present.

Nick: And there are clear themes in your work—femininity, nature, joy, and bold colors. Do these themes always come naturally to you, or do you explore others as well?

 

Lay Hoon: Those themes are things I naturally gravitate towards because they reflect my perspective on the world. As a mother, I think femininity is something I can relate to deeply—it’s authentic for me because I’ve lived it. Nature, too, is a place I go to recharge, and I want my art to bring that sense of calmness to others.

Nick: It’s clear that your colors reflect those emotions too. Do you think your color palette has evolved over time, or does it change with the seasons?

Lay Hoon: It definitely changes with the seasons. I feel like my color palette shifts between the bright, warm tones of summer to more muted shades in winter. People sometimes ask me if I’m okay when my palette loses vibrancy, but I think it’s just a reflection of how I’m feeling. The winter months, especially, can bring a sense of seasonal depression, and that’s reflected in my work.

 

 

Nick: I can relate. During the winter, I tend to gravitate towards moody tones, too. The longer days in spring and summer always make me feel more vibrant.

Lay Hoon: Exactly! When everything outside is gray, it’s hard not to be affected. But my son, he’s my sunshine. He reminds me to stay playful and not take things too seriously, which helps me stay balanced.

Nick: That’s beautiful. Speaking of your work, you often create collections or themes, like the vase series or works inspired by mythology. Do you plan these collections, or are they more spontaneous?

Lay Hoon: It’s never really planned. I find that recurring themes appear naturally over time, and when I organize them on my website, I group them together. For example, I didn’t set out to create a fruit-themed collection, but over time, I noticed many of my pieces had fruits in them, representing abundance and nourishment. Similarly, I had a series of works around women dancing—representing freedom and self-expression. These collections come together without any specific planning, just as I create based on how I feel at the time.

Nick: And when you’re working with brands, like Oprah featuring your work, is that process more planned, or does it happen randomly, too?

Lay Hoon: That’s a bit more external, so it’s not planned by me. However, I always make sure to carve out time for personal work because it helps me stay true to my artistic voice. I think personal work is essential, even when I’m working on commissioned pieces.

Nick: Do you remember the first time you sold a piece of artwork? That must have been a special moment.

Lay Hoon: Yes, I do. The first time someone paid me for a digital piece, they wanted me to transform it into a puzzle. I remember thinking, “Is $100 too much for this?” It was such a small amount, but it meant so much to me. I’ll never forget seeing my artwork on a product. As for my first physical painting sale, I don’t remember exactly, but the feeling of seeing my work in someone else’s home is always surreal.

Nick: It must feel amazing to see your work in people’s homes. Do you ever still get surprised by that?

Lay Hoon: Yes, it’s very surreal. Sometimes I think, “If I hadn’t taken these steps, I would never have gotten here.” It’s a reminder that life has a way of surprising you, and I’m so grateful that I took that chance.

Nick: Do you have any advice for aspiring creatives or illustrators?

Lay Hoon: My advice would be to take time to really get to know yourself. For years, I didn’t allow myself to pursue art because I thought it was too unrealistic. I pursued more practical careers, but deep down, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. So, take that chance on yourself, explore what you like and don’t like, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t label yourself too quickly—just be playful with your art.

Nick: Do you draw inspiration from other artists, or is it more about everything around you?

Lay Hoon: Inspiration comes from everything and everyone I encounter. It’s not always visual—it can be something someone says or something I read that just clicks. I can’t really narrow it down to just one or two influences. It’s a mix of everything.

Nick: You work across both physical and digital mediums. Do you have a preference, or does it depend on the project?

Lay Hoon: I used to be purely traditional, but after having my son, I embraced digital tools like the iPad. It’s convenient, less messy, and easy to make edits. But I still appreciate working with traditional media like watercolor and acrylic. Sometimes the medium just depends on the project and what feels right for that particular piece.

 

Nick: Do you have regular working hours, or is your schedule more flexible?

Lay Hoon: I try to keep regular hours, like from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. But if I’m busy, I’ll work at night or on weekends. The flexibility is one of the best things about working for myself.

Nick: Finally, how do you feel about the future of design and illustration, especially with the rise of AI?

Lay Hoon: I’m definitely optimistic. AI might be a concern for some creatives, but I believe human creativity and ingenuity can never be replaced. We will continue to innovate and create. The brain is unpredictable, and I think the best is yet to come. We might even collaborate with AI in ways we haven’t imagined yet.

Nick: Absolutely. It’ll be exciting to see where that leads. Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us today, Lay.