In my early years as an artist, I approached my work with a manufacturer’s mindset. I tried to price my projects based on hours, materials, and overhead. But over a decade of running a studio, I’ve learned that the true “business of art” operates on a different logic: value over cost.

When a partner trusts us with a project, they aren’t just looking for an illustration. They are looking for a solution to a complex problem. My focus has shifted from simply “producing” to providing a strategic vision, one that helps a brand stand out or solves a specific corporate challenge.

This realization is what drives me to push the boundaries of my own IP, Tiny Moving Place, and why I’ve committed myself to platforms like the Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair.

The transition from a solo artist to a studio owner has been a humbling education. Many think that scaling up leads to immediate wealth, but the reality is more nuanced. Every bit of growth requires reinvestment, into better tools, a more capable team, and a stable infrastructure.

I’ve had my doubt, but still choose the studio path because I value sustainability over the “hit or miss” cycle of solo work.

While managing a team brings its own set of stresses and responsibilities, it allows us to build a foundation that supports more than just one person. It provides the consistency needed to take on larger, more meaningful projects that a solo practitioner might not be able to sustain.

I’ve tie my personal success to the health of our entire creative industry.

I see my role as more than just a creator, I want to be a contributor to a healthier ecosystem.

This means advocating for fair competition, encouraging higher artistic standards, and helping to refine the aesthetic sense of the market we all share.

I don’t shy away from being called a businessman. In fact, I believe that a strong business foundation is what allows art to have a lasting impact.

Until today, I am still learning, still growing, and still very much in the business of art. My goal is simply to ensure that through this business, we leave the industry a little better, and a little more resilient, than we found it.

— Lai