About
Name: Emila Yusof
Profession: Freelance Illustrator & Graphic Designer | Children’s Book Writer & Illustrator
Age: 41
Location: Selangor & Kuala Lumpur
I’m just me; plain and simple. Am a mother to a 7 year-old son, a WAHM (work-
at-home-mom) and a wife to a creative man.
I love drawing and illustrating, that’s just about it. I don’t have higher-level training, no diploma, no degree, nothing. The only thing I have is formal educational certificate; SPM, with distinction (A1) in Art. My English is on the same SPM level, so if you see grammatical error, please pardon me.
My designing stints started way back in 1995 when there was an opening as Broadcast Graphic Artist which required a minimum of SPM with credit in Art. I was trained (in-house) by the seniors on how to use the graphic machine (known as Spaceward) and how to pump graphics to the conti room. Later, I was given the task to create more than just over-the-shoulder or slides for news. I did some of the programs graphics for Golden Kids News, Golden Teen Stuff, Merdeka live show, montages and many more. I left broadcasting in 1999 when there was an opening in DTP field. To switch from broadcasting to DTP was very challenging in terms of artwork resolutions. But with hard work and perseverance, I managed to overcome the problem. I began my stint as in-house designer for BERNAS for good 9 years. I left the company in August 2007. I have been a good employee for many great companies for almost half of my life and I left because I am all worn off: the morning traffic was driving me crazy, the long hours plus the overtime is cutting back my time with my son and family.
After more than 20 years working, I am finally free.
I have been a freelancer for almost three years already. Previous employers include BERNAS, World Infonexus, Infojuta (news supplier for MetroVision; subsidiary of Television Airtime that time), Siemens, MIDA, etc. Other short stints dated back from 1986 after SPM) including being a waitress at a local cafe, a sales assistant, a sales promoter, a marketeer and many more.
I was born in Raub, Pahang (Kg. Sega to be exact) in 1969. Grew up in Raub, Melaka, KL and Selangor. I now live in Ampang where my husband, son, mom, her garden and her cat give me plenty of inspirations.
I started blogging just a little before I left my 9 to 5 job in 2007 and I blog about almost anything and also showcase my artworks. I took the opportunity to write paid reviews, sell handmade items, greeting cards, prints and gift items over at Etsy, GCU, Imagekind and Zazzle to earn some pocket money. I also have my own Littleshop featuring some of my own crafts, cards from my own illustrations, etc.
Recently, on March 2010, I have became a children’s book writer and illustrator. These are my books:
Hobbies
Painting, drawing, photography, sewing, reading, gardening and decorating.
Favourite singers
Mary Black, Sarah Brightman, Tori Amos, Jewel, Gabrielle, Mick Hucknall to name a few.
Likes
Peace, painting, reading, decorating, gardening, being lazy, rainy days, dragonflies, fairies, cats, birds, flowers, easy music, day dreaming, silver stuff, little kids, long conversations with friends, talking about nothing in particular for hours, honesty, potato-couching, knowing that somebody loves me, simplicity, the smell of clean laundry, artsy crafty stuff.
Hates
War, TYPING IN ALL CAPS, people with no sense of humor, being bored, people with no imagination, people who argue when they don’t know what they’re talking about, liars, bossy people, car stickers.
Much love,
Emila Yusof
Comments (125)
Kak Emila,
Farah memang suka sifat-sifat yang ada dalam diri akak.sangat ringkas.Kak Emila juga adalah seorang artist yang pandai mereka dolly yang comel dan header untuk mereka yang sudah tempah.Sungguh cantik hasil kerja tangan akak.
Harapnya akak sentiasa bahagia selalu.
@farahani, terima kasih dik farahani!
salam.. kak emila
1st time sya visit blog ni..hati saya dh terpaut
cantik & kreatif…
kalaulah saya juga punya bakat seperti kakak
@wan, salam. Adik juga ada bakat tanpa disedari, cuma perlu dipupuk dan diasah.
hi kak,
Nie nak tanyer…. kalu ade website yg bleh jual greeting card …. kite kat sini nak ade etra income le… tapi tak tahu cam mane ….tolong yek kak ….
p/s: i love ur illustrations all…. the best n ori…
@suzan, adik boleh try foldees.com tapi adik kena masuk contestnya dulu.
salam kenal dari saya, baloot.
memang banyak info yg bole saya pakai kat blog ni. terima kasih bnyk2.
saya merupakan seorang freelance web developer. tapi tak terer sgt bhgn grafik designer. sket2 tu bole la.. hee..
p/s: tolong cubitkan utk saya pipi Yassin tu. sooo cute lar.. sebaya dengan anak sedara saya.. hee..
salam kenal, ballot. takpe tentang desing tu boleh belajar perlahan-lahan.
You’re amazing!!! You have inspired me kak emilia. I love arts to. But didn’t know how to channel it as something that with $$$ value. You inspire me to look arts (drawing n painting) not just as a hobby. When nobody said our works were impressing, should we stop it and dumped it?
@Con-flixas, never underestimate your own products! be confident in yourself and everything else will follow suit.
you’re very amazing.you make me feel arts is very wonderful things in the world.if there is no arts i think my life is not happy.there is no colours,no arts and no kak emila.go kak emila you can do the best.
@Nisya, exactly! colours make our world!
kak emila,good job!bangga sbb org raub berbakat
@cida, terima kasih!!
Such inspiring words for u here Emila, congrats on ur amazing success!
PS. Thanks for the card dear, I LOoooooooooove it!
:):)
Emila, i was searching online for a good artist to do my contextual reasearch on and i love your work
Do i have permission to use one of your drawings/paintings of a pair of shoes and put (art related) information of you onto my contexual page?
It would be very helpful =]
thanks,
Becky
sure becky! appreciate if you could link back to my blog as well. do let me know the link you’re posting. thanks!
i wont be putting my contextual onto the internet as it is schoolwork but i can show you it once i have completed it if you would like
i think i might use one of them =]
i think i need (in terms of information) your info on things like your distinction in art and the graphic design job.
thank you so much =]
i love the drawings of shoes that you do
Emila – I came across your site after reading Daphne Lee’s recent blog posting on the SCBWI Malaysia chapter. What beautiful artwork! If you ever come across any children’s literature events happening in Malaysia that we could share with our readers, please send me an email! Much appreciated. Corinne
Kak Emila,
I read your profile coz was curious to know more about you after you generously donated your work for our Children’s Dinner on 10 Dec. First wud like to say – am personally very grateful. Second, having read your blog and profile I think you are a very beautiful person (in and out) and I would love to be a friend.
Best regards,
Tina
Dear Kak Emila,
Your designs are a delight to look at. You also have a very very remarkable story to tell. I think anybody who reads your story and see your designs (especially the postcard series) will be amazed and inspired by you. Congratulations on your good work.
Would you like to spread your advices to young kids who will be making their career choices? I would humbly invite you to be a role model to share your experiences and thoughts on how you ended up in your current career path. This I believe, will be awe-inspiring for the young people not knowing what to do with their lives. So if you agree to be a ‘featured’ role-model on a website, please contact me via my e-mail. (I will not be typing out the email and site to avoid being categorise as spamming) Thank you in advance, irrespective whether you take up this offer or not.
I will send you a formal e-mail shall you accept this offer. Thank you Kak Emila once again.
Cheers,
Jo-Han
Oh, many apologies for having to post another comment, but I forgot to mention that due to the site’s lack of sponsors and non-profit nature, we cannot be offering you any monetary rewards for your time shall you accept our offer to be a role model via a short 5 question interview. The only reward we can offer is to let you know that you have probably inspired many young adults in the process with your story. God bless you.
seorang yang berdedikasi…hehe…yg xtahannya, graphic designer dan ilustrator tu…bagus2… tahniah..
Assalamualaikum
Tengah merewang2 di internet tadi,
tiba2 terjumpa blog ini.
Terus saya jatuh cinta.
Design blog ni simple tapi menarik,
sejuk mata memandang.
Rupa2nya penulisnya ialah orang Kg Sega.
Tak jauh lah dari kampungku tu…Kuala Dong.
Kak.Emilia… Can you teach me how ???? I so interest abaout your illustration…
I want to know about the material, tools and what kind of material of it. I hope you
can share it for me… I wanna be like you…
Best Regard
Hi Emila!
Count me in as one of the fans.
I am new to illustration/drawing and loving it so much that I created a website mostly
dedicated to creativity and the joy of creating.
Wishing you the best in 2010 and always.
Respectfully,
Kat/Chiqui
Wah, I’m so impressed with all the beautiful artwork!
salam, would like to invite you to UPSI to give a talk to my students March, 20th.
Can you email me your contact, so that I can call you. Really2 appreciate it…
-mai-
akum..since akak grafik dsgner gak..akak tau x mne jual prismacolor marker yg agakkk murah.
salam.
ske sgt2 blog akak ni.
umh akak dkt je dgn kg sy.hoho
nnt rya boleh la singgah. (^.^)
Hi Emila,
Just wanted to drop by to say that you’ve been an inspiration to many with your remarkable story telling and delightful designs. Keep up the good work!
Having said that, have you heard of SOFY360 Challenge on http://www.sofy360.com? Check it out and vote your favorite picture that ‘shouts’ living life without restrictions! Or you could also submit your picture. It’s really fun and you could even win an adventure trip to Bali!
you’re a talented malay artist
really an inspiration!
Nice! : )
wah..seronoknye datang sini!
i wish i have that talent too..
huhu
keep up the good work!
me likes it!
gmbr kartun awek bertocang satu!
=)
as salam
hi kak emila
wanna ask..
akak leh wat design untuk hadiah korporat cam Surah Yassin or Al-Quran x?
asslm..
salam kenal dari Makassar
sy sangat terinspirasi dari ilustrasi akak
terimakasih, sy!
kagum dengan idea best akak
love your creatiosn, wish one day i can follow your footsteps!
Assalamualaikum, bila baca sikit background akak lebih kurang saya, except i got A1 in Art subject for my SRP, not SPM. Saya ni salah sorang pegawai kanan dlm Kerajaan. Tapi angan2 nak jadi husband work at home sbb sayu tengok anak2 duduk di Tadika, rasa nak jaga mereka 24 jam kalau boleh or may be tired of working from 8 to 4 for almost 10 years kot. Sacrifice everything for the government. Ntah. Dipendek cerita saya suka watercolours..i got little bit talent. Don’t know where to start, so bole bagi tips, mana nak cari peralatan melukis yg berkualiti. Klau kedai biasa memang x dapat. especially kertas lukisan yang baik for water colours. Thanx
Ok Mr G! Will put it up in a post soon!