New York–based illustrator Lia Liao has a mission to refine her emotions and thoughts into work that touches people on a deeper level, and for this, she finds her strongest sources of inspiration from the books, songs and films that evoke feelings within her. “I first picked up a pencil because I was deeply moved by a story; I couldn’t help but create fan art for it,” Liao says. “But as I continued drawing, I realized I didn’t just want to capture the surface—I wanted to draw its ‘bones.’ I wanted people who were familiar with the original work to feel the emotions I felt and for those who were unfamiliar to be intrigued enough to explore it.” A lifelong interest in how people feel first compelled Liao to study psychology for her undergraduate degree, but during her studies, she began to see an opportunity to combine her knowledge with art. “The beauty of emotional resonance lies in its ability to transcend language, culture and geography,” she explains. “That realization led me to explore drawing as a form of silent communication and expression in my spare time.” After earning her MA in illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art, she began working as a freelance illustrator and building a reputation as an artist with imaginative compositions and powerful subject matter for clients like HuffPost and The New Yorker. “At the heart of my work is communication and emotional resonance,” says Liao. “I hope that whoever sees my illustrations—no matter where they come from—can immediately sense the emotions I poured into them at the time of creation.”