When a bona fide artist sits down with a marketing strategist, you get more than a talk about art or business — you get a deep excavation of how identity, culture, and confidence shape the way we show up in the world. In this episode of *Clean Your Toilet*, Shui Lam and Will strip away the glossy layers of creative work to confront what’s really behind the lens: self-worth, belonging, and the courage to claim your space.

Most people see art as capturing beauty. Shui Lam sees it as revealing truth — especially for those who’ve been taught to shrink themselves, hide their features, or fit a mould. Raised in Hong Kong and now based in Singapore, Shui knows first-hand how cultural narratives about success, appearance, and propriety can become invisible chains. Putting pencil to paper wasn’t just about mastering a craft; it was about reclaiming the right to see and be seen on her own terms.

But building a career around art that’s true to her vision hasn’t been without its mess. The industry’s obsession with trends, filters, and instant gratification can push even the most grounded creatives into questioning their worth. Add in the challenge of running a business, managing client expectations, and marketing in a world that rewards sameness over substance — and you’ve got the perfect storm for self-doubt.

Will, drawing from years of positioning brands in saturated markets, challenges Shui to think bigger about visibility without diluting her voice. They tackle the tricky questions:

- How do you sell your art without selling out?

- Can you adapt to market demands without losing your cultural and personal truth?

- What happens when your confidence wavers — and your work becomes a mirror you don’t want to look into?

The conversation moves beyond tactics into the heart of creative resilience. Shui shares the deeply personal breakthroughs that fuel her commitment to authenticity. Will reframes marketing not as manipulation, but as amplification — a way to make sure the right people find and value your work.

If you’ve ever:

- Felt the tension between staying true to your art and staying relevant

- Wondered if your unique voice is “too much” or “not enough”

- Struggled to own your space in industries shaped by other people’s standards

…this episode is your call to stop playing small.

Because the real art isn’t just in the illustrations you make — it’s in the inner clearing that lets you show up fully, unedited, and unapologetically.

🧼 Your vision is the clean water.

🚽 Outdated standards are the drain.

💩 Self-doubt and cultural baggage? That’s the clog.

Clear it. Claim it. And create work that refuses to be invisible.