Meet Elaine Li | Art Director & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elaine Li and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elaine, what role has risk played in your life or career?
AI technology has indeed had a huge impact on the professional work of illustrators. It has both negative and positive aspects. On the negative side, all companies are now demanding that illustrators have the skills to manipulate AI technology, use AI software or websites. At the same time, illustrators must still have high aesthetic abilities, modeling abilities and composition abilities. Moreover, AI technology is now also requiring that bosses expect illustrators to have functions like graphic design, video production, and 3D model making. But these functions actually cannot be fully relied on AI to generate automatically and conveniently. Instead, they require different background knowledge, which has greatly increased the difficulty of employment for illustrators. Also, because of the emergence of AI tools, companies are more thrifty in paying illustrators’ salaries, making it more difficult for illustrators to find employment. However, on the positive side, these technologies also give illustrators more possibilities to present their works in more ways. If you are a freelance illustrator or an independent illustrator, besides having a fixed source of income, you can use AI technology to expand your business or make your art works more diverse. Remember, AI tools won’t help you improve your ability on creativity or expand your imagination automatically, it’s your own business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is a journey of exploration. I aim to blend traditional art forms, especially drawing inspiration from the aesthetic roots of Chinese painting philosophy, with modern digital techniques. I’m most proud of my dedication to this exploration, even though I’m still in the process of finding my unique art voice.

Getting to where I am today professionally hasn’t been a smooth ride. I’ve faced challenges like struggling to master new digital tools and, more significantly, grappling with how to translate the essence of Chinese painting (my background) into modern illustration. I’m constantly trying to figure out how to capture its unique narrative and aesthetic language and incorporate it into my illustrations.

To overcome these hurdles, I’ve spent countless hours in practice, learning from other artists, and being resilient in the face of failure. The lessons I’ve learned are that patience and perseverance are essential, and staying true to my artistic vision, even when it’s difficult to define, is crucial. I want the world to know that my brand represents a work – in – progress, a continuous attempt to bridge the gap between the rich heritage of my background culture and the contemporary art scene, and that my art is a reflection of this challenging but rewarding journey.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting, I’d definitely take them to the Getty Museum in LA. I’ve been there twice and it’s an amazing place. The first time I went with a best friend, and it was a great experience. The second time, I introduced my boyfriend to it.

On the first day of the trip, we could head to the Getty Museum in the afternoon. We’d explore the galleries filled with amazing artworks and visit the café by the beautiful gardens. As the day progresses, we’d make our way to the outdoor areas to catch the beautiful sunset. From there, you can see the whole of LA city, and the night scene is simply breathtaking.

For the rest of the week, we could also visit some other local attractions, but the Getty Museum would definitely be a highlight of the trip. It’s a place that combines world – class art, beautiful architecture, and a great view, making it a perfect destination to show off to a visiting friend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Well, for me, I would like to give a shoutout to my art teachers at SCAD, Prof. Ryan Sanchez, Prof. Julie lieberman, Prof. Brain Bowes and all the teachers I met. They had always been there to guide me, not only in terms of technical skills like drawing and painting, but also in nurturing my creativity and artistic vision. Their support and mentorship have been crucial in my growth as an illustrator. They encouraged me to take risks, to explore different styles and techniques, and to never stop learning. Without their influence, I don’t think I would be where I am today. Also, I would like to mention some art communities online, like 3×3 illustration, Hiiillustration, and also SCADGIC. They provide a platform for fresh illustrators like me to share our work, get feedback, and be inspired by others. The sense of community and the mutual support within these groups have been very helpful in my career development.

Website: http://elainelixx.com

Instagram: https://elainelixx.art

Linkedin: elainelixx

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Image Credits
elainlixx.art (Xinyue Li)