Meet Yilin Li | Artist & Illustrator

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

Hi Yilin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to be an illustrator because of the interest, love, and sense of accomplishment that comes from creating new works. In the process of painting, I can feel happy and joyful. Of course, painting is also a process for me to pursue and find myself, and I think this process is very important.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an Asian girl. I like painting since I was very young and I enjoy the process of painting. Since high school, I have been studying painting formally, it was a very difficult time, hard but also very happy. In college, I chose graphic design as a new direction because I wanted to try a new field, but in the end, I found it wasn’t for me. So in graduate school, I went to SCAD to study illustration. Because I am very influenced by Asian culture, most of my works are related to Chinese and Japanese themes. I am now studying Asian ghost and monster culture, which is an old but interesting direction for me. The main characters in my work are mostly strange and bizarre images of demons and girls, and I think the combination of the two is interesting, not only for my own enjoyment but also for the growing number of people who enjoy my work. In the future, I will still focus my research on these kinds of subjects and hope to create better artworks for everyone.

Although there are many difficulties along the way, for me painting can heal me, and it is very happy to do what I like to do. I hope that people will pay more attention to my works in the future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think Atlanta is a great city, so I might choose a very casual way to show my friends about the city. We don’t have to go to SeaWorld or The Coca-Cola Company. I may choose to drive aimlessly on the road or find some niche bars or restaurants to enjoy food and go to the seaside of Savannah to enjoy the sun and waves. I think slowing down time is the best way to travel.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I don’t think that every step of success in life is accomplished by one person alone, so I think this “Shoutout” should be dedicated to many people and many things related to me. The first is the support of my family and friends. Of course, I also need to thank the people who like my works. With their encouragement and support, I can really persevere. In addition, when I create my works, I like listening to music, which also brings me a lot of inspiration. In my spare time, I read novels or watch some movies, which are also great for me.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/yilin_ppp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yilin_ppp/

Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/yilin_ppp/