Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Poppy Li. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Poppy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’ve had regular jobs in my earlier stage, and life was stable. But, I started questioning if continuing like this was the right path. Is my purpose in life just to be a tool for others to make money through a repetitive routine? Having tried both types of jobs, I can confidently say that artistic creation feels like my true calling.

In the world of unstable artistic work, I find a lot of creativity, happiness, and a sense of achievement during the creative process. Before becoming a full-time artist, I had a part-time job for a while to support myself financially because I knew I could find a unique fulfillment in creating art that regular jobs couldn’t offer.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Poppy, a self-taught illustrator born in Taiwan. 
I believe my story should begin with my childhood.

My relationship with my family wasn’t very close, and I can count on one hand the times we sat together to share moments during my early years.

So, my closest companion was essentially the television.
I watched countless animations by Hayao Miyazaki and Disney.
My best friend at the time was a cosplayer who always shared the latest manga information with me.
When she moved away, we maintained our connection through letters—or, more accurately, serialized manga.

We each adopted a character’s name and illustrated our weekly lives to send to each other. This was 25 years ago, a time without email.

Perhaps these animated stories and the use of illustrated letters to express my weekly life were the beginning of it all. Drawing gradually became a habit for me.

I believe I need to understand how a good story is created, especially since I grew up with television.
During my university years, I chose to major in theatre and film.

At that time, I thought this choice would bring me closer to my goals. However, I began to realize that I wanted to create my own stories—whether through picture books, illustrations, or animations. This idea marked the beginning of my career as an illustrator.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I don’t delve too deeply into social media. 
I simply take photos of final artworks or capture the creative process and share them to kickstart engagement.

Between 2021 and 2022, I took part in a bunch of community activities like #DTIYS (Draw This in Your Style) and Inktober.

During this time, my online following grew a lot. I also started publishing books and teaching drawing courses. 

Perhaps because my work started gaining attention, I got to know many other artists, and I think that’s the main reason for my online community’s growth.

Social media has changed a lot since then, and I used to wonder if I should create content just for views.
But, in reality, the results were a bit disappointing.
I’ve noticed that I will use social media more as an artist instead of being a content creator.
So, I believe in keeping it simple—sharing sketches, drawing tips, artworks, and genuinely chatting with readers.
That, to me, is the core of social media.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I believe the most rewarding part is knowing the people in this world who connect with my work exist. Witnessing their reactions, understanding, and the changes that follow, I see art as an invisible power—a way to subtly affect the world in my own way.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.poppyli.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppyli.art
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Poppyli_art
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PoppyLi

Image Credits
poppyli.art