We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Junran Yang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Junran, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
Seeing friends working in other industries makes me wonder, how do I secure a job as an artist. Yet I understand the challenges of making a living as an artist. Being able to express ideas and emotions through creative means is a blessing. In fact, most of the time I am injecting part of myself into the art and crafts. They are my mirages, and getting paid or praised for the work gives me the next-level sense of accomplishment.
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?
A bit about myself is worth mentioning at this stage. I am an international student, traveling from China to pursue my creative passions in the USA. This isn’t my first experience with long-distance travel; having been exposed to many countries during my teenage years, I’ve long harbored a passion for exploring the vast expanse of the globe. It was the original Blade Runner and Syd Mead, the brilliant artist behind the film, that initially sparked my desire to become a creative individual. Through the invaluable art education I received from talents back in China and the enthusiastic, encouraging lectures during my pre-college experience at the Rhode Island School of Design, I found my way to the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, home for many legendary artists and creative minds.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In fact, I completed my first Bachelor’s degree in product/industrial design at ArtCenter. As graduation approached, I grew concerned. Mastering creative crafts is an immense challenge, demanding layers of expertise and perspective. However, the education can only take one so far, that at a point I felt the limits in the depth and width of my knowledge. Moreover, been freelancing in the product design industry, my fascination with the wonders of fantasy only intensified. I’m consistently captivated by the power of visual presentations to spark thoughts and inspiration—whether through the expressive brushstrokes of paintings or the visionary views of concept renderings and animations. I aspire to inspire, to evoke emotions, and to paint dreams and thoughts onto the canvas of reality.
With this goal in mind, I’ve chosen to pursue my second Bachelor’s degree at ArtCenter as a concept artist. This decision stems from my desire to expand the breadth of my knowledge and continue exploring the boundless possibilities of visual storytelling.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
transforming abstract visions into tangible realities, blending innovation with storytelling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yangjunrandesign.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/y_junran.junran/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/junran-yang-artsanddesign
Image Credits
Junran Yang