We were lucky to catch up with Yuewei Li recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yuewei, appreciate you joining us today. Do you have an agent or someone (or a team) that helps you secure opportunities and compensation for your creative work? How did you meet you, why did you decide to work with them, why do you think they decided to work with you?

My agent is IllustrationX, and my communication with them has always been smooth and friendly. They reached out to me after seeing my name and work on the 2024 3×3 award list, which led to our collaboration. In 2024, I gained significant exposure through competitions and received several prestigious awards, for which I am truly grateful. This has greatly helped in showcasing my work. I hope to have more opportunities and spaces to display my artwork and for more people to engage with my illustrations—this is a great example of that.

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?

My name is Yuewei Li, but I prefer to go by Nino. The name Yuewei in Chinese means “to observe carefully.” I have always enjoyed quietly observing the world and then depicting it along with the people in it as I see them. I am currently based in Brooklyn, New York, but I grew up in Suzhou, China, a city known for its gardens and ponds and also influenced by Japanese culture. My mother is a Japanese language teacher, and from a young age, I was exposed to many Japanese works, starting with animation and books. These became the foundation of my desire to create—animation and the world around me. I enjoy imaginative imagery and expressive storytelling.

My clients and audience often mention that they appreciate the sense of storytelling in my illustrations and the fluidity of my lines. They frequently find inspiration while viewing my work, saying, *”Every line has its purpose, and every detail tells a small story—it’s like a puzzle coming together.”*

My inspirations and influences come from a variety of music genres and the compositions and subjects in the photographs I take. I enjoy studying the shapes within my photos, zooming in to discover hidden details, and finding usable compositions through their angles and forms. Additionally, the people in my photographs often lead to different narratives. The way New Yorkers dress and express themselves always carries a unique charm—whether exhausted, angry, or excited, their distinctive energy seems to explode in this diverse city. I imagine stories from these moments, shaping the narratives I want to illustrate.

The music I love includes 90s Japanese rock and Studio Ghibli soundtracks. The sense of freedom and the retro aesthetic of that era always leave a strong impression on me. I strive to capture those atmospheres and the joy I pursue through my illustrations. The stories in my camera and the nostalgic Japanese music in my headphones continually provide me with fresh inspiration.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Looking back on the past year, I wish I had understood earlier what I needed to strive for and prepare as a freelance illustrator upon graduation. In reality, everyone feels lost when they graduate, and as someone who is relatively introverted and not very skilled at socializing, I hesitated to reach out. If I had stepped out of that mindset earlier, engaged in more conversations and discussions with those around me, I would have had more opportunities that suited me.

I hope that freelance illustrators can come together more, work toward a shared goal, and actively share resources with one another.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My original passion for creation and art comes from love, and I can say that without hesitation. Deep down, I truly enjoy drawing. It’s a process that is both relaxing and intense, and I always find a deeper understanding of myself through it. It challenges me, and while I confront and reflect on these challenges, I learn more and gain valuable experience.

At the same time, I enjoy exchanging ideas with others in this field, sharing our thoughts on painting. This is truly a rewarding and interesting process. Understanding someone else’s artwork is like getting to know their world and soul. We can learn, understand, and gain so much through this exchange, all from our creative work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.illustrationx.com/artists/YueweiNinoLi
• Instagram: @yueweininoli
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yueweininoli/