We recently connected with Ao Zhang and have shared our conversation below.

Ao , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

From a very young age, I sensed that art, specifically drawing, might be my lifelong companion. I remember back in kindergarten, there was this boy who could draw. Using simple shapes, he’d sketch robots, and it had everyone, including me, mesmerized. This was my first taste of the enchanting power of art. I envied the magic he wielded, creating worlds with just a pencil and paper. That’s when my bond with drawing began.

Drawing became my anchor during my teen years. Unlike many, I never really went through the typical angst-filled adolescence. Anytime I felt down, I’d lose myself in drawing, and my worries would fade away. Back then, my approach to art was pure. I wasn’t concerned with how good it was or its purpose; I just relished the act of creating. Drawing brought me tranquility, confidence, and strength. Before I knew it, it became a habitual part of my life.

My passion and skill in drawing led me to a prestigious art school. Academically, I was average, but years of honing my craft opened the door to a top-tier institution. My family was incredibly supportive when I expressed my wish to pursue arts academically. I was fortunate to get into a Film Academy, majoring in Animation. From just being passionate and intuitive about art, my college years transformed me into a seasoned professional.

My unwavering love and commitment guided me professionally. As college days zoomed by, I had to think about employment. I had a simple philosophy: do your best in the present, and the future will take care of itself. I was always engrossed in making my current piece the best. This relentless drive, fueled by passion and curiosity, led to a marked improvement in my skills. Upon graduating, I landed a dream job at a major animation studio, designing characters for films. Imagine that – getting paid to do what I’ve loved since childhood!

Following my passion, staying curious, and striving for excellence have been my guiding principles. I’m not one for meticulous planning. Life, in my opinion, is more exciting when viewed as an adventure. But before you embark on it, you need to arm yourself with skills and strengths. Along the way, I haven’t set typical societal goals for myself. Instead, I’ve always been curious about my own potential. Constantly questioning, exploring, and progressing, like the law of attraction, as I strengthened my abilities, everything else just fell into place.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In my professional realm, I wear many hats – I am a character designer, visual development artist, illustrator, and painting instructor. Up to now, I’ve been involved in several commercial animated films, published an illustrated book, and have launched an online painting workshop. Drawing from years of experience, I continuously face diverse challenges. The most pressing challenge at the moment is deciphering how to convey my understanding and perspective on painting in a manner that’s both accurate and easily grasped by learners at various stages.

For every individual delving into painting, besides persistently honing their basic skills, another inevitable concern is the exploration of one’s own style. I firmly believe that every artist with higher aspirations in painting seeks to find their unique artistic language. However, when faced with the term “style,” there often emerges an indescribable feeling. The word “style” is vast, abstract, and complex. It’s challenging to encapsulate its essence in a mere sentence or two. Still, I believe we can approach it from certain angles, employ specific methods, and carry out experiments to feel and subsequently contemplate what painting truly is.

This rationale inspired the name of my workshop, “The Style Laboratory.” My intent is to break down the core issues in painting into a series of intriguing experiments. By employing techniques like controlled variables, comparative analysis, associative thinking, and structured reasoning, we aim to rationally understand those once vague and ambiguously understood issues. Gradually, students will find their position in the vast map of painting becoming increasingly evident.

Based on the outcomes and feedback from the initial courses, one conviction stands clear: while rationality cannot replace feelings, it can undoubtedly enhance our ability to feel. For this very reason, “The Style Laboratory” is unparalleled and much sought-after.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I established my Instagram account around 2015. Initially, it was simply to follow artists I admired and to share works with friends, with no intention of building a personal brand or cultivating an audience. From time to time, I’d post my own sketches or illustrations. With no expectations or pressure, I was quite relaxed, not really concerned about likes or gaining a mass following. For a long time, I treated social media as a platform to document my artwork, posting whenever I completed a piece I was particularly proud of. This gradually became a habit that I’ve maintained for years.

As you know, social media algorithms are unpredictable. You never know which post might unexpectedly take off. When one does, it often brings a surge of new followers. Over the years, I’ve amassed a significant following of people who appreciate my art, including many artists I once looked up to. My work and dedication have made me noticeable to a broader audience.

At some point, I realized that perhaps I was already on the path to creating my personal brand and establishing an audience.

For those just starting to build their social media presence, based on my experience, my advice is not to set your goals too high or too difficult at the beginning, as this could create a lot of pressure. Start with small things and develop them into a long-term habit. We can’t control social media algorithms or life’s uncertainties. Plans can never keep up with changes, but we can continue to do what we love. If you genuinely love something and do it day after day, accumulating over time, eventually, time will give you the answer.”

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I’d like to recommend a book that greatly influenced me. To be precise, it’s not just a book but a graphic novel. I recall my university professor recommend it, and when I first saw its cover, I thought the style was simplistic and even a bit rough. I overlooked its contents due to this initial impression. But after graduating, I picked it up again, immersing myself in its content, and what I felt was a profound impact on my soul. Who knew that dry academic theories could be presented this way? That the art of comics could delve so deep? That abstract visual art could be concretely quantified into charts and summarized? Even more impressive was how the author managed to explain the essence of comics through an easily understandable comic form, effectively putting theory into practice. Yes, the book that repeatedly reshaped my perception is “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud. After reading it, I recognized the vital role of rationality in artistic creation, profoundly influencing my views on art and my creative methodology.

Don’t let the title and cover deceive you. This book goes beyond the realm of comics to encompass the entirety of visual art and offers profound reflections on one’s worldview. If you, like me, wish to rationally rediscover visual art, I strongly recommend you explore this book. I believe it might serve as an enlightening read for you as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vansonz.carbonmade.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vansonzart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vansonzhang/
• Other: https://weibo.com/u/1695350712