We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cindy Liu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cindy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

Drawing used to serve as a cathartic outlet for me, allowing me to externalize my thoughts and feelings. I’ve always been intrigued by the intricacies of the human psyche, yet at times, delving into its depths can feel overwhelming. I aspire to be a thoughtful individual who contributes positively to others’ lives. I firmly believe that illustration possesses the unique ability to convey emotions and instill hope, so I’ve chosen to pursue an art career. Currently, I am passionately exploring how illustration can be applied in psychology, to foster understanding of mental health issues through my artwork.

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?

Hello there! My name is Cindy Liu, and I’m an illustrator specializing in sequential art and children’s book illustration within the editorial and publishing industry. As of last year, I’ve been expanding my skill set by delving into Motion Media Design.

My passion lies in using illustration as a tool to aid individuals, collaborating closely with psychologists to create impactful work. My comics and illustrations have been utilized to increase understanding of bipolar disorder and alleviate patients’ anxiety amidst the pandemic.

My artwork is distinguished by its originality and creativity, aiming to strike a balance between conceptual depth and storytelling. I find solace in transforming pain and hardship into hope, shedding light on the emotions and needs of patients.

Advocating for mental health awareness through illustration is a cause close to my heart, one that I’m committed to for the long haul. I take pride in the meaningful work I’ve undertaken thus far.

This year marks the beginning of my journey in commissions, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to showcase my talents to the world. Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed organizations like Deloitte and BMW, contributing to artistic decisions and assisting in the creation process. Whether I’m crafting book covers, comics, or motion graphics, I always prioritize concept building. With my versatile style, I determine the artistic direction once the concept is established, and I’m thrilled with the progress I’ve made.

Looking beyond the publishing realm, I aspire to collaborate with non-profit organizations to extend assistance to more individuals. I believe my expertise in art direction and video editing can make a significant impact in this endeavor.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I pursue art to bring happiness and healing to others because creating art has healed me.

People of all ages and backgrounds live with trauma and long to be seen and understood. In our shared humanity, I find commonality with others as I see it in myself. Illustrating my inner world helps me, and I believe my art can help others in the same way.

When someone I drew for, who had struggled with insomnia, suddenly felt sleepy while viewing my drawing and had the first good night’s sleep in a while, I was greatly encouraged. That experience showed me the power of art to help others. My artistic journey has just begun, but encounters like that motivate me to keep developing my skills, connect with more people, and create uplifting art that promotes healing. There is so much more good I can do through my artwork.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The series of personal project illustrations I’m working on depict people’s beloved living scenes by listening to their confessions. In today’s society, everyone is under pressure. By emphasizing texture, scent, and temperature in the paintings, I hope to help them regain a love for life.

Once, while drawing one of the paintings in this series on an airplane, my art attracted the attention of a lady sitting next to me, and she started chatting with me spontaneously. She confided her anxieties about work, the future, and physical health to me, a total stranger.

After talking for two hours, I decided to draw her in my next illustration. This experience makes me believe my works have the power to give people courage and strength.

Whether as an illustrator, comic artist, or motion media designer, I believe what I’m doing is thoughtfully conveying information. Through visual means, I’m helping readers understand information – it’s a process of breaking down abstract things. In learning art and design, my way of thinking has also been influenced. I tend to look at the deeper meaning of things rather than the surface. This way of thinking is very beneficial both to my life and my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cindyliuartworks.com/homepage
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nekohajimeliu/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyliuartworks/
• Other: Email: cindyliuartworks@outlook,com

Image Credits
image credits: ©Xinyi(Cindy)Liu2024