We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laomo Wang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laomo, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
As a creative professional, I often find myself in a bit of a pickle. Constantly pondering and pumping out creative ideas and inspiration really stresses me out, both mentally and physically. The joy in artistic creation is usually just a brief moment in the long process. It could be that instant when inspiration strikes, when a piece is finished, or when I break through a creative block. Right after, an empty feeling hits, as if I’m muttering, “Oh no, here I go again.”
The last time this thought crossed my mind was last month, while I was working on an illustrated book. I hit a wall, feeling my illustrations lacked that easy – going vibe. I wondered if an ordinary job, one without all this mental and physical strain, would be more relaxing. So, I took a break from my work. After a week off, when I resumed, that sense of looseness returned.
My lesson? Don’t push yourself too hard. Relax and recharge, and you’ll perform better. Just like a cat – it needs to be relaxed to jump high.
Laomo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
During my college years, my major was Drama, Film and Television Studies. I’ve been fond of painting since I was a kid, and after graduating with a master’s degree, I officially dived into the world of illustration creation.
My daily gig mainly involves creating illustrations for commercial brands, magazines or books.
Maybe it’s because my college major was related to movies, but my works usually feature scenes that are full of stories. I’m really into traditional Chinese elements, so there are lots of depictions of Chinese traditional culture and elements in my paintings. That’s what makes my works stand out. I’m good at using modern digital painting tools to show the charm of oriental ink – wash in my pictures. It’s like I’m bringing that ancient ink – wash style into the digital age, kind of a cool blend!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I really hope society can establish a global protection mechanism and legal provisions for the copyright of painters’ works. It’d be like a warm, reassuring hug for us creators. With such safeguards, we’d feel more confident and inspired to keep painting our hearts out!
Have you ever had to pivot?
In the past two years, my career has gradually shifted from publishing – related illustrations to commercial illustration collaborations. I haven’t changed my painting style to pander to the commercial market. I believe a distinct style makes me irreplaceable in the art market.
But commercial collaborations are quite different from publishing – based work and self – directed creations. The biggest difference for me is the communication with clients. In publishing – related illustration projects, I had more creative freedom. However, in commercial work, I need to align with the clients’ demands.
Last year, several commercial projects really drove this point home. Often, clients preferred Plan B while I favored Plan A. I’d try to persuade them, but it didn’t always work. There are so many factors behind a client’s decision, not all of them from an artistic perspective. Once I understood this, I let go of my obsession with pure artistic pursuit. Now, I ensure a certain quality level and do my best to bring the clients’ ideas to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laomowang.com
- Instagram: @laoomo
- Other: REDnote : LAOMO
Image Credits
Laomo Wang