We were lucky to catch up with Nelson Mai recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nelson, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I attended LaGuardia High School in NYC, where I received training in a traditional arts curriculum. We learned to study through observation and imagination, exploring various mediums such as oil painting, marble sculpture, ceramics, and woodblock printing. By my senior year, I had developed a solid body of work that showcased both technical skill and creative expression.
After graduating from high school in 2018, I entered the School of Visual Arts with aspirations of becoming a VFX artist. Looking back, I had little understanding of what being a “VFX artist” truly meant. With limited knowledge of digital arts, my professors and classmates became my primary sources of learning 3D. While traditional schooling formed the backbone of my art practice, what really accelerated my learning was self-guided exploration. I spent countless hours scouring YouTube tutorials, Reddit threads, and online forums, searching for the additional instruction needed to bring my vision to life. My curiosity about how 3D programs worked was the driving force behind my growth.
My goal was to create beautiful, technically masterful work. This set a lot of pressure on me, and with only a few semesters of 3D training, I had high expectations and was very critical of my progress. This toxic mindset hindered me, leaving me feeling anxious and immobile. Looking back, I wish I had shown myself more grace and compassion during my early learning process.

Nelson, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I work with creative production studios and independent artists as a contract 3D artist. With my generalist background in modeling, look development, and lighting, I bring my clients’ creative visions to life, allowing them to see their concepts in tangible form. The work I’ve created spans commercial, film, fashion, and design industries.
When working, I always consider how my work will be used and displayed, understanding the client’s perspective and the target audience. This helps me adapt my style and workflow for each project. Some jobs give me more creative freedom, while others require me to translate a vision one-to-one.
The work I do professionally feeds into my personal projects, and vice versa. Outside of freelancing as a 3D generalist, I create art that deeply explores my queer Chinese American heritage. I use tools like Maya and Zbrush, along with traditional mediums, to build worlds that embody themes of family, what it means to be Chinese American, and my experiences as a queer Asian youth in New York City. Through my work, I translate the complex intersection of feeling “othered” as both Chinese American and queer, while also capturing the heavenly and magical aspects of my identity. My interests and background outside of my professional work keep me grounded and motivated, especially during freelance lulls when contract work isn’t coming in as frequently as I’d like.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think non-creatives underestimate what it “takes” to be a creative. So much schooling, training, and discipline goes into the making of a successful artist. You find yourself in a constant battle of self doubt, self-discipline, and self worth. Your work becomes your life, and your life is your work, oftentimes it’s hard to separate the two. As a creative, your work is an extension of yourself, you must be brave, confident and strong-willed to maintain a successful and fulfilling career.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The true reward of being an artist lies in our ability to “respond”. The inner mind is an endless, intricate realm filled with convoluted ideas and contradictions. As artists, it is our role to navigate this complex landscape, weaving our thoughts into something tangible and meaningful. Through our work, we engage with questions that life presents us, and we offer our interpretations in the form of art. This “call to respond” is a common experience, a journey that everyone encounters. The artist accepts this quest, and for me, it’ll take a lifetime to figure out what I want to say. But that’s the appeal of being an artist!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nelsonmai.com
• Instagram: nelson.maii
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonmai/