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

Peili, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

I was an electrical engineer before. The fun part of engineering was dealing with problems. You knew there were always exact answers to the questions as long as you devoted time and knowledge. Gradually, I got tired. I went to exhibitions, read books and learned to draw. I found myself indulged in the art world, feeling obsessed with the beauty of abstract, especially those illustrations based on text. Thanks to my prior job, I got to know myself better and finally set my career goal as an illustrator.

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.

I illustrate children’s books. After quitting my engineer’s job, I came to the U.S. as an illustration student. Then I became who I am now, a freelance illustrator working with authors who are a mother, an educator, and a nanny. They love kids, care about them and are eager to write stories for them. As for my part, I’m responsible for delivering their story in the form of my art. I always feel inspired by their text. Even a single word can trigger my creativity and lead me to brainstorm something fun. Art and literature complement each other. As a seasoned illustrator, I got the recognition from the Society of Illustrators and SCBWI. Clients came to me because they loved my art. Please check out my website if you’re interested!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I admire the idea of Wu-Wei from the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. Simply put, let it flow. The self-driven power of people will lead to a new place that you never thought about or planned. Like some of my art experiments, after I set loose my paint, I had no idea what they would look like. Every result was unique and fun for me. I enjoy the process of losing control.

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?

To begin with, I insist that there are no non-creatives in the world. Everyone can be creative in some ways. It could be an innovative dish you made, a solution to a problem, a fun birthday wish you wrote to a friend, the rearrangement of furniture in your room, etc. So we definitely need to be creative to make life brighter and more beautiful.
Plus, radical innovation often comes from outside the dominant industry. Considering yourself as a creative one might sometimes generate a new perspective to your work. For instance, NASA’s freeze-drying techniques have been used to create freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches and other foods that are easy to rehydrate. As an artist, I see the world differently through my unique lenses. That’s fascinating and mind-opening.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peiliart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peiliart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huang.peili.1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peili-huang-431b61184/