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

Hi Van, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

As a concept artist in the gaming industry, my experience with video games was limited during my childhood. Growing up with my grandparents, who didn’t have a computer or gaming console, I found solace in their extensive collection of books. Sneaking into their library, I would sketch characters from those enchanting stories on a notebook, sparking my passion for art.

In middle school, I joined a local acting troupe, where I eagerly designed costumes for various characters despite our limited budget. It was during this time that I realized my love for creating art.

To explore my options, I enrolled in an art college, where I finally had my own laptop. Exploring a wide variety of video games, I became captivated by the immersive narratives and discovered the role of a concept artist. This led me to pursue further training at the esteemed Art Center College of Design.

Upon graduating, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a concept artist. Working on AAA games like Apex Legends and contributing to Marvel Studios’ animated series, I had the privilege to showcase my skills and captivate audiences worldwide.

I take pride in my journey as a concept artist and look forward to creating visually stunning experiences for gamers and fans.

Van, 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?

As a concept artist with experience designing characters for video games and animations, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to bring various imaginative and diverse personalities to life. My primary goal is to create characters that visually resonate with the audience and possess depth and engage them on an emotional level.

Teaming up with talented writers, designers, and developers, I make sure my characters fit seamlessly into the immersive world. It’s like solving a puzzle, figuring out their backstory, motivations, and how they rock that virtual universe.

Being a character designer is a joyride; knowing that my creations leave players with lasting memories and an insatiable craving for more is driven me want be a better concept artist.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

AI art has become increasingly prevalent in various fields. However, I believe that society should support human artists more, as their unique contributions can be immensely valuable. In my personal view, there is something truly special and irreplaceable about the work of human artists. Their ability to capture and convey emotions, experiences, and personal perspectives in a way that deeply resonates with others is truly remarkable.

I think AI Art often serves as a reflection of the human experience, and the personal touch and creativity that human artists bring to their work cannot be replicated by AI. Each piece they create uniquely expresses their passion, vision, and artistic style, making it truly one-of-a-kind.

I have had the privilege of being surrounded by many talented and passionate artists who genuinely love the process of creating and expressing themselves. I believe that human artists possess the incredible skill to capture fleeting moments and emotions and skillfully depict them through their work. The amount of passion and love that human artists infuse into their creations is truly special and cannot be replaced by AI-generated art. So If society could provide more support for human artists, that’d be super helpful!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As a concept artist in the gaming industry, I am driven by a deep passion for immersive storytelling and creating visually captivating game worlds. My aspiration is to constantly push the boundaries of imagination and craftsmanship, drawing inspiration from the study of historical characters. I firmly believe that video game or animation character design extends beyond aesthetics. It is crucial for an artist to delve into the character’s daily life and philosophy to craft an immersive world authentically.

Pursuing this goal, I humbly dedicate myself to continuous learning and exploration. I am deeply interested in the narratives of history, the complexities of criminal cases, and the unfolding stories of the present. By merging these insights into my design process, I strive to gain more understanding of human behavior and infuse my creations with greater depth and authenticity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artstation.com/vanli
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/van_li_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/790van/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Image Credits
n/a