We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Xiaojie Liu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Xiaojie below.
Xiaojie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I think it was when I was in high school. At that time, I was faced with the first choice in my life. If I chose this path as an art student, it meant that I had to stay away from my hometown and my parents, and learn painting. At the same time, I had to prepare for the college entrance examination. My parents and I thought about it for a week, and I told them that I really wanted to take painting as my lifelong pursuit, although they were worried about whether my material life would be guaranteed in the future, they agreed.
Xiaojie, 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?
My name is Xiaojie Liu. I am an award-winning illustrator based in New York, received a BA in illustration from the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts in 2015, and an MFA in illustration from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2018. My works have been selected in the AI-AP Latin American Illustration, Creative Quarterly, Ijungle Illustration Awards, Asian Illustration Annual Awards, etc. My clients include Lyft (Nice Ride), McDonald’s, Macmillan, Editions Auzou, Grazia, LinkNYC, Children’s Theatre Company, Weisman Art Museum, Propublica, MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Art), Phoenix Publishing and Media Inc, Literature for Children, China Campus Literature Magazine, etc. My children’s books were published in the past several years such as Reporting the Weather, Great Book of Fantastic Creatures and Sleeping Beauty, and the picture books Metaverse and Computer Chips will be published in 2023.
When I was a child, I really liked to look through the illustrations and words in the books together. When I grow up, I found that in my college they have the illustration major, so I chose it. In the process of learning, I gradually found that I have gained a lot, whether it is the improvement of aesthetics or the improvement of technology. When I was about to graduate from university, I planned to go abroad. In the end, I chose the United States, hoping to learn more about the top commercial illustration knowledge.
My illustrations are full of yearning for a better life. I like all living things, such as plants, animals and people themselves. I love the beautiful color combinations and patterns. I like innocent and romantic style. I also try to convey these through my works, and even convey my love for ethnic culture as a minority girl.
My illustration works cover so many fields such as package design, graphic design, editorial illustrations, children’s books and more.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think the society should increase the wages and treatment for early childhood education. Especially in the aspect of aesthetic education, improve the aesthetic level of teachers, so that more artistic talents will flock to the posts of basic education. The future of the children is the future of the whole country, and strengthening children’s art appreciation education is the greatest contribution to the whole society.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
You can feel the beautiful things that comes from life, and you can see the world from a different perspective from others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xiaojieliu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xiaojie__liu/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaojie-liu-baa761165/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/xiaojie__liu
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alicia3636
Image Credits
https://www.xiaojieliu.com/