We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yiran Cui(Tsui) a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yiran, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Being an artist or a creative has felt like the only answer to me ever since I decided to apply for art school back in high school. The day I mentioned it to my mom about wanting to study art took a lot of courage, but since then, my goal has never wavered.

It was a very bold and sudden decision to make, especially for my parents.
No one in my family worked in the art industry, and as far as I know, no one from my high school had ever applied to or studied illustration. I had no leverage back then, but I knew what I wanted to do. Thankfully, my parents, especially my mom, were really supportive of me in pursuing what I love to do.

I spent a few amazing years at the School of Visual Arts. Absorbing the bursting energy of New York and being surrounded by many talented and kind people only deepened my determination to be an artist. It didn’t take long before I set my sights on applying to grad school after college.

But life is unpredictable. I will never forget the day when I found out my mom was diagnosed with cancer – it changed everything. It was mid-summer, but my hands were ice-cold. That was a time that filled with fear, confusion, and tons of emotional weight. I couldn’t fathom the abrupt change for a long time. I tried to talk about it with my friends, but I found my lips frozen. I wasn’t ready to speak about it. Fear and uncertainty have eaten my confidence and dream raw.

Sank in confusion, I started thinking about giving up on grad school. I considered staying in the city I grew up in, finding any job to earn a salary, and be close to my family.

It wasn’t until sometime later that I finally gathered the courage to tell my mom that I was thinking about giving up on grad school. She was having a salad I made for her, she gently set down her chopsticks and looked me in the eyes, and said, “Don’t let anything change the path you’ve chosen for your life.”

Just like four years ago, she’s still the world’s most supportive person to me.

Last summer, I spent a large amount of time in the hospital, accompanying my mother for her chemotherapy treatment. I cried when she fell asleep, but the time spent there also gave me the chance to reflect on what truly matters to me, and in many ways, how this experience shaped the kind of stories I want to tell through my work as an illustrator.

It has come to me that now, more than ever before, I should embrace life with unwavering passion. This love ought to be expansive, enveloping both me and my mother.

For this very reason, I created the work titled Serve It with Hope, which is a recipe book based on my daily routine of preparing meals for my mom. It all started with a doodle in my sketchbook without any particular purpose. But in those days spent in the hospital, I have talked to many family members of patients, and many of them, especially younger ones like me, who had very little knowledge about cancer before, wished to have some kind of leverage in taking care of their loved ones. So I created this book for all of us.

I spent nearly a few months on this project, and during that process, I have found a sense of inner peace.

When the book was finished, it was also the end of my mom’s chemo treatment. I gave the book to her to celebrate a new beginning and the joy in her eyes that day reaffirmed my commitment to draw, to create, and to tell stories that matter.

There may be little I can do in this world, I am just as powerless when facing realities, but sometimes, I can also do a lot. Through creating, I have the chance to bring comfort, warmth, and even happiness to others, which I feel incredibly grateful for.

Looking back at those days, I realize that creating this cookbook was not only to provide others with a way to deal with fear – it was also my own way of healing. Being an artist helps me find answers to many questions of life. It provides an opportunity for an honest internal conversation with myself.

And in this quiet dialogue with myself, if my work can bring a little peace or comfort to you, it would be my great honor.

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.

Hi I’m Yiran, an award-winning illustrator and printmaker, graduated from the School of Visual Arts, now based in China.

I create original illustrations and turn them into a variety of products, like keychains, postcards, wall tapestries, and more. I also enjoy working with embroidery, and I make hand-stitched items such as coasters, table cloths, and decorative charms.

You can find me at art fairs and markets where I showcase my work, and I’m always excited to connect with people who enjoy thoughtful design and products. Whether you’re looking for a small gift or a unique piece of home decor, I hope my stuff can bring a bit of joy to your life!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

It was years ago when I was interning at a jewelry studio as a graphic designer. But at the moment, I was still in the learning phase of graphic design, which meant I was still used to creating with the eyes and habits of an illustrator.

So when I was assigned to create a poster for the studio’s fashion week event, I created something very illustration-centered – the visuals and the images were placed right in the center of the poster. However, I completely overlooked the functional role of a poster, which is to deliver information at first sight. But I made the important details, such as time and location, very small and placed them at the corners of the layout.

Of course, the poster had to be redone. But it was the moment I realized that when working across different creative fields, it’s important to consciously switch your mindset and working habit based on the nature of the task. Sometimes you need to temporarily set aside your usual way of creating in order to serve the purpose of the work.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My advice is to continually post your work on your social media. It doesn’t matter how many likes and comments you got right away, because your audience will find you eventually! What’s important is to stay active and let people know where to find your art.

And don’t hesitate to leave a few kind words if you see some work you really love or appreciate, not only can it help you to build up new connections, but it would probably brighten someone’s entire day!^^

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yirantsuii.cargo.site/
• Instagram: @yirantsuii

Image Credits

Yiran Cui(Tsui)