We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yokiz Xi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yokiz below.

Yokiz, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I’m currently a freelance illustrator and a part-time server at a restaurant. Being an artist brings me immense joy because it allows me to explore new perspectives. Through studying art, I’ve developed a more scientific approach to observing the world, focusing on aspects like color and light, human anatomy, and perspectives. Understanding psychology and brain science has also taught me how colors and shapes can evoke emotions. It’s fascinating to see how adjusting composition and object placement can convey actions and set the atmosphere.

Despite the theoretical aspects of art, being an artist is also a journey of self-discovery for me. I constantly question myself about what and why I want to draw. Often, I feel deeply compelled by concepts or images in my mind and eagerly anticipate bringing them to life. However, there’s often a disconnect between my brain and body. Sometimes, my brain visualizes scenes that my hands struggle to execute, while other times, my hands create in ways my brain didn’t foresee. This process intrigues me because it allows both my mind and body to collaborate toward a goal, sometimes surprising me with the results.

As my knowledge deepens, I find myself growing happier and more invested in the field of art. My part-time job provides me with a stable income. Conventional jobs typically have clear guidelines and required skills. In contrast, art demands ongoing self-development. Each artist possesses unique skills and approaches within the field. I find the concept of the ikigai diagram would be good to bring up here. Originating from Japan, it guides individuals to discover their life purpose by intersecting what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs, and what they can be paid for. Pursuing our ikigai isn’t just valuable for artists but for everyone seeking fulfillment in their lives.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m currently a freelance illustrator specializing in the editorial, picture book, book cover, and motion design industries. I thrive on working with concepts and storytelling, offering insightful and creative solutions for magazines and books. Playing with colors is a particular passion of mine; I believe color not only draws people in but also connects with them emotionally. For me, it’s crucial that illustrations are not only visually captivating but also able to capture and hold an audience’s attention, encouraging them to pause and engage with the content. Creating works that provoke people’s emotions and thoughts is something I find meaningful. I’m also enthusiastic about exploring various industries, such as mural art, animation, patterning, and 3D modeling. I enjoy trying new techniques and software to see how my illustrations can play in different creative fields.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve studied art since I was a kid, experimenting with various traditional mediums until my sophomore year of college. That year, I ventured into digital art, which opened up a whole new world for me. Digital art operates quite differently, and I had a lot to learn. At the time, I was very interested in game art and created numerous artworks and practices, believing I had found my dream job. However, my perspective changed in my junior year. I realized I wanted to draw in my own style, which was challenging to achieve in game art.

This led me to discover the illustration industry, which offers artists significant freedom in style. It was exciting to find what I truly enjoyed, but it also meant learning many new things. In my junior year, my style was still quite rendered and realistically portrayed. Another shift occurred in my senior year when I found my passion for graphic illustration. I enjoyed how I could paint subjects in any colors I liked and distort shapes to be more stylized. During this time, I learned about shape language and color psychology and developed an inclination towards abstract art.

College life brought many unexpected changes, and I gradually figured out what I liked to do. The journey of these changes was invaluable, as I learned so much from exploring different industries. I’ve often wondered when I would settle on the skills I have, and I think the answer is never. Art is something I will always find fascinating and will continue to learn about.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe illustrators deserve more recognition. Often, when I tell people I am an illustrator, they have no idea what it means. Most of the time, people only credit gallery artists. However, illustrations are all around us. Book covers, book interior
illustrations, advertising posters, patterns, and even our screen wallpapers are all examples. Most of the things around us are designed and illustrated. It’s important to credit the designers and illustrators who make our lives colorful, beautiful, and convenient.

I also recommend that people join art events or simply draw at home. Art as a subject has often been viewed negatively. Holding thoughts like “art is useless,” “art doesn’t make money,” or “art is hard” blocks people’s possibilities. Take it easy when you are making art; experience different artists’ perspectives and try to explore your unique vision. Understanding what artists are actually doing and thinking is the best way to support them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yokizxi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yokizxi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yokiz-xi/

Image Credits

Yokiz Xi