We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yuanhao Tang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Yuanhao, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
My journey in the art world began in middle school, and it was a transformative experience for my younger self. Art quickly became an escape from the stress and demands of school, where I was not considered a “good student” by most teachers. As I discovered this creative outlet, I eagerly immersed myself in learning more and haven’t stopped since. However, it wasn’t until high school that my passion for art took on a new level of significance. During that time, I faced a significant change in my life due to a spine problem that required surgery. I was confined to my bed for a year, and it took another year to recover and get my life back on track. Reading novels became my primary source of entertainment and inspiration during that difficult period. As I delved into these stories, I was drawn to using my artistic skills to bring them to life. Then, I realized my ultimate goal: to become an illustrator who tells captivating stories.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My focus as an illustrator lies primarily in book illustrations and picture books geared toward children and teenagers. My work includes book covers, multi or single-chapter pages, spread-page images, and movie and TV posters. My goal is to create artwork that is not only visually striking but also tells a strong story that’s fun and a little off-beat.
The line is a defining element in my artwork and an essential aspect of my style. In contrast to the more common painting styles found in the book illustration market, my unique style offers an alternative that can evoke a different emotional response from viewers. This style has even earned me recognition as a runner-up in Creative Quarterly 71, a prestigious illustration contest. While it was my first contest after finding my new style, the achievement has given me great encouragement and confidence.
The stories I illustrate are primarily inspired by the events and observations around me, from which I seek creative inspiration. Sometimes, I explore alternative perspectives to enrich my creations. This approach allows me to be more than just a book illustrator. It equips me with the ability to create editorial illustrations that cleverly integrate real emotions and events into the picture. Delicate lines and skillful composition are my strengths in this field.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
During my second year of high school, I was laid up for an extended period due to my spinal condition. I was swamped with commitments, including college entrance exams, art exams, and other responsibilities, when I fully recovered. When I returned to school, most of my peers were studying for or had already completed their college entrance exams. As an art student with aspirations to pursue a career in the field, I felt ignored by the school. Despite our focus on art, we still needed to make up for “normal” subjects, which the school didn’t provide much support for. As a result, we had to seek additional tutoring outside of school. My situation was even more challenging because of my illness. Compared to other art students, I had less time to prepare for the exams, which were almost shortened to less than half a year. I had to make up for nearly one or two years’ worth of material in a condensed timeframe. The intensive studying of six subjects filled every day, leaving no time for rest or creative pursuits. Before entering university, I barely touched a brush. Such a long gap in practice could have been fatal for someone starting out to become an illustrator.
During this time, my family questioned me and looked at me like a failure. I also experienced the loss of loved ones, further adding to the difficult period. However, my mother provided unwavering support and was the only person in my family who believed in me. Despite the odds, I was admitted to an excellent local comprehensive university, much to everyone’s surprise.
My experiences during that challenging period have continued to inspire me to this day. It proved my tenacity and confirmed my belief that success can be achieved through hard work and a bit of luck.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As an artist and content creator, I consider myself fortunate to work in an era that places increasing importance on visual appeal. Through our skills, we can convey emotional value to the world, whether our own or the people we portray. While it may not always be positive, art offers freedom often limited in other areas of life. In an imperfect world, individuals may face restrictions due to their status or other factors, but art allows us to explore a world of fantasy and escape.
Editorial illustrations hold a unique power in allowing artists to address injustices and advocate for groups suffering from inequality. Personally, it is both a blessing and affirmation to use my skills to create something meaningful and exciting for audiences in this unfair world. I hope to make a difference and inspire others to do the same by bringing warmth and positivity to my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yhillustration.portfoliobox.net/
- Instagram: halfhandhenry
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuanhao-tang-a925381b9/
Image Credits
Yuanhao Tang