We were lucky to catch up with Zhen Liu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zhen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today 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?

I think I’m happiest when I’m creating. There’s a particular sense of fulfillment that comes from creating images—I feel very connected to who I am. But many times this path has felt insecure. Being an artist often comes with uncertainty, and there have definitely been many moments when I’ve wondered what life would be like with a more “regular” job.

Sometimes when I’m working on portfolio pieces, I wonder whether all the effort will eventually lead somewhere. In those moments, I imagine what it might feel like to have a stable 9-to-5 job where the path is clearer and the income is predictable—where you know exactly what you’re building toward.

But whenever I imagine stepping away from creativity completely, something inside me pushes back. I realize that creating images, telling stories, and building visual worlds isn’t just a career choice for me—it’s how I process life and express meaning. Even when the road is uncertain, I feel more like myself when I’m making something.

So the insight I’ve come to is that it isn’t really a choice between happiness and stability. For me, the challenge is learning how to build a life where creativity can also be sustainable. That’s the path I’m continuing to explore—growing as an artist while also finding ways to make the work connect with people. In the end, creativity is the constant thread that keeps pulling me forward.

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 background and context?

I’m a visual development artist and illustrator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. My work focuses on children’s books and visual development for animation, helping bring stories to life through images. I’ve always been drawn to images that carry emotion, and that curiosity is what led me into animation and children’s publishing.

Like many kids, I first fell in love with drawing. Over time, that interest evolved into a deeper fascination with visual storytelling—how color, composition, and lighting can shape the way people experience a story. That path eventually led me into this colorful creative world.

In my work, I collaborate with directors, writers, editors, and creative teams to translate story ideas into visual form. In my most recent project, my role was to explore how a world should feel—its mood, lighting, textures, and shapes—and help establish a cohesive visual direction. The goal is not only to create images that look appealing, but also to support the emotional rhythm of the story.

I’m especially interested in images that evoke a sense of place and emotion—whether it’s a quiet landscape or a subtle moment between characters. I try to design images that feel cinematic and immersive while still maintaining a stylized and expressive visual language.

One thing I’m particularly proud of is the range of visual worlds I’ve been able to explore through my work. Each project requires a different tone and design language, and I enjoy the challenge of adapting my style to serve the story while still bringing my own artistic voice into the process.

More than anything, I want people who encounter my work to feel something—curiosity, wonder, or the sense that a story is unfolding. Recently someone told me, “I feel like I’ve seen that piece of yours in a dream.” Moments like that mean a lot to me. At the heart of everything I do is the belief that images can carry meaning and emotion, and that visual storytelling has the power to connect people across cultures and experiences.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had found a stronger artist community and mentorship earlier in my career. Having conversations with other artists and learning from their experiences can make a huge difference.

I also wish I had discovered earlier how much valuable knowledge is available through online courses, artist talks, and portfolio reviews. Many experienced artists openly share their process and insights about the industry, and learning directly from people already working in animation or publishing can make the path feel much clearer.

Another habit I value now is studying films and illustrations more intentionally. Instead of just enjoying the final result, I try to notice how lighting, composition, color, and staging create emotion in a scene. That kind of observation has become an important way for me to keep growing as an artist.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

This a little personal for me. Becoming a creative person has always been my dream, but it’s also connected to someone very important in my life who passed away at a young age. We once shared the same dream of pursuing a creative life.

In many ways, continuing this path feels like carrying that dream forward for both of us. It gives my work a deeper meaning and reminds me why creativity matters so much to me.

Whenever the journey feels uncertain, I think about that connection and it gives me strength to keep going. Creating art is not only something I love—it’s also a way of honoring a shared dream and keeping that spirit alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zhenlzhen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhen.l.zhen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZhenLiuArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhen-l-zhen/

Image Credits

Zhen Liu