Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zhiyu You. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zhiyu, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

To be honest, when I just graduated, I also hesitated about whether becoming a professional illustrator was wrong and whether I should get a more stable job.

After I got out of college, I sent emails to the art directors of different magazines every day. After more than a month, I still didn’t get any commission. Looking back, it was a pretty normal thing. However, as a fresh graduate, I didn’t know that. For a long time, I was anxious and wondered if I wasn’t ready to be an illustrator, or if I didn’t have the talent.

Luckily, I have a supportive family who wants me to give myself more time and try a little more in New York. At the same time, they also gave me a lot of financial support. But the cost of living in New York is not low. I need more financial sources to support myself. So I applied to be an art teacher, and I found a part-time job as an art teacher in an elementary school. That job made my financial situation a lot better, and I still got my own time to keep working on my own work.

When I persisted for more than three months and almost gave up, I finally got my first editorial illustration commission from The New Republic Magazine. I am very grateful to my art director, Andy, who gave me my first editorial illustration job. Give me the motivation to keep going when I’m about to lose my faith.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Before I went to elementary school, my parents found an art teacher for me after they knew that I love drawing. I draw a lot until junior high school because of the busy homework from school. When I was in high school, I told my parents that I wanted to go to an art college, but my parents hoped that I would study finance like them because being an artist wouldn’t have an unstable job in the future, but I insist to study art. During the second year of high school, they finally agreed I apply for art school and be supportive. Finally, I entered the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China to study arts. But I didn’t like the exam-oriented education in China after I got in there. It was the reason that I come to New York and studied at the School of Visual Arts.

To be honest, I never thought I would become an illustrator. Even after I got into SVA, I was still hesitating about my major. I think it is very difficult for a college student to decide on a major that will be a passion for a lifetime. I only know that art is what I have always insisted on. I like ceramics and sculpture a lot. So after I got into SVA, I also tried some fine art courses, and I also did some design internships during the summer. Later I found out that my favorite thing is still drawing. I just realized that’s the only thing that hasn’t changed over the years.

I am a teller when I am drawing, and a listener when I am tattooing.

My Illustration work is greatly influenced by my Asian cultural background and inspired by some folk tales and classics from the East and the West, and tell the story in my way. Women are the eternal theme in my work. Sometimes they are powerful, sometimes fragile, and sometimes unpredictable. While I was drawing them, I also recognized myself more clearly. I show myself to my reader through them.

I hope that I can bring out the hidden, undetected emotions beneath the surface of women’s daily lives into the spotlight. Help women who are still being treated unfairly. Everyone in modern society has different pressures, and not everyone can understand the pressures of different groups. I want to construct a “female vision” and let more people understand the current social issue.

For tattooing, at the really beginning, I just wanted to show beauty through tattoos. Later, I found out that the story behind the tattoo was what fascinated me the most. I like to listen to the story behind every idea, communicate with different people, and get the chance to know the stories behind their tattoos. Help them balance the beauty and idea of the imagery, and express their feeling through tattoos.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

First of all, definitely, I want more people to see my work and like my work. But also, I want to find a style, which is unique and unforgettable for my artwork. And I am trying to figure out “what makes me, me”

It is not easy for a creator. Some people find it earlier in their career, and some people later. I am trying to capture and organize them from my life. They are hiding in the food I eat, the books I read, and the movies I watch. I write them down when I have some new ideas or details happened in daily life that I really appreciate in my sketchbook. That really helps.

It will probably take a long time to figure out, but it is worth it for me.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I think being consistent definitely will help.

I ask myself, “What kind of content do I like to see on social media?”

My answer is someone that keeps posting something every day or every week. All the YouTubers I followed on Youtube, update their video really often, otherwise people will forget them. Same for Tiktok, Facebook, or Instagram, I would love to see the artists and creators I followed able to post some new work when I sit down and open up my social media. It is really hard to keep up with all these three at the same time. What I really enjoy doing is making art, but I am trying to post my work once I finish them and share my life with my followers, letting them know me better.

Also, I love to see their style consistent. That’s what I working on for my social media all the time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zhiyuyou.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zyuyou_art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhiyu-you/

Image Credits
Vladimir Sorokin Illustration for The New Republic AD: Andy Omel