We were lucky to catch up with Zoe Feng recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zoe , thanks for 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?
Becoming a full-time artist is both exciting and somewhat worrisome. When creating art in my spare time, my standards for the work were relatively low—I simply aimed to have fun. However, after resigning from my position in art education, my expectations for myself gradually increased, and I often found myself dissatisfied with my creative output and overall state. I spent each day creating at home, with minimal social interaction outside of time with my family. Occasionally, when my artwork didn’t meet my expectations, I even experienced a sense of melancholy.
During this period, I realized, as a social being, the need for interpersonal connections. I discovered that what I craved wasn’t interaction with adults but rather engagement with imaginative children, as it brought about a fresh enthusiasm for creating art and a stress-free return to the essence of artistic expression. Consequently, I returned to school and took on a substitute teaching role. Being with this dynamic group of little individuals, I rediscovered the fundamental motivations for artistic creation. The flexible schedule of this job also provided me with ample time and energy for my artistic endeavors, and the additional income was certainly beneficial.
Zoe , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I graduated with a master’s degree from the College of Fine Arts at Northeast Normal University, China. Following graduation, I engaged in various stages of art education and artistic creation in both China and the United States. My recent paintings primarily utilize water-based media.
I have a fondness for water, captivated by its diverse forms, and I love its soft, crystalline nature and the overwhelming energy it possesses. In my recent works, watercolor and ink are the primary medium. Under the erosion of water, various forms intertwine with memories and emotions, blending together with infinite possibilities, naturally blossoming and growing wildly. My intuitive painting originates from this.
Contrary to the process of painting in my previous art education, there is no planning or preparation. Meditating on the colors of water in my mind, I let the brush flow with soothing or intense strokes. As I paint, naturally and effortlessly, a small flower may bloom, a face may appear… This form of creation brings me endless joy and reinforces my belief that art is an invaluable presence in the material world. All connections between humanity and the natural world begin with a single water molecule.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As an artist, the most satisfying aspect for me is how it has transformed my personality, making me more confident in expressing myself and more decisive in addressing issues in both life and work.
As an introverted individual growing up in an environment that revered authority and suppressed one’s true nature, I developed a fear of teachers and leaders from a young age. I struggled with pressure, often being indecisive and rarely speaking in public. Even when providing demonstration paintings for students, I felt pressured and performed poorly. My major is oil painting, a medium that allows for scraping off and revisions. However, I always felt dissatisfied with my work, repeatedly modifying it, only to lose the initial feeling and freedom of expression.
After exploring watercolor, where water introduces uncontrollable factors, I embraced the unexpected and errors as beautiful. Relaxing and facing the mistakes that I once feared, I turned them into new elements I had never tried before, opening up many possibilities. Later, I started using Chinese rice paper for watercolor, a fragile medium where almost no modifications are possible, and brushstrokes cannot be slow. Without sketches or reference images, I directly applied ink and pigments to the paper. As the ink slowly spread across the surface, I contemplated what to paint based on the natural shapes forming. It became a wonderful adventure, and I felt proud of my bravery and happy about the rewards gained from this exploratory journey. I’ve noticed that I’ve become more decisive and confident in life.
I am still an introvert, but years of watercolor practice have transformed me into a more confident and comfortable introvert.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2022, I resigned from my long-standing career in art education to pursue a full-time role as an artist. I had a deep passion for art teaching and cherished my students. However, the day-to-day demands of my job consumed most of my time. The inspiration and enthusiasm I accumulated during teaching were often left unexplored in my own creative pursuits.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: artbyzoefeng
Image Credits
Lulu Hu, Zoe Feng