Today we’d like to introduce you to Yiming Zhai.
Hi Yiming, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
After I graduated from art school, I did not know how to start my career. I felt unsure about my direction. One day I had a chance to meet Heth, the boss of LandDesign. He saw my work and decided to hire me to paint a large mural for their new office in Dallas. This project became a turning point for me. After I shared the mural online, more people discovered my work. That is how I began my journey as a mural artist.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. Even today, I feel that I am still searching for the style that truly belongs to me. I want to find a style that fully shows my ideas about art, but I have not reached it yet. I often feel unsure and keep exploring. But I believe I am moving closer to the answer, step by step.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create cute and fun illustrations. This is my main focus and what people know me for. One of the works I am most proud of is the mural I made for LandDesign called “Howdy LandDesign Dallas.” It helped me grow a lot as an artist.
Right now I am also working on a new version of my children’s book “Look! This is my dinosaur!” I created the first version when I was a student. I feel that this new version may become my next important work.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I cannot give strong advice, because I am not very good at networking myself. I am a very introverted person, so it is hard for me to introduce my work to others. But from my experience, every time I push myself to share my art with someone, something good usually happens. It has shown me that taking a small step forward can open a new door.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeyi_art/
Image Credits
Photo by Yiming Zhai
