Meet Heng Zeng | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heng Zeng and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heng, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I make long-term plans carefully before I start to do something. I evaluate a lot of things, including, of course, the implementability of the thing. More importantly, I will think about if I could have long-term positive emotions about it. In my opinion, emotions are the most important thing for everyone to live, and if something can keep us under stress for years and years, then it must be something that needs to be given up.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was a college student studying accounting, but when I was in college, I found myself falling in love with drawing, so I studied it hard on my own at that time, practiced drawing every day, and eventually got a graduate degree in illustration. While I was studying illustration, I also worked hard to enter many competitions and let more clients know me, so that I could get more opportunities for commercial illustration. So I think the most important thing as an artist is to identify what you really like and to be able to persist in this path.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend and I are both foodies, so we must be eating all kinds of good food. And for us, taking pictures is also an essential part of our travels. He and I have traveled to New York, Philadelphia, Vermont, D.C., Seattle, and many other places, leaving behind countless precious photos. It may sound superficial, but for us, taking pictures is one of the most important things in traveling. Years later we will look through the photo album and remember how happy and excited we once were.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The one I would like to praise the most is Shaun Tan, an Australian illustrator whose work is always the most inspiring to me. He draws picture books, and what strikes me about his work is not only the beautiful illustrations, but also the thought-provoking stories. We are all working people living in the modern city, we really need a breathing space, and Shaun Tan’s works are always healing to me, such as his book ”Tales from the Inner City”.

Website: https://sophan0902.wixsite.com/hengzeng

Instagram: hengzenggg