Meet Qinglan Li | 3D Artist & Motion Designer

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

Hi Qinglan, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite quote at the moment is, “Done first, perfection later.” I can’t recall exactly where I heard this, but it stuck with me during my undergraduate thesis project. At that time, I was just starting to explore animation and motion design. I struggled a lot with deciding on a topic and figuring out the style and form of art I wanted to create.

I spent hours searching for references and inspiration online, looking at other artists’ work. Instead of feeling inspired, I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of incredible work out there. Self-doubt began to creep in, and I started believing I could never be as good as them. That mindset led to procrastination, limiting my creativity, and made me even more anxious as deadlines approached.

This quote saved me from that spiral. I told myself, “Okay, just focus on getting it done first; worry about making it good later.” With that shift in mindset, I stopped overthinking and started working on the first idea that came to mind. I broke it down into small, manageable steps and embraced the process of learning new skills along the way. Once I began production, the anxiety faded. I stopped comparing myself to others and focused on my own journey. To my surprise, I had a lot of fun with the project. My skills improved, and I felt motivated to keep going.

As a young artist, it’s easy to feel lost and unsure of where to start. This is especially true when you’re learning new skills and feel like your work isn’t quite there yet. I’ve found it helpful to start small and keep pushing forward. Don’t worry about perfection right away. Don’t even worry about being good. Once you have something, you can always revisit it and make it better. That’s how I’ve grown as an artist, and that’s why this quote means so much to me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Hi there! I’m Qinglan. I’m a 3D artist and motion designer based in NYC. You can check out my website for my artwork. ‘https://www.artbyqinglan.com/’. My art is deeply rooted in storytelling and design. As an artist, my goal is to create visually engaging and fun works that resonate with my audience. I love transforming cool ideas into dynamic pieces through playful motion and vibrant colors. My stories often draw inspiration from everyday moments, reimagining them as relatable experiences. I’m particularly proud of my personal project, ‘Not Responding,’ where I transformed my fear of computer breakdowns into a playful motion piece. In this work, I brought personality to everyday objects like keyboards and mice, turning a common frustration into something fun and creative.

Getting to where I am today professionally has not been easy. As an international student, I faced cultural and language barriers, as well as the challenge of navigating the art and animation industry in a new country. Early on, I struggled with self-doubt and comparing myself to other artists. This was especially difficult when I felt that my work didn’t measure up to the incredible projects I saw online. However, I learned to overcome these challenges by focusing on consistent growth and embracing a mindset of progress over perfection. I started breaking down projects into smaller, achievable goals and worked on improving my skills step by step.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of persistence and being open to learning from others. The support of my mentors, peers, and the artist community has been instrumental in helping me refine my craft. I’ve also learned the value of self-expression and staying true to my creative voice. Art isn’t just about technical skills; it’s about connecting with an audience and sharing a piece of yourself through your work.

What I want the world to know about me and my story is that I’m passionate about creating meaningful art that resonates with people. My journey has taught me that no matter how daunting the path may seem, taking small steps and staying true to your vision can lead to incredible growth and opportunities. Through my art, I hope to inspire others to embrace their creativity, pursue their dreams, and believe in the power of storytelling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in NYC at the moment, and one of the many reasons I choose to stay here is that I am a big theatre fan. I would definitely take my friend to see one of the amazing Broadway shows—it’s an absolute must. I also love the museums in NYC, so we could visit the MET, followed by a relaxing walk through Central Park. If it’s during the winter holiday season, I’d take them to the holiday markets at Union Square and Bryant Park for some festive snacks and drinks. For food, Ktown is one of my favorite spots to enjoy incredible Asian cuisine.

Beyond that, I’d plan a day exploring some of the city’s iconic neighborhoods. We could wander through SoHo for its unique shops and street art, and then head to the West Village for its charming streets and cafes. And for something a little different, we could explore the High Line, and maybe grab some food at Chelsea Market afterward.

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?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my mentor, and dearest friend, Gonzalo Janer. He is a character animator and motion designer and was the first industry professional I got to know when I started my master’s program here in the U.S.

As an international student, I found it challenging to understand what it’s like to work as a professional artist. I was also a bit lost when it came to defining my career goals. I’ve always been passionate about 3D art, but I wasn’t sure if I should specialize in one aspect of it or embrace a generalist approach. I also had questions about the differences between working on animated feature films versus commercial projects and what kind of portfolio I needed to stand out.

Gonzo, being incredibly kind and generous, shared his own story of breaking into the industry after graduating from the program. He talked about landing his first job, learning character animation and motion design, and navigating the challenges of the field. He also provided valuable tips on networking and connecting with other artists—something that was especially helpful to me as an introvert.

Gonzo introduced me to some of his artist friends, invited them to our class to share their experiences, and even helped me refine my portfolio. His advice on my projects has been invaluable, pushing me to grow and improve as an artist. Through his support, he showed me how encouraging and collaborative the artist community can be. He also inspired me to pay it forward by helping and supporting others.

I am incredibly grateful for Gonzo’s guidance and encouragement. A big, heartfelt thank you to him!

Website: https://www.artbyqinglan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qinglan_art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qinglan-li-960a10294/

Image Credits
Zipei Zhang (co-creater for the image of the cat in space station)