Meet Yueming Li | Illustrator

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

Hi Yueming, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Odilon Redon once said, “I paint not the things I see but the feelings they evoke in me.” This statement profoundly inspires me to infuse deeper meanings into my works, indefinitely influencing my creative process. Along my journey, I realized that painting is not merely about replicating the 3D world exactly onto a 2D surface, especially in the case of illustration. Visual language serves as an expressive method that transcends the barriers of oral language. Gradually, I combined the core of Redon’s quote with the Chinese painting concept of “imagery” in my practice, leaving space in my works for the audience’s interpretation and fostering a sense of interaction. Constantly, I remind myself in my personal creations: What do I want to express through my content? What am I conveying in the deeper layers of my illustration?

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.
My journey was not a flat road. It has been fraught with challenges, yet I embrace them – confronting and overcoming the challenges fills me with a sense of accomplishment. For a long time, I have been striving to find my own visual language. What excites me is that I found a balance between the painting approaches of Chinese and European styles.

I began with traditional Chinese brush painting in my childhood and later learned classical European painting techniques such as analyzing the perspectives. For years, I chose between these two approaches depending on the project theme and subject matter. However, as I lived abroad, as the “other” in the Western community, I found myself in an “in-between” state and started incorporating this state in my artwork, developing a different visual language. My illustration “Wood Dragon” which was shortlisted in the 2024 Communication Arts Illustration Competition is an example. In this piece, I integrated various Chinese elements, including the dragon, screens and scroll paintings, while applying technique influenced by classical oil painting, particularly in rendering light and shadow.

Additionally, I enjoy collecting feedback from others. I am always curious what people perceive and feel when viewing my work. Their insights provide diverse perspectives not only on the piece itself but also on the challenges I face, greatly helping me overcome the obstacles.

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?
I will take my friends to museums, as I believe they have the deepest connection to the local culture. We all enjoy museum visits, often spending hours slowly browsing, learning about the local history and humanities. I believe that every city, every piece of land, has its own stories, and for creators, these legacies of history and cultural roots are inspiring and invaluable. In addition, we ops for more causal activities like city walks, that allow us randomly enter local stores that interest us, such as bookshops and markets.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to first express my heartfelt gratitude to my family, whose love is truly invaluable. Many Chinese people see the family as a harbor, and this sentiment resonates deeply within me. Although leaving home at a young age and studying abroad, the bond with my family remains strong. Without their unwavering support, I doubt I would have achieved what I have today. I am forever grateful for their companionship and encouragement on my journey towards realizing my dreams.

Furthermore, I want to extend my thanks to my mentor, Chinese artist Yanjing Chen. I became her student at the age of four, and she has been guiding my artistic journey ever since. As an exceptional art educator, she did not only teach knowledge of art theories but also broadened my horizons, enabling me to perceive art from diverse perspective. She encouragement to observe everything in life and to discern various forms of beauty in the minutest details as been invaluable to my growth as an artist.

Website: https://yuemingli.art/

Instagram: @yueming.art