Interviews with Yuke Li

As an illustrator,I have worked in this industry for ten years. I have worked with Hope publishing House in China and Clavis Publishing in the US. I also worked with New York University and New York Times for illustration commission.

I always like to spend sometime with myself. Maybe I am doing art therapy myself, and I absorb and changing all the time. That is why I don't think I have a "style", because I have too many of them.

I work both traditionally and digitally. They bring different satisfactions.

It depends on the work. If it is a sad piece,I feel sad. If it is a happy one, I will be smile.

I moved from a small city in China to New York. So I have to be constantly learning in order to survive. I think learning is a good hobby.

I moved a lot in my previous life time. The good thing is you will get used to changes.The bad thing is you don't always feel safe. So my plan is to find a place I feel safe and settle down. My dream project is the kind of work I feel challenged.

If you are serious about it, then do some research about the people, the industry before you invest too much in this career.

Action is very important.

I try to make thing as simple as possible. Every day do some sketches, then push every project forward. If I still have sometime left, I will spend sometime for a sun bath.

I browsing the internet a lot to keep myself updated.

You can always get feedbacks from audiences and friends. Good one always get attention and "WOW".

When I am really get tired of it, I know it's done.

I have a story that I revised multiple times. I am still doing it. I believe it is an interesting one, but also I don't want to push it too hard. It may be a long project, and it is good to have a long-term project along side.

I was influent by a lots of great designer and artist. Our professor in the School of Visual Arts Marshall is one of them. I like his attitude especially, "have some fun". As a creator, you have to enjoy your work before audiences did.

Any one work related to art and design must go to New York City, since all culture are mingled here. You will experience shock and surprise, which is a good thing.

remain truth to yourself and to your audience is extremely important. Your work will expose your thought, so don't play smart, be smart to be true.

I work as a volunteer for charity organization from time to time. It is good that I can help people with my own specialty.

It is a very professional and serious award. It challenged not only one's professional skill, but also your attitude towards your career. I feel honored to be mentioned by the A’ Design Award.

I came to New York in 2017, and I started my MFA Illustration Program at the School of Visual Arts in 2018.

I take design, drawing as a way of communication. Since you know this language, you want to use more, and the more you use, the more you like.

It is my own choice. Actually my parents didn't quite understand what is art, what is design. The were worried about my profession at first, but this is my choice, and they supported me at last.

I like kids related fun project.

Try different things. Be curious all the time. Gradually you will know yourself more. Then you know how to present the best part and unique part of you.

Good or great depends on how big the picture you can see for yourself.

Good designs make life easier, or just simply easy to understand.

Good design brings people efficiency or joy.

I am very much into package design. I love pack gifts myself. When I am packing I can feel the joy of opening it. I am thinking of making a gift box for kids.

My dream project would definitely be doing something related to wild animals.

Don't lie to yourself. Respect your own feelings. Reject the work if you feel no connections. Work as hard as you can, if you say "yes" to a client.

There are tons of designer, artist I like. Such as Marshall Arisman, James Jean, Alexandra McQueen, Gareth David.

I always like MUJI. About those products on shelf, I feel they belong to me, and I want to take them home.

A good design is simple, and it is clear and understandable.

See more and practice more is the key to get improvement.

I would like to be a chef.

"Design" is a visual language which easy to understand, and it has emotions itself.

My mother encouraged me a lot. Even though she is not from art industry, she understand me.

My friends and all the friends on Instagram inspired me a lot.

There was a period of time, I felt totally empty that I cannot come up with a single idea. I guess that is a time to take a break.

Any kind of way is good, as long as the designers is honest to themselves.

I have a book idea about cat. Somehow I think cat is a person, and it will be an interesting project to discuss a personality of a cat.

To be active all the time.

People may want a same good stuff, but definitely not the same stuff. I think people want fresh air all the time.

As a illustrator, designer, what we do will magnify the idea, so first we should be careful of what we are doing. Second, have a faith and do something helpful and genuine.

I have a book idea about cat. Somehow I think cat is a person, and it will be an interesting project to discuss a personality of a cat.

I worked with an author once. It was a nice experience. The author liked my previous work very much. When I design a book cover for her new book, she gave me freedom to explore the layout, and we communicate with respect.

I wonder if design can expend to more area.

I think it will become more abstract. like designing a life style or a way of doing something new.

It depends on the project from a day to a month.

I usually start from researching.

Less is more.

I believe they works together. They stimulate each other and grow.

It is an element of a design, which could be crucial important or just part of the whole project.

Photoshop, Sketch, Procreate.

Different colors and materials make a specific ambient.

I prefer people ask me about the background and approaches.

I want to see every details of the works, figuring out how the designer did it.

An ideal design partner must be complemented with each other. Let's say I am goo dat graphic design, you are good at typography.

The kind of people get rid of sweet words often helps more.

I look at design Annual a lot. In the book there are all wisdom.

Be serious with every works, including personal works. Before you star everything, spend enough time on research. Then ask opinions from friends from time to time.

Alexandra MCQueen. I am curious about every piece of his designs.

It is. I am not sure I am famous. All I know is if you don't think about it, it will come to you.

Blue. New York. Spicy food. Late spring, animals. MUJI

I can't think of an experience, but I remember a joke that I can't help thinking of it all the time. One day, a cat caught a mice. The mice beg for mercy. The cat said, OK, but you have to answer me a question first. What is one plus one? The mice hesitate, one? Then the cat sighed, you know too much I have to kill you. End of the story.

A good sleep fills up my enthusiasm. Thant is how a good design start. If I have too much work, I'd say, after this I'll have a goos sleep.

I don't think so. The thing I remember is that I didn't want to focus on textbook, or I couldn't.

I think THE MATRIX will become reality sooner or later.

I like craft, making craft. Also I like cooking. Maybe I will open a restaurant in the future.

Everything began with doodling. I guess that's the way introvert people express themselves, and when you get started, it's harder to let go. Creating makes me feel energetic and powerful. I guess that is why I choose my career. to feel alive.

I started my illustration and design studio about seven years ago. I was focusing on magazines and publications more. Now they still a big part of my career. Also I am curious about advertisement industry.

"Design" is a visual language which easy to understand, and it also has emotions itself.

Kids, women related.

I always like MUJI. About those products on shelf, I feel they belong to me, and I want to take them home.

It was a logo for a nice bar in my neighborhood.

Watercolor. I like the accident created by traditional materials.

When I see other creative people's works, I always feel inspired by others. No matter it is a drawing, a movie, or a great package.

Relationship between different elements.

It depends on the subject. If it is a sad theme or a happy one.

I feel connected. Some one understand me at last.

A successful design is the one delivered the right message.

Does the design connected the text or product in a way.

A design will magnify the idea, so first we should be careful of what we are doing. Second, have a faith and do something helpful and genuine.

"Design" is going to be everywhere, every details, and one day "design" will be our subconscious. At that time, it will be easier to get start as a designer, but harder to be a good one.

I had several group exhibitions before, but not solo one. There will be a group showing for Illustration Program this fall, and I am thinking of doing a solo exhibition early next year.

I was inspired by other artist's works and animals very often. Sometimes my head is empty, sometimes I feel I need a pair of extra hands, so I can get things down. I used Instagram for inspiration a lot.

Fun, experimental, line works. My main characteristics for WONDERFUL PICNIC is line or fox. I explored line, this element a little bit in this project. I always think that if one says "no", means rejection, and if one says nothing, sometime it also means "no". So what you said is important as what you didn't say. The same rules applies to design.

I live in New York City now. It is the best place for artist. Everybody's background is different here, and every difference is appreciated. You have to be very competitive, but this place brings the best of me.

When I work with another person, time always matters. Everyone follow the schedule, then nothing goes wrong.

Being a good communicator is important on both side. A good company appreciate designer's time and effort; a good designer appreciate every opportunity and be confident about their works.

I will think about the subject or text first. Then do some experiment for approaches. Different tools speak the different. Remember to talk with people though all the process. Then make your idea into reality step by step.

I-mac, my bed, a lamp from IKEA, a schedule book I bought from South Korea and my cup.

Usually I get up around 8 AM. Then work the whole day until dinner time. Then work out a little bit. That's a day. During this special time, I like to listen to the news, while I am working.

Be genuine to yourself, because everything shows on your works.

You kind of get a cense of beauty, but you will be less tolerant.

Be genuine to yourself and to the audience.

Basic drawing skill is need, good eyes and knowledge about softwares.

I use Photoshop a lot. I down loaded a set of watercolor brushes, but most of time I use the basic round brush. Sometimes I use I-pad. Procreate and Adobe Sketch are good to try.

I have a daily to-do-list. Without it I feel extremely stressful, although I don't always complete everything on it. It's fine, and I will push it to next day.

It really depends on project. It could take less than a day and more than a year.

What's your inspiration?

I used to work as a illustrator in a comic magazine in China. That's how I started to learned the industry.

Hope Publishing House, People's Literature Publishing House, CECI, Harper’s Bazaar, Dior, Lamer, Kiehl’s etc.

The kind of work which give me a lot of freedom.

I have several picture book ideas in my mind. Hopefully I can get them publish next year.

Both. I was definitely influent by people I worked with, and I explored a lot myself.

I have a book idea about cat. Somehow I think cat is a person, and it will be an interesting project to discuss a personality of a cat.

you can contact me by email: yukeliart@gmail.com, or find me on Instagram: @yukeliart

Always be genuine and grateful.