We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Flora Bai. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Flora below.
Flora , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Illustration has a broad scope, connecting with advertising, publishing, public art, and children’s education. I enjoy the process of drawing, creating a space where characters in my artwork immerse themselves in a fantastical and surreal realm that may extend beyond my own experiences. I relish this creative journey and aim to craft visuals with captivating details that resonate personally with viewers, offering them relatable emotional experiences. It dawned on me one day that my goal is for my art to speak for me and evoke emotions in today’s bustling world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I define myself as a multifunctional artist, constantly exploring new areas like book covers, children’s book stories, advertising packaging, curation, animation, and product design. Collaborating in diverse fields brings me self-value and the opportunity to acquire new knowledge, especially about nature—there are so many to explore. I translate these insights into my visual language. It’s now my fourth year in New York City, having studied interior design before pursuing illustration at SVA. I’ve been part of the Rockefeller Center’s flag project, the first post-pandemic public art exhibition in New York. I’ve also received commissions from renowned brands and mainstream media, including Dr. Martens, Marvis, Penguin Random House, Politico, LA Times, and more. Additionally, I started my illustration customization platform, specializing in creating pet portraits.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Knowing what you want, planning, and persistence are crucial. I believe people often seek too much and overlook what they truly need. Perhaps we all need to delve deeper into understanding ourselves. It’s important to identify what you want at a certain stage of life, allowing you to focus most of your energy on pushing yourself to achieve that goal, rather than constantly worrying about other potential losses. Applying this to drawing, specifically in finding your creative style, try to discover a drawing technique that suits you and commit to it for an extended period.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
As an introverted person, I tend to reduce social interactions. Occasionally, I find solace in gazing at the flame of scented candles, shifting my focus to calm, slow, and controllable activities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://florabaiart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florabai.jpg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flora-bai-0b4719215/
