Meet Peili Huang

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Peili Huang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Peili below.

Peili, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I’m always feeling inspired. I was inspired by director Michel Gondry’s music video, Shel Silverstein’s poem, the masterpiece of Maurice Sendak, music from Kraftwerk, etc. I’m curious (as well as vulnerable) about everything. I collected nature textures, hand-made prints, fabrics, ideas, beautiful verses—you name it! My life is centered around being an artist.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a children’s book illustrator with three picture books published. Being a visual storyteller, I wave my imagination with inspiring words and deliver them to kids. My first book The Golden Acorn Tree has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators. I also got a grand prize in the 2023 summer conference from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I’m now learning to be the author of my story, writing and designing it in my own way. It’s harder than I imagined but I enjoyed it.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

For me, it would be passion, perseverance and good health.

I was not born to be an artist. Instead, I began my career as an engineer. I was good at math and physics in high school. So I chose Electrical Engineering as my major in college. After graduation, I worked as an engineer for 6 years in an electrical power station in China. But deep in my heart, I never stopped chasing my real passion for art. After work, I went to an artist’s workshop to learn how to draw. Gradually, my dream of being an artist became clear and I knew it was time to quit my engineering job.

In the year 2017, I came to the United States for my pursuit of being an illustrator. That was my happiest time. I got to know people from the industry and immersed myself in creating my artwork. Unfortunately, I graduated during the pandemic which was a hard time to start a new career as an illustrator. Most of my peers changed their career paths, which sometimes made me question myself. How can I make a living as a freelance illustrator and support my family? Luckily, with perseverance, I kept looking for opportunities. Then I got my first commission and another with recognition from the Society of Illustrators and SCBWI.

I remember chatting with professionals from the industry. I asked one, what’s the most important thing about being a great illustrator? To my surprise, she said good health. Right now I totally agree with it. Without health, you can’t have a peaceful mindset to finish such a deep work as art and generate unique ideas that will make you stand out. So I work out a lot and feel refreshed when I begin to create. That’s a fair investment of your time and energy.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I recently finished the book The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. His wisdom has soothed my anxiety and given me new directions in art.

It is so true that the people who choose to do art are, many times, the most vulnerable. The sensitivity that allows artists to make the art is the same vulnerability that makes them more tender to being judged. I do always feel my self-conscience steps in the way of branding my art to the world. I care about people’s thoughts and their criticism, which blocks potential opportunities to reach a broader audience. Only by being aware of this vulnerability and distracting my attention from those judgments can I be free to show off my artwork.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peiliart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peiliart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peili-huang-431b61184/