Meet Xuecong Wang

We were lucky to catch up with Xuecong Wang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Xuecong, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

I hit an artist’s block while preparing for my thesis show. Because of its importance, I was determined to present the best of my work. I threw myself into research, chasing a grand, impactful concept. But the more I explored abstract ideas, the less confident I became about bringing them to life. For a month or two, in the most critical stage of preparation, I hardly worked on anything. I was scared, stressed, and aimless, like a bowstring wound so tight it was about to snap.

Communication was key in overcoming this artist’s block. First, I reached out to peers and professors, sharing my struggles and inviting their feedback. Their fresh perspectives unlocked new paths for research and kept me from getting stuck on a single, elusive idea.
I also talked to myself. I was able to identify that the key obstruction I had was the fear of mistakes. This is important because once I admitted this fear, I was able to work on plans to get rid of it. My first step was simply to start creating again. As soon as I picked up my brush, I slipped into the meditative flow of painting, which erased my sense of incompetence and reminded me of my actual skill level. From there, everything fell into place. I refined my concept, focused on a few key elements, and completed the paintings. In the end, the show was a success.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Hi, I’m Xuecong Wang, an independent fine artist. I work primarily in watercolor and ceramics, choosing whichever medium best conveys each idea. I run my own studio, Baoism LLC, where I handle everything from resource management and marketing to opportunity scouting. It’s essentially a one-person MCN, and it’s been instrumental in positioning me as a professional artist. This structure has helped me develop a streamlined schedule that maximizes my effectiveness across all facets of the art market. I’m excited to share that, by the time this interview is published, I’ll be opening a new exhibition in Brooklyn, NY.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

To be honest, I am also in the early stage of my career, running a studio for only a few months. I am not the best one to give suggestions for sophisticated career development. But here are some lessons I learned:

1) As an artist, honesty is an important quality. Only when you are truly honest about the idea presented in your piece can you talk about it comfortably and confidently. This confidence attracts people.
2) You also have to be resilient to rejection. It is easy to assume that your art is worth nothing when many opportunities turn you down. But there’s a turn in psychology called “learned helplessness”—the lack of motivation to change and confidence after several failed attempts. When you notice yourself slipping into that state, reclaim your sense of control with small exercises, such as writing a detailed self-analysis of your thoughts and feelings.
3) Lastly, be versatile. While most of your time will go toward creating art, acquiring complementary skills pays dividends. For instance, learning to build and maintain your own website means you don’t have to rely on someone else, and you can update it whenever you need.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes. I am looking for textile artists working with synthetic fabrics as well as artists with knowledge of kinetic art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://xuecong.art/
• Instagram: @xc_wang.art
• Linkedin: Xuecong (Catherine) Wang