Meet Tina Yan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tina Yan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tina, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

This question stood out to me among others because I think it’s something we all struggle with, on and off. Especially now, where AI has become so widely used and the unhealthy work culture — hustle culture — has become the norm, it’s easy to become discouraged and doubt our worth, creativity, and skills. However, I believe that our creativity is never dead. Rather, it needs to rest, and is simply waiting for the right timing to burn ferociously again.

Artist blocks, writer’s blocks, and periods where creators are stumped are always dreaded. I have struggled with numerous art blocks where I felt like I didn’t want to create anything or have the energy to. I think the longest art block I had was a year during Covid, but I was also in a deep slump after I had just graduated my undergraduate at OCAD University. This hit me hard, as I was incredibly burnt out after finishing my thesis project, other classes, and preparing for the graduation exhibition. I was so busy running around I didn’t know how to rest. In both instances, I was deeply unsatisfied with everything I was drawing and I yearned to be like other artists I saw on Instagram who were pumping out amazing artwork at rapid speeds. I asked myself, why couldn’t I be like that?

I had created a short comic in August, 2023 out of my frustration, and It can be viewed here on my Instagram (@xanurok): https://www.instagram.com/p/CwOsaRkRFch/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=Zm12Y3Fzcm9uZmVk
or on my website here: https://www.xanurok.com/what-should-i-draw.

This comic encompassed all my anxieties about not being able to create what I wanted to, as I really hoped to start working on my personal manga — something I’ve always wanted to do when finished with my studies. I had time now, why couldn’t I start? The stories had developed in my head for years, waiting impatiently to finally come out. It felt ironic, like all the fuel I was running on suddenly disintegrated in thin air the moment I graduated. I felt like I HAD to be productive as well, as resting and not drawing was viewed by myself as simply wasting time. I could be doing something useful. I could have been honing my skills. I could have been chipping away at the plethora of projects I had in mind. The problem was, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I woke up exhausted and weighed down each day, even when I didn’t draw. It consumed me.

But comparison is truly a thief of joy. Everyone is at different stages in life, in their careers, and in their education. We all come from different backgrounds and have different personalities and interests. It’s only natural that we can’t be like others, because we are all unique. Why aim to be like someone else when there’s nobody who will ever be like you? Someone said: you are the only you there is. That’s why AI will never come close to replacing and becoming like us. The authentic, distinctive, human-made work that we create requires soul. It requires emotion. It requires failure, trial and error, and getting back up when we fall down.

Let us embrace the fact that we are limited. We are only human, and our minds need to rest just as much as our bodies. After all, how can we do our best when we aren’t at our best? We aren’t robots or AI that never get tired, but we have to recharge. It’s taken me many years to finally realize that, but I have never looked back and yearned to be like I was in the past — constantly grinding and ignoring my health. Holed up in my room, I pushed myself to work nonstop for the entire day (I recall working 8-10 hours a day on my first self-published comic book, RUDBECKIA) with few breaks, little exercise, and even limited time with family and friends. I was stuck in my toxic sphere, gasping for air. Looking back now, I don’t even know how I got out of the art block — by myself at least. It seemed like one moment I was in it, then I’m suddenly here now. It was all God. I had prayed fervently to get out of it back then, but it felt like my prayers weren’t answered at all and I was still struggling to find my path. I didn’t wake up one day and decide to draw, but rather I naturally started drawing more and by God’s grace, fell back in love with art as I continued my studies in my masters in September at SCAD a few months after leaving OCAD.

After the summer break, I faced challenges adjusting to a new environment and going back to doing assignments. However, it was like a fresh start for me. There were new things to be inspired by all around me. As I was exposed to new ways of creating and difficult projects, other creatives with their distinct approaches, passionate professors, and new, encouraging friends, I was recharged. Living in beautiful, sunny Savannah, Georgia compelled me to go outside more often and appreciate the beautiful nature around me. Not only did I develop a healthier routine, I felt as if I was giving myself more breathing room to rest and allow my creativity to recharge in order to continue burning brightly. I thank God for giving me the strength to persevere through my studies and teaching me to rest.

There is no instant cure to reigniting our creativity, but I believe the slumps we go through are actually what bring us back on our feet. Yes, it takes time, and sometimes it may take longer than we want. But our creativity is never dead. It’s growing and growing as we face new experiences and challenges, as we take in the content we watch and read, as we admire the creations of others and get inspired, as we go outside and explore the world around us, as we pursue old and new hobbies, and as we challenge ourselves to face the unknown and solve problems we never think we’ll be able to solve. It’s still alive, just recharging for the moment before it comes out even stronger than before.

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?

My name is Tina Yan (XANUROK is my brand) and I am a Chinese-Canadian illustrator, comic artist and designer from Edmonton, Alberta. Currently, I am working as a graphic designer in Edmonton. I work with mainly ink, marker, watercolour and digital mediums, but enjoy experimenting with animation and printmaking as well. My work draws influences from manga, skate culture, and rock music, and I love to illustrate characters and personal stories. I self-published my first manga “RUDBECKIA” in 2022, which can be viewed for free on my website. Ultimately, I aim to share a bold and fearless spirit and tell stories that encourage individuality and experimentation.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I would say the most impactful three qualities in my journey were persistence, patience, and faith. While completing my undergraduate and master’s degrees, I had wanted to quit numerous times and felt like I had reached my limit. However, I knew I would regret just leaving behind all my hard work poured into my projects — I had poured my heart into them; a part of myself. I didn’t want to let myself down and those around me who supported me and believed in me. It may be difficult now, but it will be absolutely worth it in the future. All the hard times made me even stronger and more capable of taking on new challenges. I’ve learned that without discomfort, there can be no growth.

Secondly, I think patience is an extremely important virtue. I learned that coming up with good ideas is hardly instantaneous. Rather, it took long periods of thought and experimentation, and time for rest. Faith went hand-in-hand with patience — I learned to rely on God fully to provide, rather than my own limited self. By letting go of my illusion of control, I felt freed and unburdened to generate an idea and create something instantly. There was immense peace. By allowing my artwork to form more slowly and letting myself play and enjoy the process, I was filled with so much more joy and freedom.

For those who are in the beginning stages of their journey, my advice is to simply do the best you can in whatever you are doing. Don’t give up. Remember why you started, and hold on to that spark. Stay true to yourself, but also be open to new ways of making. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself! Often, you learn the most when you’re thrust into an entirely unknown environment or project. Have patience as well; we are not machines. Take your time, and run in your own lane. Above all, trust in God. He’s gotten you this far.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Usually, I take a walk, alone or with a friend, and pray. I like to get away from my screen, since it drains a lot of my energy (I’m on my devices way too much). Getting fresh air refreshes my body and my mind and helps me to appreciate the world around me. I enjoy looking out for beautiful flowers, wild animals and birds, and honestly just the clouds in the sky. Sometimes, I talk with a close friend while walking and we voice our worries and problems out loud and comfort each other. It’s truly a healing experience, and I’m so thankful to be blessed with my close friends. I encourage others to reach out to friends and family for support — even if it’s for some quick chats or walks — to let go of your burdensome concerns. Your struggles are never something to be ashamed of, or invalid at all. I also pray whenever I feel overwhelmed, to leave all my stress in God’s hands.

I am still learning to have peace when I’m facing roadblocks, but these points have all helped me to feel less overwhelmed. I hope you can find them helpful and encouraging as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.xanurok.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xanurok/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-yan-670627203
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOE6tsHBZQiB27uOhr3QnA