Meet Jessie Huang

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessie Huang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jessie, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

Being in a climate where creatives are often the first to be discarded it becomes increasingly difficult to stay optimistic. However, at the same time this is why it’s so important to be optimistic. Without optimism I find it very hard to pursue such an unstable path. My goal has always been to be able to live a stable life caring for my loved ones through the art I make and because it’s no easy goal it’s important to remain hopeful. I’ve learned that being shrouded in doubt does nothing but hinder creativity and productivity. At some points it does almost feel like delusion but I like to take it as ‘ignorance is bliss’! At the end of the day if just one person resonates with something you make it is enough to stay optimistic!

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 work as an illustrator under the online handle Canned Crab or cannedcrabart! Everyday is filled with design and illustration. My current style gravitates more towards children’s media and it tends to focus on more whimsical and playful themes however, I’d love to explore different genres as I grow as an artist. Being an illustrator in general is the most exciting because it means I get to draw and learn on the daily. Recently, as I try to grow my skills, I’ve been exploring different kinds of characters I can create and stories that I can attach. It’s about getting your ideas out there disregarding how silly or absurd they sound. Being able to indulge in your creativity is especially liberating. To challenge myself I’d love to attend more markets and interact with people in person about my art, their art, and art in general!

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?

There were many skills and qualities that I felt were impactful for my journey. One of these was curiosity. Curiosity is what led myself to many areas that I didn’t anticipate to see myself. Staying curious allows you to make the most out of your education because you learn to utilize many of the resources you don’t realize you had. Another important aspect was community. I was very fortunate to have a very supportive and welcoming community of creatives during my education and into post-grad. Having a community that pushes each other allows you to be inspired and inspire which is incredibly important for creatives! It is also important to have other perspectives to create stronger art and learn more. This community will be the one that you celebrate successes and mourn failures with, you don’t have to create alone! I believe art is a very communal practice. Lastly, it would be discipline. Regardless of how motivated you feel, feelings I’ve learned are incredibly unstable. Having discipline allows you to continue to create on the daily despite not always feeling up for it. That being said, it is also important to take breaks and understand your own limits to prevent burn out and overall negativity in the creation process!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with others! Art can be very isolating with many projects being done alone at home however, I don’t believe it always has to be. I’d love to work with anyone that has a vision they are passionate about bringing to life. Whether they work in the creative field or not, everyone has something that they can create and I’d love to take part in this! I specialize in very playful art that focuses on small joys; however, I find myself able to adapt to many styles. If my art, one way or another intrigues you, let’s collaborate!

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