Meet Elaine Mou

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

Hi Elaine, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve always seen myself as someone who sets a goal and then works steadily toward it. When I don’t have a clear destination, I get stuck, confused, and basically spin in circles. But over the past few years, that started to shift. My goals kept changing, and I had to change with them.

I grew up wanting to be an architect, so I ended up going to an Architecture school for my undergrad. But during my undergrad, I realized how deeply I loved drawing and making art. I wanted a sense of achievement that came from creating something personal—work that could reach people, move them, maybe even stick with them.

And honestly, that’s the core of it for me: I’m searching for beauty. I want to find the moments that move me in my own life and turn them into something I can offer to others—something that might touch them the way it touched me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an illustration artist originally from China, now based in New York City. I’m currently pursuing an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay at the School of Visual Arts. Before that, I earned my bachelor’s degree in architecture in Upstate New York.
I primarily work in digital media, and architectural elements often slip naturally into my illustrations—shaping the compositions, structuring the space, and helping guide the narrative flow.

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?

Like many people in this field, I deal with impostor syndrome and a lot of anxiety about the future. But holding onto some level of hope and confidence has kept me moving toward my goals. It’s what keeps me persistent and motivated. Even when things aren’t happening yet, I’ve learned that patience is the thing that carries me through the darker stretches.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

After finally committing to a career I’m genuinely passionate about, I just want to spend as much of my life as I can working on the things that matter to me. Whether I get one decade or many, I want to use that time well.

I also know I’ll eventually move back to be closer to my family and spend whatever time I have with them while continuing my work. Pursuing something I care deeply about feels like the one path that won’t leave me with regrets—or at least, that’s what I believe right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elainexmou.com
• Instagram: elainexmou