Meet Lai Wei

We recently connected with Lai Wei and have shared our conversation below.

LAI, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I think my main confidence and self-esteem comes first and foremost from being happy with myself.
As an artist, painting has been my passion since I was a child. Painting for me is a way of self-relaxation, a recreation, and it was only after more than ten years of carrying on in this way that I began to formally consider painting as a professional job.
When I took up painting as a hobby, the measure of my success did not come from the praise of others, nor from the monetary value I created, but simply whether I was happy doing it. That’s why I always feel satisfied, and I’ve always firmly believed that painting is meaningful, and that happiness is the meaning.
I think the source of many people’s lack of self-confidence is that they care too much about some additional evaluation. Many of my peers are often anxious about the number of views they get on their work, wanting more attention and praise, and often comparing themselves to others. Some of the low self-esteem and anxiety often comes out of the comparison. However, I believe that the essence of painting is not to compare with others, but rather the need to focus on what one has gained in the process of creating art. I will focus first on whether I am happy and comfortable while painting, and secondly, I will explore whether I have made progress over the last time, or tried something new. If I do either of these two things, I will consider myself successful enough. Such joy and fulfillment increases my confidence at the same time.
A confident person is always happy, and at the same time, a happy person is always confident.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m an illustrator and a freelancer. I accept illustration commercial commissions in my website and some professional platforms.
As a freelancer, I find commissions from different parties challenging. Sometimes my clients give me subjects and styles that I haven’t tried before, and that’s often a worthwhile challenge for me.
Feel free to visit my website: https://www.laiwei21.com/illustrations

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?

I think confidence, sincerity and focus are the most important.
Focus is especially important, and that doesn’t just mean focusing on your own work, it means focusing on your own life. I think it’s important not to be overly influenced by outside judgments.
Sincerity and confidence as well, I emphasize sincerity and confidence in yourself. Focusing on yourself, knowing your worth, and being sincere about your work will make you happy.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I thank my father. The most important thing he ever said to me was to tell me that he didn’t need me to achieve much, he just wanted me to be happy.
In my country, becoming a freelancer, becoming an illustrator, is a risky business. Most parents prefer their children to have a stable office job. I also used to feel hesitant when making career choices; I wasn’t sure at the time if I could support myself through painting. My father sensed my uneasiness and firmly told me to do what would make me happy.
He said to me, “I know how much you love to paint, I’ve watched you paint since you were a child. If you like it, go for it.
I said, I’m afraid I won’t do it well enough to succeed.
My father said, It can’t be, because you are so happy when you paint. When you feel genuinely happy when you do something, you will definitely be able to do that thing well.
I do have a good time now and am very happy.

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© 2024 LAI WEI

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