We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Qingru Yang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Qingru below.
Hi Qingru, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
In my pursuit of exploring various techniques and media, I embarked on the challenge of creating a pop-up book. With no prior training or guidance on pop-up book construction, I relied on online tutorials to grasp the fundamental mechanics. The initial prototype faced setbacks — it wouldn’t unfold smoothly, and the inner pages refused to stand upright. Analysis revealed that the paper was too thin, lacking the necessary support. I replaced it with cardboard, creating a second version.
The new sample resolved the issue of inner pages standing, but challenges arose during the cutting and assembly part. Some sections, despite using thicker paper, lacked enough support. I decided to strengthen support structures. However, during assembly, subtle angle issues caused distortion in the paper. Recognizing the problem, I disassembled and reassembled, making several adjustments until I found the correct positions.
Despite encountering a series of difficulties, I didn’t give up. Through analysis, adaptation, and persistent effort, I overcame each problem. Eventually, I successfully crafted a satisfying pop-up book.
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?
I specialize in creating artwork using the risograph printing technique, and most of my works feature neon colors from the riso color palette.. I love incorporating textures into my visuals, believing it adds richness to my work. Beyond digital creations, I’m also passionate about crafting handmade pieces, aspiring to turn my art into tangible products. What excites me most is the dynamic interplay between the bright colors and texture of riso printing.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back on my artistic journey, I feel that adaptability, curiosity, and be open minded are crucial.
During this journey, I made many friends and encountered various novel experiences. Faced with new skills, materials, and styles, my curiosity led me to explore and learn these new aspects. I’m willing to embraced unfamiliar elements, incorporating them into my work.
I think we should learn to accept diverse viewpoints. Through this, we gain insights into others’ thought processes, and also have understanding of our works from various perspectives.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to support my passion for illustration. Despite initial concerns about the challenges in the art industry and the job market, they ultimately chose to prioritize my happiness and encouraged me to pursue my art. Because they think choosing a path aligned with one’s passion is the key to a fulfilling life journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: qingru-art.com
- Instagram: qingru_art
