We were lucky to catch up with Waner Zhang recently and have shared our conversation below.
Waner, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I believe that people who are always optimistic must have experienced a lot of suffering, I grew up in a single-parent family, because of my father’s violent tendencies, my mother divorced him at an early age and raised me on my own, I experienced a lot of low self-esteem, incomprehension, loneliness along the road of growing up, but also encountered a lot of love, tolerance and understanding, which makes me cherish what I have.
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?
Hi, I’m Waner, hailing from the renowned culinary province of Sichuan, China. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, my solitude nurtured a deep affinity for drawing, a solace that blossomed into a lifelong passion.
During my formative years, Pixar’s “Inside Out” left an indelible mark, propelling me towards a path of creating emotionally resonant works. After graduating from Beijing Film Academy, I continued my animation pursuits at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Today, as an experienced multidisciplinary motion designer, I take pride in the journey that crystallized my passion and led me to where I stand now.
I used to work for Tencent and made a lot of user-friendly animation and UI for their educational products. I also worked in many design studios, such as Lava Studio and Seen Vision. Thus, I have gotten many opportunities to work with brands such as Jimmy Choo, Tencent Game, Redmi, etc. In October 2023, my animation work was selected by the Heckscher Museum of Arts to be exhibited, and a light show was used to project my work onto the surface of the museum.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
In my opinion, successful arts practitioners embody three essential qualities: responsibility, creativity, and persistence. Establishing trust and maintaining positive relationships with clients hinges on being reliable and punctual. Without these traits, future collaborations could be jeopardized. Additionally, in the dynamic landscape of the art world, characterized by constant innovation, persistence and a willingness to embrace new ideas are crucial for staying relevant and thriving in the industry.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I’ve held onto a saying in my notebook for quite some time: “If you’re unsure of what to do at this moment, perhaps it’s not the time to dwell on it.” Often, I find myself struggling to find an answer, only to realize that my perspective shifts after a few days. When faced with a problem or feeling anxious, I turn to tutorials. Just the act of browsing through them brings immense relief, easing my anxiety and leaving me with a sense of accomplishment from the new things I’ve learned.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wanerzhang.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_waner_zhang_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waner-zhang-6482b8184/
