We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Huilin Gui. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Huilin below.
Huilin, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I believe that every creative idea emerges from a fusion of existing knowledge and fresh insights. To ensure a consistent flow of inspiration, I immerse myself in books, films, and music that resonate with my interests. As an illustrator, I cherish my time in bookstores and libraries, reading as many picture books as possible. This practice lays a foundation of knowledge, often sparks new ideas when I’m in search of inspiration. Moreover, it’s crucial to allow your brain to rest regularly. When it’s constantly running on overdrive, generating new ideas becomes a challenge.
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 am a freelance illustrator and picture book maker currently based in New York. I graduated this year from the Illustration program at School of Visual Arts. During my time in college, I discovered my deep passion for children’s books and picture books. In my senior year, I created a series of illustrations related to picture books. Among them, my “Home” series received The Jon McDonald Scholarship from the Society of Illustrators and was selected as a finalist in the Book Publishing category of The Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition. One of the most exciting aspects of creating illustrations and picture books for me is the opportunity to learn something new. Each new topic requires a lot of research, allowing me to discover many things I wasn’t previously aware of.
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?
When I think about my journey, three main things stand out: Sketching Often: Making sketches regularly has become an invaluable way for me to understand myself. Not only does it help me identify areas that need improvement, but it also help me find out the details in a scene or character that captivate me the most. Additionally, it helps discovering my unique style, especially in terms of line work and color palettes.
Self-Validation: I rarely worry about whether my work will appeal to others or if I should conform to what’s popular. I believe that when I really enjoy what I am making and believe in what I create, others will resonate with it as well.
Valuing Every Spark of Inspiration: Creative individuals often find it exciting when inspired by a new idea. However, as time passes, they might start doubting themselves and eventually abandon the idea. So, whenever I come across a new idea I try to start drawing right away and acting on the idea before doubt sets in.
For illustrators at the beginning of their journey, working alone at home can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation or disconnection. Therefore it’s beneficial to attend events and art fairs. They provide opportunities to find a community that aligns with your interests, offer insights into what other illustrators are working on, and present chances to meet like-minded artists. Who knows? You might even find potential collaboration opportunities.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I usually make a to-do list when I feel overwhelmed and start with the simple tasks, as well as ensure I get enough sleep.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hguidraws.wixsite.com/huilin
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huilin.draws/
- Other: Little Red Book小红书: https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5cbcaa3400000000120363fb
