As an illustrator, Yuding Shi constructs a gentle and healing utopia through her work, encouraging viewers to imagine beyond the trivialities and worries of real life. Her unique artistic style guides a sense of beauty in daily life with a calm and comforting approach, using bright colors, intricate details, and emotionally resonant scenes to create a relaxed, nostalgic, and vintage atmosphere. Yuding Shi draws inspiration from a wide array of sources, including films, photography, and her own life experiences and imagination, giving her work a narrative quality and a sense of lived experience. She hopes viewers will find personal emotional connections and healing power in her art. In this interview, TEAOC will take you deeper into Yuding Shi’s artistic world, exploring how she creates soothing illustrations and her unique perspective on daily life.

1. 

Cindy:  Your works feature deeply soothing colors and atmospheres, each scene carrying a gentle, comforting power. What inspires your emphasis on emotional healing in your creations? What kind of emotional experience do you hope viewers gain from your work?

Yuding Shi: I’ve always wanted to paint a utopian world, one free from the trivialities and worries of real life, a place that holds all the things I love. This world can be peaceful, lovely, and even a bit quirky at times. I hope that viewers can escape into this painted utopia, even if only briefly.

2. 

Cindy: Your artwork often portrays everyday life in a calm and warm manner. How do you draw inspiration for this? Which details or scenes do you feel are most moving in this style?

Yuding Shi: My inspiration usually comes from films, photography, my imagination, or life experiences. Recently, I’ve been focusing more on a sense of storytelling and life in my paintings. In each scene, there are all sorts of characters, each with a story and a life path for the viewer to discover. This is what I find most moving and something I aim to enhance in my future work.

3. 

Cindy: Your works exude a carefree attitude toward life, expressed through color and composition. How do you choose colors to convey this atmosphere? Are there colors that hold special meaning for you?

Yuding Shi: For different scenes, I select colors based on what’s needed, but overall, I lean toward brighter tones. I don’t want my utopia to be a dark place; I want people to feel the healing power of my work.

4. 

Cindy: You seem to pursue an "immersive" narrative experience in your illustrations. How do you achieve this visual storytelling through intricate details and scene design? What is most important to you when creating these scenes?

Yuding Shi: In each piece, I choose a few interesting stories as anchors to draw attention and add fun. At the same time, I don’t want the other characters in the painting to fade into the background entirely. I want each to have a personal story within the larger story. This vibrancy is what I focus on, aiming to make my work more lively and engaging.

5. 

Cindy:  Your work carries a nostalgic style, gently evoking memories of beautiful times past. What drives you to choose this style? Does this nostalgic sentiment hold special significance for both your audience and yourself?

Yuding Shi: I’ve always been fond of a light vintage style, and since I grew up on fairy tales, I also hope my utopia has a happily-ever-after quality, like a fairy tale. 

6. 

Cindy: Your work is often described as "therapeutic," yet art’s healing power may also have limitations. Have you encountered complex emotions in the creative process that were difficult to convey visually? How do you handle these limitations?

Yuding Shi: I believe every style has some "limitations." In my work, I have to acknowledge these limits—such as when I’m not skilled in a particular style. Rather than abandoning my style to fit another, I focus on integrating the unfamiliar elements into my own style.

7.

Cindy: Have any artists greatly inspired you as you developed your personal creative style?

Yuding Shi: Throughout my artistic journey, I’ve admired many artists, and I think each has something valuable to teach. One of my favorites is Frida Kahlo. Through her work, I could feel her pain and resilience. I hope to become a strong woman who won’t be defeated by life and will persist in creating art.

8.

Cindy: As a “perfectionist,” how do you find balance in your creative process? Do you encounter challenges in your pursuit of quality, or moments when you need to let go of the pursuit of perfection?

Yuding Shi: Creating a piece can sometimes be painful, as the image often doesn’t match what I envision. Usually, persistence and refinement bring satisfying results and a strong sense of accomplishment. But when a piece becomes too draining, I know when to step back. Balancing perfectionism with self-care and mental health is essential.

9.

Cindy: You consider yourself an observer of life, but the prevalence of social media may impact one’s creative perspective. How do you filter or block outside influences in an era overloaded with information to maintain authentic self-expression?

Yuding Shi: I actually enjoy looking at social media. While I love observing life, I can’t deny the limitations of my own experiences, and I also enjoy daydreaming. Some online information offers fresh perspectives and ideas. There’s a lot of internet clutter, so it’s crucial to sift through it and avoid taking everything at face value.

10.

Cindy: You describe your work as a healing process, but artists often find inspiration in “brokenness” and “uncertainty.” Do you allow or accept these emotions in your personal creative process?

Yuding Shi: I certainly allow some negative emotions. I’m actually quite introspective, and sometimes these darker feelings inspire me. When that happens, I focus on creating, and each utopia I paint genuinely “heals” me.

Through this conversation, we gain a deeper understanding of Yuding Shi’s artistic philosophy and emotional expression. Her works use color and intricate details to construct a warm utopia, embodying a life aesthetic filled with healing power. For Yuting, art is not only a form of emotional expression but also a comforting refuge where viewers can find moments of peace and solace.

We hope that as people engage with Yuding Shi’s works, they can feel the gentleness and strength she conveys through her visuals, discovering their own emotional resonance. In her art, Yuding consistently pursues authenticity and self-reflection, offering viewers a unique experience of tranquility and warmth through her expressive style.

Written by Cindy Ye