Conversations with Jiahan Fan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiahan Fan.

Jiahan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My first painting was probably a scribble I made on the walls of my home as a child, and it wasn’t very attractive. Fortunately, my parents did not blame me for exploring new activities; they were quite encouraging. Due to this realization, I chose to major in fine arts in college, despite the fact that it was not a popular choice. In a society where job rate is a priority, this was not an easy decision to make, but I enjoy creating visual art. After graduating, I decided to pursue illustration and digital art at Academy of Art University, where I was exposed to a wider variety of creative techniques and philosophies. During my two years of studies, I felt a great deal of satisfaction and personal worth as a painter, designer, storyteller, and historian. I believe that this is the reason why I insisted on art in the first place, namely, the infinity of creative possibilities.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not an easy journey for me. I grew up in China, where the educational system is extremely strict. When everyone around me was judging children based on their test scores, I was not a “good child.” Many people questioned what I was learning and mastering since they did not find it important; even my teacher has stated that I am not gifted. When I initially began drawing, I couldn’t even identify the type of pencil I was using, let alone comprehend the composition and shading of an image. During that time, I devoted all of my energy to practice, and within a week, the skin on all ten of my fingers had split. I don’t believe it was painful, but it made me value my decision much more. At the end of high school, I received first place on the selection test, and I knew that was what I deserved.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a designer and visual artist. I contribute innovative design concepts and specialized knowledge to my work. Curiosity, diligence, and perseverance have shaped my identity. After receiving my master’s degree from Academy of Art University, I became a freelance designer. Currently, I am a contract artist for Ehelp company, creating visual artworks and generating NFTs, and I am also involved in designing Ehelp’s proposed online NFT community platform, which expands the possibilities for web 3.0-based digital art. I excel at combining visual art and functionality to produce valuable and beautiful artworks. What I am most happy of is the acknowledgment my work has earned along the way: “Party Animals” was featured on OpenSea and published in INTERNI Magazine 2022, and “Peking Opera” was selected for the 2021 Global NFT Digital Competition.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
First and foremost, you need to have faith in your own abilities. Despite the fact that there aren’t that many exceptionally talented people in the world, we can still do incredible things if we have faith in ourselves. Also, the fundamentals of painting are crucial. Although it is common knowledge that creativity is the driving force behind art, I believe that tall skyscrapers cannot be constructed without a solid base. When I first started creating art, I was always eager to try something new and get achievements, but it did not always go as planned. Evidently, I had disregarded a number of fundamentals at the time and failed to produce qualitative change from quantitative change. Don’t get hung up on how to build your particular style; if you perform each step properly, the result will never be bad.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.5400clairearts.com/