Conversations with Victoria Junmei

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Junmei.

Hi Victoria, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sure, and thank you for having me! From very early on in my life, I knew I would be an artist of some sort. I wasn’t always an illustrator, though— in fact, for the first 12 years of my life, I was training to become a concert violinist. However, when I discovered that I was more often doodling and staying up late to draw more than I was willing to practice my music, it became clear to my mind what my heart wanted.

I started my training through traditional drawing and painting, focusing on theory and capturing realism through an assortment of mediums. Over time, rather than pursuing pure technical excellence, I pivoted to storytelling and working on the emotional intensity of my work. Today, I pride myself as a versatile illustrator, currently working for studios in animation. I create work that invokes emotions through immersive spaces that tell captivating stories, whether based on the mundane world or a fantastical one. Every day, I continue experimenting with subject matter that interests me through enchanting design and appealing colors as I hone my artistic voice.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe there is no such thing as a smooth road— failure and hiccups are inevitable in every path. I acknowledge that it is an immense privilege to get so much love and support from my parents on the path to becoming an artist, so my struggles seem minuscule. Though, for the sake of pursuing higher artistic education, I’ve left my hometown for over four years to attend the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Since graduating from RISD, I’ve had to uproot again and move to Los Angeles for work while having no family around and no permanent residence to call home. Being away from family for so long has weighed on my mental health, I’m still immensely grateful to have wonderful friends, new and old, around me to ease the loneliness of this journey. So even if the loneliness and displacement I feel is a struggle, in my heart I know I am supported and loved, which is everything I really need as a young artist.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an illustrator with extensive experience working in both traditional and digital mediums, my strong suit is my knack for illustrating environments and scenery for various genres, whether for whimsy or dark, mysterious undertones. In my current artistic career, I am a Background Painter and Designer for TV animation, hoping to be an Art Director one day for animated feature films and shows one day. On the side, I own a stationery and accessories business on Etsy. To keep myself busy between gigs, I make original and fanart illustrations for my Instagram and work on indie animated short films. Having so much bandwidth and stamina for a wide variety of creative pursuits tends to set me apart because I put myself out of my comfort zone all the time to learn new things and make new art friends. I am proud to be versatile not only in what I can design and draw but what diverse spaces and environments I can thrive in creatively.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Love matters a lot to me. I was raised with a lot of love, and I pay forward that love by giving back to the community that loved me. I think people may find it cheesy because it’s such an overwhelmingly overshared positive sentiment that has become empty for a jaded society. Truly, I think having that lovingly positive outlook on life so deeply engrained into my soul will be the key to my success. It’s not to say that the work I make has to always be loving and whimsical, but the work I make should always be made from a place of love and passion.

In the recent past, I found myself in a transitional period where I had creative blocks that many artists will experience or have experienced in their craft. What helped me push through was reevaluating what made me enjoy living and what made me experience the world most— the answer was always love. Love for the past, love for stories told by others, love for music, love for movies, love for family and friends, love for life and nature, etc. If I don’t love what I do, why should I pursue art? Art is a career often regarded as being less financially fruitful, and no other career needs to worry about “creative burnout” or worry their work isn’t being perceived. If I choose a career with such unique struggles, I must make certain I am powered by love— an endlessly renewable energy of kindness, passion, and warmth emanating from myself and from the people I surround myself with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.victoriajunmei.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriajunmei
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriajunmei
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/victoriajunmei
• Other: https://meiberrystudio.etsy.com/