Life & Work with Cara Wang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Wang.

Hi Cara, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
My name is Cara (Ziruo) Wang; I secretly enjoy walking down the streets in NYC, listening to the cars zoom past, blasting Chinese country music, smelling the dried fish and fruits from the stalls nearby, and observing all types of people in candy-colored clothes going on about their day, because these scenes take me back home to the hectic street of Guangzhou for a few seconds. I grew up in this rainy, near-sea city, nurtured by the stories told by my grandma. Once, she told me the story of her mother, a salt worker, who raised my grandma and provided her with education by carrying baskets of salt on her shoulder and transporting them from the salt field to ships and trucks. When I was little, my grandma would take me and my sister back to her village to worship the graves of our ancestors. As we climbed to the very top of the hill where the graves were located, we could see the entire village. In my eyes, the squares of salt fields and the moving spots of salt workers form a vibrant pattern of country art. The farmers and their oxen plow through the field, getting dirt and water onto themselves, leaving marks that form paths: this was my first knowledge about mark-making and graphic art. Inspired by the landscape and culture of my hometown, I came to understand the power of visual representation and how it can tell stories and convey emotions. 

As an illustrator, I want to fuse my passion for storytelling, line art, and cultural heritage to create illustrations that are playful and full of feelings, reach children but stay with adults. I hope to experiment with different mediums and techniques to make work that can transport viewers to different worlds, evoke feelings of togetherness and curiosity, and make them feel that everyone has a beautiful landscape that exists in each one of our hearts and that is what make us unique and loved for just being who we are. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I enjoy the work I create, but I often notice that as I develop a habit (whether it’s a medium or artistic language) in my creative process, I tend to repeat it, and the works start to look similar. I always want to share stories of all different kinds and perspectives, so it’s necessary to diversify the style and be flexible and playful. After this realization, I tried to step out of my comfort zone by imposing limitations and challenges on my work. I asked myself: What will happen if I use a bamboo stick instead of an ink pen? What will happen if my lines become loose? What if I try to paint on a wood surface instead of paper? Then, I experimented with these prompts, and in doing so, I realized that changing a medium can help an artist breakthrough because there are no expectations. Pushing your own boundaries is a lifelong practice, and sometimes it might feel more difficult than you think, but it can also be very fun and helpful. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I believe illustration is a means to translate the feelings of myself and others on to the paper, using my artistic language. Regarding “style” or “artistic language,” it is actually an abstract term that is hard to describe in words. Some artists spend a lifetime narrating the story of an ordinary girl, while others are dedicated to depicting a small town in northern China. There are also those who explore the secrets of the sea and the wind. In my case, there exists a unique narrative within me that revolves around the city, its scents, and its people. 

I come from a very middle-class family in Guangzhou, China. When I was little, this city had been through rapid changes economically and socially. During these changes, many new people came into the city, such as students from all over the world, small business owners who opened restaurants and cooked food from their hometowns, and construction workers from very remote countryside. It was then that I realized: everyone carries stories—joyful or sorrowful—but, in the end, we are all just ordinary individuals navigating in an unsettling world. 

So, when I came to the US, I found a world that carries as much beauty and diversity as the one I came from but more stories from people of all cultures and backgrounds. 

I wish to connect my audience with all kinds of expressions that exist in this world so that, the end, they feel that this whole world, with all of its wonderful, surprising, and very real similarities and differences, is their home. 

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’ve often found myself as the youngest person in many professional settings. Being a freelance illustrator while still an undergraduate student is unconventional, yet my experiences have underscored the importance of fearlessness coupled with a commitment to manageable and meaningful work. 

Despite engaging in numerous commercial projects, I make it a habit, once the workday ends, take my sketchbook and explore the streets and alleys, capturing every face I encounter. I love absorbing new sights, sounds, and unexpected human interactions in various places. It’s the lights and sounds I absorb into my heart that make me unique in the industry. 

Overall, I just want to say: everyone has a unique story that exists in each one of our hearts, and that is what makes us unique and loved for just being who we are. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carawang.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carawart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziruo-wang-835392254/

Image Credits
Ocean Hailing Zhong