Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Huang
Hi Nina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a freelance illustrator and a recent graduate currently unemployed. Occasionally, new acquaintances ask me: “Why did you choose this major?” I usually respond by saying, “I don’t know, it was fate that led me here.” The truth is, I don’t really know.
It seems I’ve always lacked the pure pursuit of art, I just enjoy doing what I’m good at. Doing what you’re good at easily gives you a sense of self-worth. It started in art class as a child when the teacher asked, “You’ve really never learned to draw?” Then classmates would trade snacks with you to draw their favorite anime characters. Years later, at an art college full of talented peers, the instructors would nod approvingly at your work and say, “Pretty Good.” And so, step by step, I ended up here, mostly driven by positive feedback from others and a bit of self-motivation.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve recently felt like the challenges are just beginning. If you were to ask recent graduates their biggest challenges, 75% of them would be lack of money. I’m in that boat too, perhaps one of the most common concerns among humanities and art students is how to turn what you’ve learned into commercial value. It’s not exactly a major crisis, though. If you can solve it, it’s just a phase. If not, maybe I’m just unlucky, choosing to do something that is unable to make ends meet. But if there’s even a glimmer of hope, I will keep persevering.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work often revolves around life and the world as I see it. My senior project in my final year of college focused on interviewing artists from various fields in New York. Initially, I wandered aimlessly through the city, stopping to chat with interesting people or sketch a few pages. As I conducted more interviews, I discovered that even in completely different fields, everyone was interpreting the meaning of art in life through their actions. I’m still very proud of this series even now.
However, I occasionally question my identity as a real “artist,” wondering if I have truly created anything meaningful. Sometimes, I feel like I am only documenting what I see and experience. But later I found that I am indeed an artist because editing, drawing, experiencing, and sharing are essential parts of my creative process.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’ve always been a good kid when I grew up, and recently I learned a new term, “overachiever,” which describes me perfectly. Coming from a background where you had to be excellent in everything to get parents’ attention, which also planted seeds of potential issues for my mental health later on. Just your stereotypical Asian family, haha.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ninahuangart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninayhuang
