Today we’d like to introduce you to Yajuan Zhou.
Hi yajuan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first started studying art in high school, focusing on the basics of drawing. At the time, I was deeply obsessed with Japanese anime and bought weekly manga issues—I was completely hooked. Learning how to draw became my biggest dream.
As I continued practicing, I realized that art was truly what I wanted to pursue. Eventually, I moved to the U.S. and began studying at a community college, where I was able to explore art more deeply. Through this journey, I discovered the field of illustration, which really spoke to me. I fell in love with it and decided to take the next step by applying to an art school, where I could receive more specialized training and fully commit to becoming an illustrator.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Even though I loved illustration from the start, I didn’t truly understand what it meant in the beginning. I had a very narrow view—I thought being an illustrator just meant creating beautiful, clean images. So when I started creating, I focused heavily on light, perspective, and making everything look neat and polished, relying on my fine art training.
But over time, I realized I was heading in the wrong direction. I became really anxious and lost. I started studying a lot of illustration work—looking at what materials other illustrators used and how they approached their process. I experimented with everything from watercolor and colored pencils to crayons and wood panels, sometimes even mixing them. Still, nothing felt quite like “me.” My work looked stiff, and at one point, I even felt like my finished illustrations looked worse than my original sketches.
During this period, I felt really stuck. But then something changed—I adopted a stray kitten and started spending more time outdoors, exploring new places and seeing different landscapes. That’s when I began to understand that illustration is really about discovering your own path. It’s about drawing what you’re good at, what you love, and letting life inspire you. I learned to relax and enjoy the process again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in printmaking and letterpress, working with techniques like linocut, copperplate etching, silkscreen, risograph, and traditional letterpress. I also enjoy combining my illustrations with different materials to explore new forms of expression.
Much of my work centers around one consistent theme: cats. I imagine cats living like humans—doing things we do in everyday life. I’ve illustrated cats working in a printmaking lab, making pottery in a ceramics studio, or relaxing on the beach in Santa Monica. Sometimes, I bring those illustrated scenes into my ceramic pieces, creating a playful connection between mediums.
What sets my work apart is this unique blend of narrative, medium, and color. I gravitate toward bright, vibrant palettes, and I aim for my work to feel warm, joyful, and comforting.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I feel very lucky to have found a field that I truly love. Discovering illustration as my passion was one of the biggest pieces of good luck in my life.
I’m also incredibly fortunate to have a supportive family who gives me the time and space to focus on creating. My friends, who are also in the arts, often give me helpful feedback and inspire me with their own work. I’ve also had amazing professors—kind, knowledgeable, and always willing to help me work through challenges in my creative process.
Even my classmates in the illustration program have played a part in my journey. They often share beautiful works by other illustrators, and we learn and grow together. I think the support of these people—combined with some good timing—has played a huge role in helping me move forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yjzhou.cargo.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bibibiyj?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/yajuan-zhou-ba8704299
