I. Why I Stopped Drawing:

A New Beginning

In April 2022, I stopped creating illustrations, driven by frustration with a repetitive, mechanical process. My workflow—capturing pop culture topics, extracting symbols, sketching, and filling in colors—turned drawings into products but drained my passion. The strict lockdown in Shanghai during the pandemic compelled me to confront my creative stagnation. I realized my skills served production, not self-expression or exploration. Nearly a year of reflection taught me that drawing should be a way to explore and connect with the world, not just fulfill market needs. Letting go of rigid frameworks, I began to embrace more experimental and personal approaches.