Page 24 - Allison's Magazine ~ Issue #99

“ I’M CONSTANTLY MASHING
Yao Cheng paints in her light-filled with something visual that I found in a
downtown studio, the ideal environment
for painting different renditions of her book. It’s about combining inspirations
eclectic ideas.
from different places. I’m constantly
mashing totally different things
together—such as a geometric pattern
combined with the colors that I see in a
photograph of ice cream.
Funnily enough, I also find a lot of
inspirations in my dreams. I think it’s
my brain’s way of making sense of the
things that I experience. Many times,
I’ve painted a final piece after a nap or
after a distinct dream that triggered
an idea.
What artists do you admire?
There are many contemporary artists
22 | AMERICAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
TOTALLY DIFFERENT THINGS
TOGETHER—SUCH AS A
GEOMETRIC PATTERN COMBINED
WITH THE COLORS THAT I SEE IN
A PHOTOGRAPH OF ICE CREAM.
that I admire, but I try not to look at to go through. I’m currently in one now. are more expansive and provide more
their work too much because I believe Fighting it has never worked for me; perspectives. We also see some college
deeply in respecting the work of others. doing so only makes me more frustrated students come through, which is
I think a mistake that a lot of people and costs me a lot of wasted time. My particularly exciting for me because I
make, especially in the beginning of best defense is to recognize that I’m love being able to introduce the next
their careers as they are finding their in a creative block and that it won't generation of creatives to the real world
own voice, is looking too much at last forever, and then I do something of running a design business.
others’ work that they admire. It’s very completely different until it passes.
easy to then subconsciously create work Rise & Design is something I’m
that feels similar. I am a believer that, incredibly proud of and am so grateful
You cofounded Rise & Design, a
as an artist, it’s my responsibility to to have. It has grown into a community
meetup for creatives in your area.
find my own ideas and not recreate What was the impetus for that? of amazing people. We are all genuinely
anyone else’s. I cofounded Rise & Design with my supportive of each other, and having
good friend and creative, Danielle Evans access to so many resources is very
I’ve often revisited Van Gogh’s work of Marmalade Bleue, back in 2016. crucial for any small-business owner.
throughout my career. I love that he Columbus is a wonderful city, but a lot
painted in a medium that’s totally of illustrators and designers are scattered In an alternate universe, what is
different from mine and that he tried among the suburbs, and because so your profession?
to capture light in a million colors. His many of us work from home, it’s hard I would also love to be a ceramist, a
work has a shimmer and a glow that for everyone to get together. Rise & therapist, a pianist, a dancer, or even an
make me feel like the fields are moving Design was a way for us to provide a astronaut, but being an artist is my focus
right in front of me. I’m always trying to place for everyone to come together and and love for this lifetime.
capture that same feeling in my work. strike up important conversations. For more info, visit yaochengdesign.com
How do you fight creative blocks? The beauty of Rise & Design comes
What resets your brain? from the fact that we don’t all belong
A creative block can be very frustrating to one industry, so our discussions
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