Xinping Li — Conceptual Illustrator, San Francisco

Using bright colours and clear, bold forms, Xinping Li creates artwork that thrives on simplicity – making an impact, delivering a message and evoking a feeling with each image. Often, her work is calming and refreshing, conveying an idea with a gentle sense of fun and, sometimes, a touch of surrealism.

An experienced graphic designer, Xinping often uses a background pattern or texture as the foundations of an image, creating brighter focal points in the foreground – sometimes employing interesting layering to create depth that belies the simplicity of her approach. Her clients enjoy seeing how she takes their ideas and transforms them into imaginative visuals. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Xinping was born in China and was originally inspired by anime and manga. Studying at City College and then San Francisco State University, she trained in a range of traditional media before transitioning to digital. Her influences include Hayao Miyazaki and Vincent van Gogh.

Approach

Initial ideas are sketched on an iPad in Procreate, with a limited palette of up to three colours selected. The image is refined as Xinping works with brushes and textures to give it the right overall feel.

Key software

Procreate and Adobe Photoshop.

Style

Flat forms, bright colours and plenty of contrast are used to conjure the narrative and emotion of the piece, as the viewer gradually takes in its depth and nuance.