Illustrator / Developer / Videographer XinYi on Breaking Free from a Creative Rut

This interview originally appeared in the Slashie newsletter, which highlighted creative 'slashies', meaning people with multiple careers or a side-hustle.

Part illustrator, part web developer, part videographer, and—as her Instagram states—part 'whatev-er', XinYi is a true Slashie. You might have encountered her as Nomi of Piquetures; she has gone by many names, a fact alluded to in one of her beautiful videos. Whatever you call her, you can be sure to be inspired by both her musings and visual work.

I sat down with XinYi to find out how she deals with online comparison, gets unstuck from a creative rut, and more...

Q: You're probably best known for your videos at this point in time. Tell me about the evolution of your YouTube channel and your plans for it.

A: When I started out on YouTube I was really inspired by fashion bloggers—such as Claire Marshall—so my channel was mostly looks-based. It was a great way to share my style and also learn how to edit. It was a new medium for me to explore.

Then, out of nowhere, I had all these opportunities to travel, and my YouTube started to become a travel vlogging channel. People started identifying me as the travel person.

They’d ask me how I travel so much, or how I could afford to travel all the time. It was strange because that's not who I identify myself as — I just happened to take a gap year with no obligations to work or school. I'm not (yet) a digital nomad, and I'm not going to travel forever. So, I was conflicted. I looked at dedicated travel channels like DamonAndJo, and realised that this is not what I wanted to be known for.

Instead, I want Piquetures to eventually carry the same weight as the names Wes Anderson or Hayao Miyazaki (co-founder and director at Studio Ghibli). I would like the audience to think, I can't wait to see their next project, because, whatever it is, it's gonna be awesome!

Q: We're bombarded with everyone's best work on social media. How do you deal with that?

A: When I get feelings of comparison—it sometimes happens when I find people who are younger yet more successful than me—I remind myself that everyone's circumstances are different. Often it's just luck and knowing the right people.

I also tell myself that I'm able to meet cool people by putting my art out there, even if I don't get all the reach that others do. That reminds me why I should keep working on my projects, even if the numbers are discouraging sometimes.

Q: How do you find inspiration when you feel like you're in a creative rut?

A: I think previously, I'd just get depressed and just be in a rut. But nowadays, I turn to my friends to seek inspiration. I've found that—especially during testing times—my friends often believe in me more than I believe in myself. It's been a tough, and ongoing, battle to overcome my default 'I-can-do-everything-myself' mentality. While it's a strategy that may have worked during school, the playing field is much bigger in real life. It's why I'm now always looking for my next collaboration, my next team.

My tip for getting out of a creative rut? Find a friend who believes in your vision!

Q: What’s the endgame for you?

A: For ambitious people, there's no endgame. Because every time you achieve a goal - or even before you achieve that goal - you're already thinking what's the next thing? There's nothing worse in life than being bored. I get stressed out when I'm bored!

There's no endgame. I guess that's just how ambitious people are.

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Follow XinYi's creative journey on Instagram, @xinyixan. Interview by Claire Petersen, @byclairep.