Fascinated with how illustration can portray the human experience, New York–based illustrator Qiyue Zhang has found her calling in bringing our inner narratives to the surface. “My process usually begins with a pencil sketch on paper; drawing by hand slows me down and helps me connect with my subject emotionally,” she says on her process. “After scanning the sketch, I add color and refine the image digitally, trying to preserve the tactile feeling of hand drawing even in digital work.” Growing up in China, Zhang discovered her love of drawing by reading collections of Western fairytales and illustrated versions of Chinese novels, such as Dream of the Red Chamber. “One of my biggest influences is Kay Nielsen,” she explains. “His fairytale illustrations blend European elegance with East Asian aesthetics, something that resonates deeply with my own sensibilities.” Eventually, Zhang’s studies brought her to New York and the School of Visual Arts, where her instructors helped her develop her technique and encouraged her to explore her abilities in conveying the emotion behind the narrative she portrays. When it comes to creating work, she finds herself primarily driven by her own connection with the subject matter. “My work has to be honest, even in subtle ways,” Zhang says. “In that sense, illustration feels close to literature: both are deeply personal forms of expression, but their ultimate aim is to create resonance. I hope my images offer a quiet space for people to pause, reflect and perhaps feel seen.”