Alchemizing Corporate Burn-Out Into Art, Comics, & Humorous Storytelling

Interview with artist Alice Yang , & a mini showcase of her works

“Life beats down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one.” - Stella Adler

Two of Alice Yang's paintings that hang in my bedroom. (Left) "Sit: A quiet meditation on baths, where thoughts drift into softness." (Right) "Smoke: You breathe in a hush, and exhale a ripple. The water holds you."

Today, I want to introduce you to an artist whose works speak to my soul.

Her art quite literally lights up the physical space around me (as two of her illustrations hang serenely in my bedroom next to an arched vanity mirror — positioned just above a Chinese jewelry box, a handful of fragrances, and a small glass swan displaying my chaotic collection of $5 vintage rings).

As the morning and evening’s light dances shadows upon my eggshell walls, these two pieces move to and fro like a careful duet — reflecting back to me an ever-changing stream of quiet thoughts…

---

Meet the Artist: Alice Yang

Alice Yang. Photo Courtesy Alice Yang.

I first met Alice Yang at an artist fair in Downtown San Jose, California.

The variety of her mediums and narratives moved me (from free-hand, sarcastic comics to cool-toned portraits, and vibrant, whimsical illustrations) — and, we later met for a more in-depth conversation about her creative journey.

True to her form, though, the best way to describe Alice’s artist path is not through words but rather comics. For example:

1. This one illustrates the often unspoken (yet collective) experience of losing oneself to the corporate grind (and the facade of it all). Alice illustrated it right before she left her role at Uber (and the tech world for good…), and it is one of her many “corporate self-care” comics and prints crafted from deep within her soul (and custom-made for all the corporate girls and boys out there still sticking it out). And…

2. This other one presents a powerful recognition of self over time. Alice illustrated it as she was finding her groove making art that was deeply meaningful to her — and it is a quintessential example of her more narrative works (that she hopes to do more of in the future). The piece depicts her in the image of a horse, dreaming to be free.

Alice Yang with her muse and art. Photos Courtesy Alice Yang.

Alice: “My late oil painting teacher, who taught until he was 95, once said to me that ‘if you have knowledge that other people are looking for, it’s your responsibility to share it.’ And, I think about that a lot.

I feel like I’ve had a broad range of life experiences, and have been given the opportunity to see things through different lenses and pull out some universal themes.”

And so she does.

In her art, Alice:

• explores the concept of change;

• plays with color; and,

• blends humor, storytelling, and an undeniable love for cats.

Before becoming an artist, Alice spent 10 years in the corporate world — as a software engineer, product designer, in-house illustrator, and head of art at many-a-tech-companies.

Since leaving her 9-5 to be a full-time artist mid-pandemic, she now spends her time sharing her life experience through comics like “fuck around and find out” (a whimsical story of bumping around like a Roomba “in the room of life”) and making fun-to-wear merch that brings her life perspective and emotions into yet another physical form (Check out her online store here!).

It’s stunning, really…every one of her pieces.

---

Meet Her Art: A Mini Showcase

So, with Alice’s permission, I want to share some of my favorite pieces of hers:

The Expansion by Alice Yang — inspired by a dream where she was floating aimlessly in the ocean, only to suddenly realize that the speckled shapes below her belonged to a behemoth of a ray, and that she had been a passenger on its journey all along. Photo Courtesy: Alice Yang.

The Shepherd by Alice Yang — an illustration inspired by the many roles of the shepherd—one who tends, who cares, who protects, who guides. Photo Courtesy: Alice Yang.

The Challenge by Alice Yang — “Life undulates like the ocean — You soar across peaks one moment, and spill into darkness the next. Yet each time you return, relentless, sustained by the highs and wiser from the lows. Ready to try again.” Phot Courtesy: Alice Yang.

The Calling by Alice Yang — “The sea foam pulls back to reveal a more somber flush of pink, tracing your last stretch of certainty. A pause. You savor the drop in your stomach as the shallow sands plunge into the abyss, for you know the line between fear and exhilaration is thin, thin enough to dissolve into the next swell if you let it.” Photo Courtesy: Alice Yang.

Secret Garden by Alice Yang — an ode to books and plants, and the peace that comes from getting lost in both. Photo Courtesy: Alice Yang.

Space by Alice Yang — a space, a sanctuary. A moment between worlds. Part of a five piece series. Photo Courtesy: Alice Yang.

---

As you can tell, her art is probing…

contemplative…

a reflection of an inner discovery…

a movement through time and seasons…

which is precisely why they speak directly to my soul.

---

So, now that you’ve snuck a peek behind the curtain, here’s an invite to check out Alice’s comics and other musings on Instagram as well as purchase any of the art featured in this story (and more!) in her online store. Note: You can also find Alice at in-person events around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Last but not least, if you crave stories like these (and enjoy meeting others with wild, beautiful, scenic, and unexpected routes to their creative calling) I invite you to join our subscriber chat! →

In this community space (exclusively curated for our paid and free subscribers), you’ll find belonging with other creative humans balancing passion projects and day-jobs, consuming endless self-help books about the artist’s life (like the The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad, or Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert), and building things that light up their soul.

And, you might just feel at home.

---

So, with that, thank you for reading, and happy community gathering!

With zeal and gratitude for this creative life,

Vanessa

Scenes from frolicking in my hometown with my bestie (behind the camera).

P.S. If you liked this article, here are a few others you may enjoy:

---

And, as always, I’d love to hear from you! Consider sending me a quick message to say “hi”, introduce yourself, or share what you’re most excited to see from Tomatokind this year!