We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lu Lu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lu, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Finding my goal has been a natural process. Picture books and comics from my childhood ignited my passion for illustration, and choosing illustration as my major in college was the first step in turning this passion into a career. Throughout my studies, I gradually strengthened my enthusiasm for illustration and developed a style primarily focused on vintage fairy tales. This style, inspired by antique objects, not only fuels my creative inspiration but also imparts a unique sense of beauty and storytelling to my work.
My goal is to continuously develop this distinctive illustration style and apply it to both my artwork and handcrafted pieces, with the hope of sharing my creativity and passion with more people through my work.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As an illustrator and designer, I specialize in creating vintage-style illustrations and incorporating them into everyday objects. I believe that illustration is not just a form of visual art but also a medium for conveying emotions and stories, which can be transformed into practical products that enhance our daily lives.
One of my most emotionally expressive works is the “Blue Love Letters” series. This series of watercolor illustrations captures my ideal vision of love and the subtle psychological and emotional shifts experienced in romantic relationships. By using a neutral blue, I aim to transcend gender boundaries, allowing every viewer to connect with the purest emotional resonance.
Additionally, my original IP character, “Loopy Cat,” is inspired by my family’s cow cat. This playful and whimsical character retains the unique traits of the cow cat, symbolizing the rebellious and freedom-seeking spirit within adults. “Loopy Cat” has become a significant part of my brand and is widely adored.
In 2014, I founded the illustration brand “Daydream Lab.” Our products are characterized by their warm, vintage illustration style, and include exquisite handmade accessories such as earrings and scarves, as well as home decor items like porcelain paintings. Each item is designed to bring a touch of fairy-tale romance and surprise into everyday life.
In the realm of exquisite accessories, I incorporate elements from my illustration exhibitions into the designs, exploring the fusion of illustration with jewelry. Wooden materials beautifully highlight the texture of watercolor illustrations and evoke a vintage aesthetic, making them an ideal medium. By combining wood-printed illustrations with handcrafted beading, I’ve created elegant illustrated jewelry. Scarves are also an ideal canvas for displaying full illustrations, and I’ve developed themed scarf series like “Spring Poem” and “Summer Night Sky.”
For home decor, I focus on creating porcelain paintings. I paint directly onto bisque-fired clay plates using Jingdezhen color glazes, then fire them at temperatures between 1000 and 1200 degrees Celsius. This process permanently bonds the artwork with the porcelain, creating unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Each porcelain painting undergoes a transformative firing process, resulting in distinct colors and textures, making each piece irreplaceable.
Looking ahead, I plan to further explore the fusion of illustration with everyday products, and introduce more items centered around my illustrations. Through these creations, I hope to share my creative ideas and emotions with a broader audience.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Expand your imagination: When creating, don’t confine yourself to a specific style. Your style will naturally evolve as your experiences grow. Stay open and embrace these changes, as they can lead to greater creative breakthroughs.
2. Experience life and stay curious: Engaging with different aspects of life beyond drawing can broaden your perspective and inspire new ideas. A diverse range of life experiences enriches your work’s depth in both thought and emotional expression.
3. Strengthen your foundation and tools: A solid foundation in drawing and proficiency with design software are key to successful creation. Mastering these skills allows you to bring your ideas to life more effectively, giving you greater creative freedom.
For those just starting out, I recommend exploring boldly, maintaining an open mind, and continually refining foundational skills.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am seeking interesting project collaboration opportunities that align with my style, including but not limited to art exhibitions, commercial painting projects, and product collaborations. If you are interested in collaborating, please feel free to contact me via my Instagram (lulululu.art) or email (lu335224026@gmail.com). I look forward to the possibility of working together!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lulululu.art
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