Artist in Conversation: Yimiao Liu

Yimiao Liu, an illustrator and visual artist, makes intricate and highly detailed drawings now out of Los Angeles. With a background in illustration, Yimiao works from her imagination to create drawings fueled by a gentle power, which have attracted an impressive client list in China and the US. Yesterday morning, we held a live Q&A session on Twitter with Yimiao to talk about her works and her life as an artist.

Let's start with your story. Can you give our audiences some background information on yourself, please?

I'm an illustrator who currently lives and works in Los Angeles. I was born in Hunan, China. My work explores the relationship between women and the world, by reflecting on the pervasive culture of female oppression and the ways women are rising above.

How do you get started with illustration? It was a coincidence. Just after I graduated, an art director of a Chinese fashion magazine reached me out. He saw my drawings on social media and asked me if we could collaborate on some editorial illustration. I didn't have any experience at that time, but the art director guided me a lot. By the end of that year, I did a cover illustration for them. This experience reminded me that drawing was what I had always wanted to do in my life, and it would be amazing if I can make a living from it. Finally, I decided to go to grad school to get some professional training.

What are some things that inspire you?

Dreams, nostalgia, sex, movies and mythology. Mushroom is one of my favourite elements, which expresses all my subtle emotion about the world.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work?

My creative process usually consists of sketching out a drawing on paper before scanning the sketch and colouring it digitally using Photoshop. When I do draw traditionally, I mostly use brush pens and watercolour.

Have you ever questioned your career entirely?

I've never questioned being an illustrator, but it has not always been smooth along the way, especially in the beginning. I started from doing commercial work to get enough exposure and then slowly shift into making more personal work.

The COVID-19 pandemic is relatively stable now, and life is returning to a new kind of normal. What is your daily schedule like these days?

I have been working on my new drawings, chatting with friends, and dancing lately. This special period affected everybody's life but also helped bring about many new ideas, and made us appreciate how so many things are not easy to come by.

Throughout the pandemic, a lot of galleries and institutions have experimented with online viewing. How do you feel that has altered how we view art?

I think online platforms have made contemporary art more accessible, but it also requires certain background knowledge. However, online viewing can never replace the experiential qualities of a physical exhibition. The intimacy of a drawing and the interaction between artwork and space can only be experienced through a physical space.

What advice would you give to young artists starting out?

- Maintain originality in the work.

- Maintain a presence online by posting works on social media platforms and reaching out to people to disseminate your work.

- Surround yourself with other artists.

- Have a kitten🐱!

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Follow Yimiao Liu on:

• Website: https://yimiaoliu-illustration.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimiao_liu/