Meet Charlene Liu | artist and educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlene Liu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charlene, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
My husband and I are both artists and the studio is a central aspect of our work and daily routine. When our children were very young, we spent a month collaborating on a family art project at an artist residency in Carrizozo, NM. The experience inspired us to continue integrating creative practice into our family life. Pivotally, we didn’t allow screen time until our youngest was in second grade. So their natural routine is reading, playing outdoors, and making creative projects.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work can be described as a hybrid between landscape and still life paintings created through printmaking, painting, pastel and watercolor techniques. I combine imagery inspired by plant life, food, textiles, and East Asian art to explore cultural identity, heritage and memory. I love vibrant colors and embrace improvisation and chance combinations in my creative process. I want my work to convey playfulness, joy, and immediacy.

Education was an important part of my success. College gave me the means to leave a small town and move to New York and then the West Coast. Early on, it was challenging to make art consistently, while learning how to budget and support myself. Along the way, I set attainable goals and made decisions that prioritized my art practice. In my twenties, I would quit a job that didn’t work for my creative well being; although I learned useful organizational and communication skills in every job! Now, I am more conscious of creating a sustainable balance, integrating creative practice into my livelihood, daily routine, and family life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I start with a visit to Poketo, a lifestyle design store owned by friends Angie Myung and Ted Vadakan, from there we’ll spend our time eating and going to museums and galleries. Some highlights, Angels’ Tijuana Tacos, Korean cold noodles, hainanese chicken for lunch, regional Taiwanese cooking from Joy, Magpies’ Softserve, art galleries, LACMA, Amir’s Garden in Griffith Park, and the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to Paula Wilson, artist and co-founder of the artist organizations MoMAZoZo and the Carrizozo Artist in Residency (AIR). Paula and her partner Mike Lagg, a self-taught woodworker, welcomed our family into their magical and creative community in Carrizozo. https://paulajwilson.com/ https://carrizozoarts.com/mike-lagg

Website: https://www.charleneliu.com/

Image Credits
artist