Meet Rita Liu | Illustrator & Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Rita, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
I was born in Los Angeles, California, and my parents brought me back to China when I was very young. I attended primary school and junior high school in China, and my introduction to painting was in the sixth grade. At that time, I loved watching anime and began to copy the characters I saw on TV. My parents were always supportive of my decisions and dedicated to nurturing my interests. When they learned about my passion for painting, they helped me enroll in a formal painting class. It was then that I started to study art systematically.

During my time in the hobby class, my teacher provided me with a lot of encouragement and praise, which sparked the idea of turning my hobby into a career. In high school, I returned to Los Angeles and began to create an art portfolio for college applications. To my delight, my dream school, the New York School of Visual Arts, offered me admission. Despite my parents’ initial concerns about my studying so far away, I remained resolute in choosing this school. Subsequently, the results have proven my choice to be correct.

College was a period of tremendous growth for me. Most importantly, it was during this time that I learned how to convey what I wanted to express through my art. Prior to that, my creativity was relatively weak. I could draw realistic things on paper, but my work always seemed to lack a certain ‘soul.’ Throughout my four years in college, I gradually discovered my artistic voice and style.

I am very thankful to my senior thesis teacher, Lisk Feng. The thing she tought in class is not just how to draw but also focused on the deeper aspects of expression and self-discovery.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“fantasy is that one day, humans can live together with animals. Raccoons could become pastry chefs, and we could travel with bears or take baths with otters.

I prefer to create my pieces using warm color tones. For my college graduation project, I created a series of works with this theme, which I named ‘Wonderworld.’ This series also helped me find my own style – warm, joyful, and happy. I love traveling, so most of my work is based on real scenes.

I also particularly enjoy trying different things. During my college years, I’ve ventured into product design, character design, packaging design, and illustration. I’ve even created menu covers, interior designs, and numerous wall murals for restaurants.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course, I would take them to Los Angeles, California. It’s not just where I was born; it’s also a place with many fun attractions and delicious food. When it comes to the weather, California rarely sees rain; it’s sunny year-round. It might get quite hot at times, but it never brings down your mood like rainy days do. Life in California is relaxed, and it’s the reason I chose to return to California after studying in New York. I enjoy the slower pace of life. While it might not be an art-centric city like New York, California boasts its fair share of museums and art festivals. And as for food, no need to mention much; I have a complete ‘Chinese stomach,’ and California’s Chinese cuisine is truly exceptional.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am really thankful to my parents. I can say that my journey has been relatively smooth all the way. My parents supported all my ideas and never placed any restrictions on my choices. The teachers I encountered were generous in imparting their knowledge, helping me not only acquire skills but also gain different perspectives on the world and explore myself.

Of course, life is not always a smooth sail, and on my path of growth, I encountered struggles and obstacles. I often pondered the meaning of painting. At times, I doubted myself, questioning why nobody liked my work. Why did something I had invested so much time and effort in not receive recognition? But I also understood that not everyone shares the same opinions and preferences. Each person has their own likes and dislikes.

During my time in college, I studied tattooing because I had not yet found a clear purpose for my art in the first three years. Tattooing helped me immensely. When people genuinely liked my work and were willing to have it as a permanent part of themselves, I felt a tremendous sense of validation. It turned out that there were people who appreciated my work, and all I needed to do was to focus on being myself, expressing myself, and finding myself. When a piece of art created with love comes to life, its energy is immense

Website: https://ritaliu.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rita_l2001/

Image Credits
Rita Liu