Local artist showcases her distinct style
By John Gregory
Scripps Ranch artist Lulu Yueming Qu creates artworks that often include line art in some parts with splashes of colors in other areas. Her creations often combine illustration with color washes. But her style is more sophisticated than this description indicates.
The artist, who simply goes by the name Lulu, attended an after school art class when she was five and never turned back. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art from a university in Beijing, China. She earned a master’s degree in traditional Chinese painting from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the best art school in China. She traveled to New York where she gained another master’s degree – this one in illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
“I traveled around New York carrying my sketch books. … I have maybe a thousand sketches from New York,” she said.
Lulu was trained to use a sheet of very thin rice paper instead of art canvas. She uses a brush which is similar to a calligraphy brush. She often uses a waterproof Uni-Ball pen for the line art; and she uses a gouache water based pigment for color.
“In China my major was traditional Chinese painting, so I kept that part to use the Chinese gouache; to use Chinese brushes. I still use those. But when I was in New York, my major was illustration,” she said. “So, when I’m doing my projects, I’m thinking why not combine my Chinese painting style background with my New York background? So, I combine sketch with the color.”
Lulu has an extensive art portfolio. Some works combine the line art with color, but many are fully in color. There is more variety than one might expect.
She sells her original pieces, as well as some prints, at the annual ArtWalk each spring in Little Italy. She also sells greeting cards, postcards and art magnets. Lulu sells her work at the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, in book stores such as Warwick’s in La Jolla, and at coffee shops and farmer’s markets throughout San Diego. Her art magnets are sold at the San Diego International Airport.
Lulu has been commissioned to create several works of art. She created a mural for the Parkway Plaza shopping center. She designed a mural for Walmart in New York state. She also made a mural for Visa in San Diego, as well as several smaller murals around the city.
In addition, Lulu is an art teacher for US Arts Education Center in Rancho Penasquitos where she instructs students in grades 6-12 and helps them develop their portfolios. She also collaborates with the nonprofit ArtReach San Diego where she holds workshops.
Lulu has an interest in bringing more cultural background to communities of all types.
“I want to do more cultural exchange between China and the U.S. because the world is so big and the countries should talk to each other,” she said. “I want to bring more Chinese art here and then bring American art to China, or bring some students here and bring some American students to China to learn the culture in each country. … I want to make a bridge between these two countries.”
Visit lulu-live-art.myshop-ify.com.