Jiatong Liu is a Chinese illustrator currently based in the UK. As an Illustrator, he has good skills in using different media to create exquisite illustrations. Most importantly, both his hand painting and digital art has a distinctive style. He is a problem solver who uses illustration to communicate with audiences. And at the same time, he is an artist who expresses his inner emotion through different art forms. The dreamy atmosphere, imagination and vibrant colour palates are his symbols.

Instagram: @ljtseven

Where would you like your work to take you?

My works like keys to open the doors of different worlds. So I immerse myself into that world imaging I am the character in that painting, which is a good way to escape myself from the physical world for a little while. I feel liberated to express my feelings and to be truthful to myself by painting. Because it is the place where I take off all my masks and moral standards to be just who I am. Painting for me is about expression, the willingness to talk visually. That is the reason why I paint across different materials because each time I want to find the most suitable material to express. So I think my works have already taken me to a wonderful place.

Which part of your creative process do you enjoy most?

I think there have different moments during the whole process. But the moment when I got inspired and begin to draw some doodles is the most exciting time during the whole process. And of course, I also feel very enjoyable when I finish a painting.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

There have so many different things inspiring me. Many beautiful poems and books are good resources of inspiration. My mind automatically generates many different pictures when I read them. 

Memory also inspires me many times although many of them have already faded in my mind, it becomes more attractive to me. So I draw them down combining my emotions and keep them as a visual diary.

What piece of music would you say compliments your work the most?

Faye Wong's songs. I am a big fan of her music and I often listen to her old albums during painting. Her voice is so unique and delicate which likes sheer chiffon fluttering in the wind. And I also love Lana DelRey's music. The old memory and the nostalgia feeling come flooding back when I listen to.

Can you list a couple other creatives/friends/people you look to for inspiration?

I admire so many artists' works. I like @charlotte.ager's illustrations, @gosiaherba's illustration style, @beatricealemagana's children picturebooks, @lorenzomattotti's colour and @ haleytippmann's still life drawings.