We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jialu Du. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jialu below.

Jialu, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

The first time I realized that I truly loved drawing was during an art class in high school. That day, I casually mentioned to my teacher that I would often draw little sketches during breaks. To my surprise, my teacher was astonished and said, “You must really love drawing!” Her words left me momentarily stunned and made me seriously reflect for the first time: perhaps drawing truly is what I love the most.

During high school, as a student studying in China, I faced significant academic pressure. However, I never gave up on art. When I entered university, I chose a design-related major because I was unsure about my career direction at the time and hoped to find a stable job after graduation. However, as I became more involved in creative work, I was introduced to the field of illustration. It excited me and made me realize that this was the path I truly wanted to pursue.

Because the art market in the United States is more developed and has a comprehensive business model for illustration, I was eager to come here to study and understand how local artists connect with society through their work. I applied for a graduate program in illustration in the U.S. and was fortunate enough to be accepted by SVA. This made me feel incredibly excited. For me, it was not just an academic advancement but also a step closer to making my high school dream a reality.

If high school was the time when I realized my love for drawing, then coming to the U.S. to study illustration was the moment when I gained a clear vision of my career path. I hope that through this journey, I can bring my dreams to life and use my art to connect with more people.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About Me: Background and Starting Point
I am an illustrator, and my creative mission is to build connections between people through my work. Initially, I found it challenging to express my opinions to friends, as I often worried that my tone might come across as too harsh, potentially causing misunderstandings or distance. Illustration became my medium of self-expression. Through gentle and sincere visual language, I was able to share my thoughts and post my work online. To my surprise, audiences resonated with my experiences through my illustrations, allowing us to communicate in a more relaxed way. This made me realize the power of illustration as a tool for communication.

Before pursuing graduate school, I had already experimented with various forms of creation, including animation, comics, and picture books. Through illustration, I addressed topics like women’s safety and cyberbullying—issues closely related to my life—hoping to raise awareness through art.

Career Journey: From Exploration to Deep Engagement
As I delved deeper into creation, I gradually realized that illustration was not just a form of artistic expression but also a way to establish meaningful connections with audiences and society. For example, during graduate school, I worked on a comic project about “how to get married in Central Park.” While the professor intended it as an informative piece, my field research led to an unexpected encounter with a couple who had actually gotten married in the park. They warmly shared their story: from meeting as young adults in the park to returning years later to get married under the same tree. This experience deeply moved me.

When creating the comic, I incorporated these details, portraying the couple’s emotional journey. The tree became a powerful symbol of time, witnessing their growth. This project reinforced my belief that the purpose of illustration is not just to visualize text but to infuse stories with deeper emotions and warmth, connecting people through shared experiences.

Core Values: Expressing Ideas, Conveying Warmth and Strength
My illustrations consistently revolve around sincere and gentle expression. Whether I am addressing social issues or creating stories for children, my goal is to convey my heartfelt messages and encourage audiences. I believe art can guide people when they feel lost or help them rediscover the warmth in life when they feel tired.

Products and Services: Diverse Creations
Picture Book Creation
I am passionate about creating adventure stories for children. One of my recent picture book projects is about a girl who dreams of becoming a dragon. As a child, she once saw migrating dragons outside her window, captivated by their powerful presence. She decided then that she wanted to grow up to be as strong as a dragon. However, when she shared her dream with her mother at the age of 16, her mother dismissed it as unrealistic. Determined, the girl packed her belongings and embarked on a journey to find dragons and uncover their stories.
This picture book aims to tell children that strength is not innate but something we develop as we pursue our dreams with courage. These adventure stories act like seeds, offering encouragement and inspiration when children recall them in the future.

Sticker Projects
I also design stickers, including a project called “Everything is Important,” featuring a playful seal character. The seal has speech bubbles saying things like “Sleeping is important!” and “Rest is important!” Through these stickers, I hope to remind people about the importance of rest and self-care. The stickers are waterproof and can be placed on items like water bottles or laptops to serve as daily reminders that life and health are just as important as work or study.
Brand Vision: Creating Connection and Hope Through Illustration
I am proud to use illustration as a means of building sincere communication with my audience. My work is not just about artistic expression but about providing a gentle and meaningful way to communicate. I hope my illustrations can become companions for my audience, offering encouragement, courage, and reminders to take care of themselves and enjoy life. For me, illustration is not just a profession but also a way to interact with society and touch people’s hearts with sincerity.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My primary goal is to establish an emotional connection with my audience. I believe that despite advancements in science, they don’t necessarily bring a direct improvement in people’s sense of happiness. On the contrary, the rapid progress of technology has introduced numerous challenges to human society, leaving many modern individuals grappling with emotional issues like depression or anxiety. Through my creations, I hope to provide emotional support to my readers. I want to share how I face my emotions when I feel anxious or confused and how I resolve my challenges.

I think the pursuit of scientific progress has led many people to relentlessly seek definitive answers. However, the universe is inherently chaotic and unpredictable. I aim to instill courage in my readers through my work. This is why most of my picture books revolve around the theme of journeys. To me, life is about embarking on new adventures and facing various challenges along the way. Life is an adventure, and we shouldn’t let fear hold us back from moving forward.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to study illustration at SVA in the United States, as it has significantly broadened my horizons. First, New York offers an abundance of exhibitions, including those hosted by the Society of Illustrators, allowing me to easily access and stay updated on contemporary illustration trends.

Additionally, New York is filled with opportunities and events that enable you to connect with industry professionals, such as illustrators and editors, providing a more direct understanding of the field’s current direction. I deeply appreciate those who took the time to review my portfolio at these events and offered valuable feedback. Some of them were even from other fields, like animation, which gave me fresh perspectives. I’ve found that receiving feedback from diverse audiences is immensely beneficial. People with different backgrounds often provide unique insights, sparking new ideas and inspirations for my work.

I also believe participating in art festivals is incredibly valuable. These events allow you to apply your illustrations to tangible products and engage directly with fans who enjoy your work. Having conversations with them and hearing their thoughts can be an enlightening experience.

Overall, I think seeking external feedback on your work is crucial. One of the core purposes of illustration is communication, and feedback from your audience can help you identify strengths and weaknesses that you might have overlooked. This process ultimately helps you better understand yourself and grow as a creator.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dulululu312.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dulululu312?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Image Credits

None