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

Viola, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve loved drawing since I was a child and have been taking art classes consistently. However, to my parents, drawing was just like music, dance, or chess—an extracurricular activity to cultivate interest and develop thinking skills, not something they considered a viable career. It wasn’t until I joined the art specialty class in my high school that I realized how expansive the world of art truly is. There, I met many talented and passionate peers. Some had tens of thousands of followers on social media, others came from artistic families, and a few had already discovered their artistic aspirations early on. They helped me see that drawing isn’t just about becoming a fine artist—it can also lead to careers in product design, concept art, environmental design, fashion design, and more.

Our teachers encouraged us constantly, emphasizing that art isn’t just a means of self-expression but also something that can transform lives and create value. Around that time, some alumni who had graduated from our high school came back to share their experiences. A few of them showcased their game concept art projects, which left a deep impression on me. I used to think that becoming a designer in the game or animation industry was something far beyond my reach, but their stories made me realize my own potential was limitless. That was when I made up my mind to turn my passion for drawing into a career and began working hard toward that goal.

Eventually, I was accepted into the top-ranked game design school in my country. Through further studies, I continued to grow and eventually took the step to pursue education abroad. I feel like I’m steadily moving closer to my dream of becoming a professional artist, and every step brings me more confidence and excitement for the future.

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

Hi, my name is Viola Fu. I was born in Wuhan, China, and I hold a degree in Game Design from the Communication University of China. Currently, I’m pursuing an MFA in Illustration and an MA in Animation at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). I work as a freelance illustrator and concept designer, focusing on fantasy-themed character portraits and concept designs for games and animation. My passion lies in creating illustrations inspired by myths and legends, where I explore how to condense storytelling and symbolism into a single compelling image.

Drawing has been a part of my life since childhood, and I decided early on to make it my lifelong pursuit. With perseverance and the support of my family and teachers, I was able to attend a professional art school and receive systematic training. This education not only solidified my artistic foundations but also deepened my understanding of the industry, further confirming my path as a professional artist.

My illustrations are characterized by a realistic rendering style with meticulous attention to structure and form, making them well-suited for game art cards, book covers, and interior illustrations. My creative process is highly methodical and rooted in academic principles. I typically start with 12 to 24 thumbnails, gather extensive reference materials, and even arrange photoshoots with models if necessary to ensure my ideas are fully visualized. From there, I develop at least three grayscale drafts, followed by four color studies before finalizing the piece. At every stage, I maintain close communication with my clients to ensure their vision is reflected in the work.

One of my strengths is my ability to adapt to different artistic styles, which allows me to meet diverse client needs. However, I often retain my personal artistic style, and my efficient workflow is another advantage that clients appreciate.

In 2023, I received the Bronze Award in the IDA Print-Poster category for an illustration I created as part of a class project. This piece was quite different from my usual style—I deliberately chose a flat design approach to fit the theme, which limited my typical focus on detailed rendering. Winning this award was a pleasant surprise and gave me greater confidence in my abilities. The illustration was also displayed in one of SCAD’s academic buildings, earning praise from both classmates and professors for its creative concept.

This experience made me realize that, beyond technical skills, my potential for innovative thinking is greater than I had imagined. Moving forward, I aim to explore more engaging and thought-provoking themes, using my work not only to design compelling concepts but also to express meaningful humanistic ideas.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the importance of staying true to oneself. Art is a form of self-expression, full of broad possibilities and appeal. When learning and engaging with other artistic works, I’m often drawn to the strong personal styles of artists. As artists, we not only learn from and imitate others but ultimately need to develop our own unique style. However, during this learning process, we can easily become swept up in trends. Audiences are usually more moved by works that are authentic and unique. Without staying true to oneself, it’s hard for an artist to touch the inner world of the audience through their art.

Throughout my career, I’ve sometimes sacrificed what I truly wanted to express in order to meet client demands or follow trends. This can erode the artist’s creative passion, leading to a loss of inner drive and resulting in a decline in the quality and quantity of the work. Chasing trends often leads to works that feel outdated or out of place years later, and as creators, we can become too focused on the outcome, losing sight of the true essence of creation. In life, I tend to care a lot about what others think, and this trait has carried over into my work. Although I communicate well with clients, I haven’t always been satisfied with my own artistic state. After a period of feeling lost, I realized that by staying true to myself and not following the crowd, I can approach my work with sincerity, not be easily swayed by external judgments, and increase my unique value as an artist rather than just becoming a commercial tool.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

This question might seem to contradict my previous answer, as in reality, staying true to oneself is a slower path when it comes to growing a social media following. I’ve gone through periods of rapid growth as well as stagnation. The core principle, however, remains that your artwork needs to be either visually appealing or interesting. It’s crucial to have an accurate understanding of your own strengths—whether you’re a creative-focused artist or a craft-focused one. Of course, if you have both aspects, growing your following becomes significantly easier.

Craft-focused artists are known for their refined technique but tend to spend more time on each piece. They need to stay true to their personal style, creating a series of works that build a long-tail effect, continually attracting followers. On the other hand, creative artists might not have the same level of technical finesse, but they are efficient and need to stay attuned to trending topics, producing relevant works around popular themes.

Above all, it’s important not to let traffic and data cause anxiety. Instead, focus on consistently producing your art, trusting in your abilities, and embracing the belief that with time, your work will radiate your energy and naturally draw more attention.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tamoosart.wixsite.com/tamoo
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamoosart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanxinfu-2024214v1/?locale=en_US
• Twitter: https://x.com/Tamoosart
• Other: https://www.artstation.com/tamoo

Image Credits
© 2024 SCAD and Yanxin Fu. All rights reserved