Today we’d like to introduce you to Vinh-Luan Luu.
Vinh-Luan, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Looking at various members of my family, I can see hints of artistry here and there. From elegant handwriting to creative paintings to amazing doodles, it’s obvious that the art gene runs through the branches of the family tree. But what stands out to me is growing up with my older cousin Lam who lived next door to me as a child. In that distant lifetime where school didn’t exist in my life yet, I spent many afternoons at his house. I remember walking into his den where he had built a giant rubber band spiderweb for his action figures.
We worked on creating zip-lines, weapons, and accessories out of clay. Mine were simple while his had moving parts incorporating paperclips to make axels and hinges. I sat by in awe as he dissected a paper airplane book, going off-model to experiment with new shapes and folds. I remember flipping through his school sketchbook, completely awestruck by the talent. He said he whipped them up right before class. He was the true embodiment of Sprezzatura, a carefree talent that made things look effortless. Growing up, he was my hero and the original spark to my creativity in my art and design.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
One of the most valuable lessons I got in art came from artist Brian Stelfreeze. He told me no matter the medium I was using, my role was to be a storyteller. The piece I create should be about SOMETHING. Whether I’m capturing a moment in a character’s personality or relying key information through type, there needs to be a focus. The audience should walk away from my art with a message in their mind; and sometimes a feeling in their heart. A cool image for the sake of cool is fleeting, a brief moment of awe that flutters away from the mind when the head turns to the next image. A story, on the other hand, lingers in the mind and hopefully the soul; it makes the audience think, it effects their emotions. Even when I have to rush through client work due to timelines, I try my best to keep this philosophy in mind. Even though I work in two dimensions, I want my work to have depth.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
I think artists’ biggest partner is also our biggest challenge: social media. It’s a great way for us to be visible to the world, but it’s also a sea of content that is flying by every day, every minute. It’s tempting to go with the flow, to fall in line with current trends; but I think it’s best for us to stand our own ground with our unique voice. It’s also tempting to pull other artists down to make our mark. I believe a rising tide lifts all boats. So, it’s not just about promoting our own art, but also cultivating an artistic community and general art appreciation.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I’m pretty open with my Facebook and Instagram, it’s way more art & design than personal. All the artwork on there are for sale so I’m open to DMs. I also showcase my work on vinhluanluu.com.
I’m currently in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign. It’s a body positive, pinup coloring book called “Drawn This Way: Pinup Coloring Book”. The campaign ends July 4th.
Contact Info:
- Website: vinhluanluu.com
- Email: vinhluanluu@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/vinhluanluu
- Facebook: facebook.com/vinhluanluu
- Twitter: twitter.com/VinhLuanLuu
Image Credit:
Vinh-Luan Luu
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