Meet Jiatong Liu: Creating Dreamy Illustrations Filled with Emotion
YourStuffMade Community Feature · London-Based Freelance Illustrator
Meet Jiatong Liu, a talented illustrator from China who is now building his creative career in London. His dreamy, vibrant artwork captures the beauty of people, emotions and imaginative inner worlds.
Jiatong’s artistic journey began in childhood with a pencil in hand. After stepping away from art because of social pressure, he rediscovered his passion at university and found the courage to pursue illustration professionally.
What Creative Medium Does Jiatong Use?
Jiatong primarily works through digital illustration, using colour, light and carefully designed characters to communicate emotions that can sometimes be difficult to express through words.
Digital Illustration
Jiatong creates detailed digital artwork that combines expressive figures, atmospheric environments and vibrant colour.
Character Illustration
People are often the focus of his work, particularly delicate portrayals of female characters and their inner emotional worlds.
Colour Storytelling
Colour plays an important role in setting the mood of each piece, with blue appearing frequently as one of his favourite shades.
Emotional Expression
His illustrations communicate feelings, memories and personal experiences through visual details, poses and atmosphere.
How Would Jiatong Describe His Art Style?
Jiatong describes his work as dreamy, spiritual and vibrant. His illustrations often combine expressive characters with imaginative colours and atmospheric details that invite viewers into a more personal emotional space.
His artwork frequently focuses on people, especially female characters, using their expressions, movement and surroundings to explore feelings that exist beneath the surface.
Jiatong’s art gives emotions a visual voice, transforming quiet thoughts and inner worlds into vibrant illustrations.
What Types of Art and Products Does Jiatong Offer?
Jiatong offers original illustrations and printed versions of his artwork, creating pieces that allow people to connect with his characters and emotional visual stories.
Original Illustrations
Dreamy digital artwork that explores people, emotions, imagination and personal visual storytelling.
Art Prints
Printed versions of Jiatong’s illustrations that allow collectors to display his vibrant artwork in their own spaces.
Character Artwork
Expressive portraits and character-focused illustrations that explore identity, emotion and inner experience.
Freelance Illustration
Jiatong applies his distinctive visual style to independent commissions and new creative collaborations.
How Jiatong Liu Started His Creative Journey
Jiatong loved drawing from an early age and spent much of his childhood with a pencil in hand. However, as he grew older, social and cultural pressure made him feel that art was a less practical or respected career choice.
For a time, he stepped away from drawing. His passion returned unexpectedly when he met illustration students while attending university. Seeing others study and pursue illustration reminded him how much art had always meant to him.
Encouraged by this experience, Jiatong chose illustration as his second major and began rebuilding his creative practice. He later moved to London to study Illustration at Kingston University, where he completed his master’s degree.
Today, Jiatong works as a freelance illustrator in London. His artwork has become a personal voice that communicates thoughts and emotions more powerfully than words alone.
Proudest Achievements and Creative Milestones
Returning to Art
Overcoming the doubts that once caused him to abandon drawing is one of the most meaningful achievements in Jiatong’s journey.
Completing His MA
Completing a master’s degree in Illustration allowed him to strengthen his creative practice and develop a more personal visual direction.
Moving to London
Relocating to London gave Jiatong the opportunity to study, experience a new creative environment and connect with a wider artistic community.
Working as a Freelancer
Building a freelance illustration career represents the courage, persistence and commitment behind his decision to pursue art professionally.
Breaking Free from Cultural Expectations
One of Jiatong’s greatest challenges was overcoming the cultural stigma surrounding art as a career. The pressure to choose a more conventional path caused him to question whether illustration could become a serious profession.
Finding the courage to return to art required persistence and trust in his own passion. Rather than allowing doubt to determine his future, Jiatong continued developing his skills and gradually created a path that felt true to him.
Pursuing a creative career became an act of courage—one built through persistence, self-belief and the decision not to abandon what he loved.
What Is Next for Jiatong Liu?
Jiatong hopes to expand his work into new creative projects while continuing to develop the dreamy and emotionally expressive visual style that defines his illustrations.
He plans to explore new formats, themes and creative opportunities that will allow him to push the boundaries of his art and share his ideas with a wider audience.
London-based illustrators looking for professional development, commissions and creative-industry guidance can explore resources from the Association of Illustrators.
Jiatong’s Advice for Other Artists and Makers
“Follow your passion and draw what you love, even if financial pressures make it hard sometimes.”
- Draw what you genuinely love: personal interest and emotional connection can help your artwork feel more honest and distinctive.
- Keep developing your personal style: use your free time to experiment, practise and explore the subjects that interest you most.
- Be patient with your progress: a unique creative voice develops gradually through repeated practice and thoughtful experimentation.
- Do not let pressure erase your passion: practical and financial challenges are real, but they do not have to stop you from continuing to create.
- Do not give up halfway: persistence is essential when building confidence, skills and a sustainable creative career.
Turning Dreamy Illustrations into Artist Merchandise
Illustrators can transform expressive characters, atmospheric scenes and signature colour palettes into physical products that allow supporters to collect and enjoy their artwork.
A thoughtfully designed merchandise collection can also help freelance artists expand their income while introducing their work to new audiences.
Connect with Jiatong Liu
Follow Jiatong’s creative journey, explore his dreamy illustrations and discover more emotionally expressive artwork inspired by people, colour and imagination.
Jiatong Liu is originally from China and is currently based in London, United Kingdom.
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