Lulu Lin’s illustrations depict playful, round and tumbling female figures

Lulu Lin is elusive; head over to her Instagram and you’ll find no real name, no website, and no contact details. This, she tells us, is because she’s still figuring out her illustration career.

Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Lulu studied product design. Next month sees her moving to Denmark to embark on a masters at the Design School Kolding. However, illustration has always been her passion, and this joy clearly leeks out into her drawings.

Lulu depicts round and tumbling female figures in poses that are humorous, endearing and downright lovable. As her Instagram comments, it is all “chub”. “I like flat colours, clean lines and big bodies”, she tells us. The artist is inspired by Matisse and Alex Katz, and we can see their influences here. The lines are delicate, flowing and organic, creating free and beautiful curves. The lack of a three-dimensional shadow causes the images to become playful, child-like and bold. When colours are added, the vibrancy makes the scenes particularly exuberant.

“My illustrations often come from scenes stuck in my head or clips from films that inspire me”, Lulu explains. The artist is particularly drawn to the female form, describing it as a symbol of elegance. The female nude has been returned to repetitively throughout art history, often as smooth and sanguine, idyllic and unattainable. The figures here are clumsy, portrayed in unflattering positions that subvert traditional ideals of beauty. However, they still retain a gorgeous grace; the curves are almost mathematically harmonious, symmetric in how they are drawn.

“My illustration style changes whenever I make a major life decision or have a major mood shift”, Lulu tells It’s Nice That. “I use my illustrations as a quick way to communicate my thoughts”. Her lines are expressive, evoking a sense of vivacity. Drawing from life, memory and thought, Lulu, draws scenes you could see every day. Many illustrations are reminiscent of lounging summer days on the beach, or at the park, where you’re free to expose your skin to the heat.