Illustrator Oamul has given himself a unique and whimsical nickname – “Lu Mao,” which translates to “braised cat.” He explains that this playful moniker stems from his childhood nickname, “Little Cat,” combined with his last name, Lu. Like many, Oamul started as an ordinary office employee working for a gaming company in Xiamen. Finding himself standing at a crossroads between the conventional and the surreal, Oamul eventually followed his passion and became a full-time illustrator. Oamul’s artwork is a testament to his ability to delicately capture life’s intricacies through his delicate brush strokes. Each stroke employs soft, vibrant hues reminiscent of harmonious melodies, adding depth and meaning to each piece. Many global brands took to his romantic yet grounded depictions of life and embraced his artistic world, leading to high-profile creative collaborations with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fresh, and Tiffany & Co.

As an illustrator, what are the main themes in your work?

My work mainly centres around the changes in seasons and the nuances of everyday life. Having spent a significant amount of time living in Xiamen, where seasons seamlessly blend, I began to draw inspiration from the lack of clear boundaries. Through my creative endeavours, I strive to uncover the unique essence of each season and reconnect with the beauty of the little things in life. 

As an independent illustrator, you had to juggle an office job and your passion for drawing. That must have been quite challenging. Now that you have transitioned to being a full-time illustrator, how do you reflect on that period of your life? What kind of pressures are you facing nowadays?

Absolutely! Despite the various pressures of being an illustrator, I don’t shy away from them. Instead, I confront them head-on. One of the primary sources of pressure I face is related to my artistic endeavours. Sometimes, I hit a point in my creative process where I feel fatigued and numb. I don’t like that feeling, so I try to change an aspect of my creative process. I experiment with different painting materials, tools, subjects, or perspectives to keep the spark alive in my creations. For me, relieving stress means staying in that creative flow. It helps stabilise my emotions and serves as my avenue for emotional expression. To tackle the pressures I’m experiencing now, I’ve been shaking things up by changing the medium of my creations. For instance, I recently transitioned from digital drawing back to traditional hand illustration. This change not only revitalises my work but also allows me to step out of my comfort zone.

As you mentioned earlier, drawing is an effective way for you to relieve stress. Could you talk about how drawing provides you with positive emotions and energy?

During my early days as an illustrator, I worked as an office employee at a gaming company in Xiamen. I worked during the day and drew at night. My passion for the craft drove a continuous flow of creative inspiration throughout that period. As I began collaborating with magazines and publishing my work online, I received a lot of positive feedback and support. These responses provided me with significant motivation and helped me realise that I could support myself through drawing alone. Eventually, I decided to resign and pursue drawing full-time.