[Interview's Note: At Pinky Elephant, we’re proud to spotlight the talented artists behind the stationery we love. This time, we’re thrilled to introduce Littlelu – an illustrator, graphic designer, and the creative force behind the charming and widely adored brand Littlelu. Known for her whimsical rubber stamps, delicate washi tapes, and occasional illustration zines and notebooks, Littlelu has captured the hearts of journaling and snail mail lovers around the world.
We had the honor of hosting her and her delightful stamp collection at the San Francisco International Pen Show last year, where she made her first U.S. appearance. In this exclusive interview, we chat with Littlelu about her inspirations, creative journey, and the stories behind her beloved designs - all of which you can find at Pinky Elephant. Whether you’re a collector or simply curious, get ready to fall in love with her thoughtful and heartwarming artistry. - RJ ]
First of all, thank you Littlelu for accepting our interview request. Although we've known each other for quite a while, I'd still like you to introduce yourself and your brand to Pinky Elephant's customers :)
Self-introduction and Brand Introduction
Q: When did you first start getting into drawing? Do you have any preferred forms of drawing?
A: I’ve been drawing since I can remember! As a child, I would doodle and scribble on walls. Compared to iPad or computer, I prefer doodling or creating on paper.
Q: What was the inspiration behind creating the "Nutty" and "Little People Series"? Are there any special stories behind the birth of these characters?
A: Because I really love food and curves (just simple curved lines...!), I created the Nutty character. I initially used it to record my daily life, and later it became a character in my food diary. The stamp little people are different though. I hope the stamps can resonate with people through design details. I didn't set any particular story background for them, nor do they have very distinctive features. They can be you, me, or anyone living life earnestly.
Embarked on the journey of creative work
Q: What was your experience like before becoming a freelancer?
A: After university graduation, I worked at an IT company as designer, while continuing personal creative work in my spare time. Later in recent years, the Littlelu brand work has gradually become busier, so I decided to focus on personal creation.
Q: I believe many of your fans also love drawing and want to explore the path of independent creation. What experiences can you share?
A: Start by getting your hands moving! If possible, learn sketching to build a solid foundation in drawing.
A Typical Day of Littlelu
Q: Do you have a fixed work schedule?
A: I don't have a fixed schedule, but I'm constantly thinking about creative work, brand management, and various big and small issues.
Q: How do you balance work and life? Do you have any small habits for maintaining creative inspiration?
A: Life ≈ Work! I believe many freelancers are like this. Everything can be inspiration and material, so learning to clear your mind and rest appropriately might be more important. I like to doodle aimlessly before going to bed, and that's when new inspiration often appears.
Creative process!
Q: How do you conceptualize a character's movements?
A: In modern society life, everyone has many similarities from each other, so I extract from my own daily experiences.
Q: Do you have certain sources of inspiration, like reading, walking, listening to music, etc.?
A: No, hahah.
Q: I've wanted to ask this question for a long time - why did you choose stamps as the medium to present your creations?
A: Stamps are like drawing directly in notebooks - they naturally integrate into users' journals. Compared to stickers, there's no limit to how many times you can use them, so in my view they're very "long-lasting" stationery goods. My stamps have many small patterns that can be stamped in more places (like on Post-it notes)! At last year's SF pen show, several customers even stamped directly on their TN covers! I thought that was very cool, and it shows that stamps can actually be used in diverse ways.
The little people you draw all have particularly vivid expressions, and each movement has a strong sense of story. How do you achieve this "expressiveness"?
Q: Do you have special training or observation methods?
A: Remember your own emotions!
Q: Do you also record daily small events or expressions as material?
A: I don't deliberately keep "material" records, but I draw in a five-year diary every day as a simple journal. Perhaps I've unconsciously accumulated quite a bit of inspiration?
All Fountain Pen related!
Q: Did you start with writing or drawing?
A: Drawing! I had a Lamy Safari very early on. However, gold nib fountain pens gave me a huge shock - I never imagined there could be such a special and comfortable writing experience.
Q: In this increasingly digital age, many of the artists we collaborate with create digitally. What makes you stick to paper and pen, especially fountain pens?
A: The tactile sensation of paper and pen gives me a real feeling, and line control is also better. Although working digitally is very convenient, I also enjoy the "hassles" and "monotony" of fully hand-drawn work. Different brands, nib grindings, the subtle changes in ink saturation and rich color choices make it extremely playable!
Q: Tell us three pens you like:
1) One fountain pen you love most?
A: My modified Pelikan M800 Brown Tortoise.
2) One you've been using most recently?
A: Capless! The click mechanism is really very convenient, and you don't need to worry about losing the cap.
3) One fountain pen you think is suitable for beginners?
A: PILOT's entry-level products are all excellent! Like the Kakuno series. (RJ - Finally, a pen we sell through our online shop!! You can find them here.)
We LOVE the drawing diary you share on Instagram!
Q: What preparations do you need to make before drawing your diary?
A: The Foodie series is my dining out record. Before drawing, I choose ink and fountain pen based on the feeling of the food or restaurant, considering the general color scheme.
Q: Is drawing your diary something you do at a fixed frequency? Or do you draw when you have interest and inspiration? How do you think it helps your creation?
A: I draw in my 5-year diary every day! For Foodie (TN size), I love delicious food and want to record everywhere I've been! As daily work, exhibitions, and shop management all require time, so I can only prioritize recording restaurants with good experiences during relatively free time (I simply can't keep up with drawing everything!)
Talks about Future!
Q: Have you tried other media, like fabric, ceramics, or other materials?
A: I tried glass pens this year! Cross-industry collaborations are more challenging than expected
Q: Do you have any specific goals you want to achieve in the next three years?
A: I hope to exhibit in more countries and cities!
Q: Finally, do you have anything you want to say to Pinky Elephant's customers?Or is there anything you want to say to friends who have always loved your work?
A: Thank you! And thank you to Pinky Elephant's RJ for bringing my work to America and pen shows. Even across different countries and nationalities, we can find resonance in these little stamp patterns! I hope we can all pause from time to time in our busy lives to pay attention to our emotions and changes. Finally, finally, a deep bow, thank you! See you in SF!
2 comments
I love Littlelu’s art and stamps ! It’s an essential in my journaling practice. I had the amazing opportunity to get a portrait sketch done by her in last year’s SF Pen Show. It’s so beautiful. I keep it in a frame. Thank you PE for bringing her to SF ! I’m excited to see PE and Littlelu again in the next SF Pen Show—!
Littlelu stamps are such a fun addition to my journaling experience, it makes me so happy to use them!