Geometric Abstraction Art and an Artist's Life in Beijing as Told by Jen Du
Self-taught Illustrator, Jen Du
Jen Du is a self-taught painter, illustrator, and graphic designer based in Beijing. She has experience working in the architecture design industry and has studied fashion design as well. Jen eventually began experimenting with painting and taught herself through Youtube.
She relates her current artworks to her architectural background and illustrates her fascination with geometric shapes through her art. She explains this preference towards creating geometric abstraction art is because "it is the most simple but complex form, everything relates to it, from the portion of human body to the composition of the universe".
Beijing Cityscape for Adidas Originals
WHAT MADE YOU PURSUE BEING A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST?
Before becoming an artist I have been working in an American architecture design firm for more than 10 years, so this might deeply affect my aesthetics and the geometric style of my artwork today. I’ve always been a creative person and I want to create something by my own, so I decide to become an artist.
She relates her current artworks to her architectural background and illustrates her fascination with geometric shapes through her art. She explains this preference towards creating geometric abstraction art is because "it is the most simple but complex form, everything relates to it, from the portion of human body to the composition of the universe".
Beijing Cityscape for Adidas Originals
WHAT MADE YOU PURSUE BEING A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST?
Before becoming an artist I have been working in an American architecture design firm for more than 10 years, so this might deeply affect my aesthetics and the geometric style of my artwork today. I’ve always been a creative person and I want to create something by my own, so I decide to become an artist.
Jen Painting in Her Distinct Art Style
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING AN ARTIST IN BEIJING?
Beijing is absolutely the cultural center of China. It combines the traditional, historical as well as the modern and rock. I like it because of this dramatic collisions between old and new, traditional and modern, but it is not as modern as Shanghai. Beijing is rough and tough but with a lot of humors. This is very interesting, especially for artists.
Beijing is absolutely the cultural center of China. It combines the traditional, historical as well as the modern and rock. I like it because of this dramatic collisions between old and new, traditional and modern, but it is not as modern as Shanghai. Beijing is rough and tough but with a lot of humors. This is very interesting, especially for artists.
Duo Harp Music Album Cover for Musicians Haley Hodson and Sonja Westberg
HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED?
I love fine art, I’m a big fan of art history. My husband and I are also art collectors, and he is a professional photographer for Associate Press. I also love architecture, photography, sci-fi, philosophy, classical and rock music. I get inspired by all these.
Art Composed of Vibrant Colors Made During the Pandemic
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR CRAFT?
This pandemic is so tough for everybody. I tried to use more vibrant and colorful colors to warm or cheer up people as well as myself. There is no way to travel abroad as usual, instead I imagine some places I would love to visit and transform that idea into my drawings for a comfort. And I see a lot of small businesses rising up during these tough years, when they came to me I tried to help them with great designs and balancing my price and their budget. I believe we have to support and help each other during this tough time.
Jen Du's Abstract Landscape Illustration as the Sunscape Case
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS?
Like Steve Jobs said "Stay hungry, stay foolish." I’m always curious about a lot of things and never stop learning. Not only the art and its techniques but all range of knowledges, this could enlarge your vision and is helpful to be more creative. On the other hand, strict self discipline and time management is also important for freelance artists.
View more of Jen's work through her website, Instagram, and Behance.
View more of Jen's work through her website, Instagram, and Behance.