Artist Spotlight Vickie Liu

Photo by Patrick Strattner

Artist Spotlight: Vickie Liu

Welcome to the Neuland Artist Spotlight, where we highlight the talented artists behind our work and share more about their creative journeys.

This month, we had the pleasure of speaking with Vickie Liu, a Los Angeles-based artist and ArtCenter College of Design graduate. Vickie has worked across animation, gaming, and advertising, and is currently working with Patrick on a new feature project.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in animation?

“I’m originally from China and moved to the U.S. when I was 17. I graduated from ArtCenter in 2020. At first, I was thinking about doing game design because that’s what the program focused on. After taking a few classes with instructors who were working in animation, I realized I was

more interested in that path. I felt like the environment was more collaborative, more friendly, and I really connected with the philosophy behind animation.”

How did your early career develop after graduating?

“While I was still at ArtCenter, I took Patrick’s production design class and started working with him on a few of his projects, including some of his personal work he was developing himself. After I graduated, I worked on a project full-time, but the studio shut down after a few months. After that, I started freelancing on projects in gaming, some in animation, and later worked at an agency where I worked on everything from advertising to short films. It was challenging at first because I had to adapt to different styles very quickly, but it was also a valuable experience. Eventually, I went back to working with Patrick and was brought onto a project at Warner Brothers Pictures Animation. I’ve been on that project for almost two years now, and it’s exactly the kind of work I love doing.“

What is your favorite aspect of working in animation?

“I really love color design, lighting, and rendering. That’s my favorite part. I like that color can tell a story on its own. When I first started learning art, I thought things had to be realistic, like the sky is blue and trees are green. But now I see that everything can be different. The sky can be green, the trees can be purple, because it all depends on the feeling you want to create. That’s what makes it really interesting to me.”

Is there a moment that stands out in your experience with Neuland?

“Patrick and Margaret are really fun to work with, and they’re very good at giving you assignments that make you feel comfortable but also help you grow. Every project I have worked on with Patrick has helped teach me new skills and techniques. Like combining watercolor and VR, which was really exciting! I learned a lot from that experience. I also really enjoy working on Patrick’s personal projects because they give me more freedom to explore my own style and ideas.”

How would you describe the Neuland working environment compared to other studios?

“It’s definitely more comfortable and collaborative. A lot of the artists are actually friends from Art Center, so it feels like working with people you already know. That makes a big difference because it’s more relaxed and more enjoyable, and I think it helps the work too.”

Did you always know you wanted to pursue art as a career?

“Not really. When I was in China, I thought of art more as a hobby because it’s very competitive and hard to make a career out of it. I always wanted to be able to tell a story through my art. After I moved to the U.S., I realized there were more opportunities and freedom to develop my own style. That’s when I started thinking about doing it professionally. I took a gap year to build my portfolio before going to ArtCenter.”

What advice would you give to aspiring artists trying to break into animation?

“I think the animation industry really depends on timing, and there aren’t always a lot of opportunities. So if you don’t get a job right away, don’t give up. You can try other types of work that still help you grow creatively, while continuing to build your portfolio and connections. For me, it took a few years working different jobs before I got to work on the kind of project I really wanted. So I think it’s important to stay patient and keep going.

What are your favorite anime shows?

“Hero Academia and Pandora's Hearts”

Art by Vickie Liu