7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #533: Featuring
Up-and-Coming Illustrator, Jia Liu
May 7th, 2017 by jules
It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means the work of a student or debut illustrator here at 7-Imp. Visiting today is Jia Liu, who graduated from the MFA Illustration Practice Program at the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2016 and who is currently represented by Painted Words. She is also applying for an artist visa that would allow her to keep working here in the U.S.
Jia also studied picture books and illustration in China and has two books published there. “I will have two picture books coming out in 2018 [here in the U.S.],” she tells me, “published by Boyds Mills Press. I created work for children’s magazines and learning companies, as well as Port Discovery Children’s Museum. I was the student scholarship winner of SCBWI 2016.”
Below is a selection of Jia’s sketchbook images; illustrations from her new book and magazine, as well as work from an alphabet book she did at MICA; and a bit of her personal work. (She loves to draw animals.) Terrific Tongues will be her first book here in the U.S. and will be published in 2018 by Boyds Mills Press. You Can’t Hurt Me, No will be her second picture book from Boyds Mills Press, to be published the same year. “I Don’t Need Friends!,” she adds, “is a story written and illustrated by me. I am still looking for publishers.”
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Good luck to Jia!
All artwork used by permission of Jia Liu.
Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.
All seven of my kicks are that yesterday was my birthday (45!), but I’m actually typing this on Saturday. This means I’ve got presents to open, a big birthday waffle breakfast being cooked for me right now, and a yummy peanut butter and ganache cake waiting on me for later tonight. So, you’ll understand if I don’t linger here. But I think that’s enough for seven kicks. I’m happy to be alive and enjoying it all.
I love seeing Jia’s work and wish her the best.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
I want a copy of I Don’t Need Friends. It looks I rereading. Love the cheery colors in Jia’s iluustrations.Good Luck.
Jules, hope your birthday weekend is filled with joy. I’ll take so.e waffles.
My kicks:
1. Walking along the river before dinner
2. May the 4th be with you. Students and staff wearing Star Wars attire.
3. Creating a writing day plan.
4. Rufus towhees at the feeder.
5. Pansies.
6. Poetry responses.
7. Hanging out on the deck.
Good morning, Imps!
Hello to Jia Liu and that whale of a tale! I wish I could sleep as easily as that purple bear.
Jules: Happy (belated) birthday! Yay! May the new year be as wonderful as you are! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jone: The river walk sounds lovely. I just looked up the birds – rufus towhees – I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one before!
My kicks from the past week:
1) Prep
2) Early start
3) Audition
4) Bread
5) Veggies
6) Silly
7) Cool
I adore that octopus acting as a balloon! Such lively bright colors. And I Don’t Need Friends looks like a very fun read.
Jules – hope you celebrate your birthday all weekend long!
Jone – walks along the river and hanging out on the deck in the sunshine we’ve been having sounds delightful.
LW – Silly and Cool should always go together! Those kicks reminded me of the Humans of NY post with Stephen Colbert and his wife and what they say about the importance of being silly.
My kicks this week:
1) Sunshine, glorious sunshine!
2) Watching the Netflix documentary “Ella Brennan: Commanding the Palace” on the New Orleans food dynasty. Nice to see a girl boss in action from way back, as well as nice scenes of Nola and great food.
3) New (to me) Netflix binge series – White Collar. I really want Neil Caffrey’s beautiful Manhattan apartment – at least for a visit.
4) Sunday morning yoga.
5) Yard work and spring flowers.
6) Thunder and lightning Thursday night – rare in the pnw.
7) Reading Lauren Graham’s “Talking As Fast As I Can”.
7.5) Softball game later today.
Have a great week Imps!
Thanks very much for your support Jules! I hope you had a great birthday! Happy Birthday! And thanks everyone who likes my work!
I’ll be back tomorrow!
Jone, glad you had a good week. Did you dress up for May 4th too?
Thanks, Little Willow! Break a leg, as always, at auditions.
Rachel: Did you all win your game? Thanks for the Netflix recommendations. Many of my favorite shows are back on now, but I’ll remember these for the slow periods.
Thanks for visiting, Jia!
I love Jia’s art–it’s so bright and full of whimsy! So exciting to see it featured here, Jules!
She really is the perfect illustrator for my book, Terrific Tongues. I just saw the final art a few weeks ago and it’s AMAZING! So looking forward to its release :).