About Fan Lu
• Traveling Artist • Landscape Painter • Book Illustrator • Art Educator
• Event & Exhibition Organizer • Homeschooling Mother
• Cross-cultural & Interdisciplinary Program Curator • Creative Arts Ministry Leader
My name is 陆帆 Fan Lu. In Chinese, 帆 is pronounced /fān/ in pinyin, meaning "All is well" and "Sailing." Art was always a healing tool in my early years, but I did not begin formal art training until my second master's degree. Even as a child, I had a natural talent for drawing and painting. I consistently excelled academically, did my best in a competitive environment, all while enduring occasional headaches over a span of 20 years, especially on rainy days, due to injuries at school. Getting stitches on the back of my head without anesthesia as a teenager was painful. But it wasn’t just about the injury—it happened because I stood up for justice. Even so, it has always served as a reminder that bravery also brings out hurt. The time I had clearer discernment was also a time to close the heart, yet still leave some space for trust. The ache gradually improved over a long, slow recovery, and the headaches finally stopped in 2023. At a young age, my family did not support my pursuit of art as a profession, not due to financial concerns, but because they held different views, expectations, and understandings of me. No matter what, after enduring countless spoken and unspoken pressures and reaching the height of depression—so much so that I sought private psychological counseling after completing my first master’s degree in the UK—I took a bold step, put fully trust in courage, which was not easy based on my previous younger experience, responding to God’s calling for me: ‘Go for painting.’ It seems nothing special, but for me, it means a lot. I was not such a hesitant person before. I was mainly a well-protected person from my parents' perspective at a young age, but with a lot of insecurity inside, which happened because of my family of origin. For the first time, I am taking full responsibility for my determination, and not always thinking of a backup, but just in the future, on what I am on the path, and ever since then, I have finally returned to the path that is just for me, which is why I live in this world. However, all the experiences cultivated me, all the ups and downs, good as well as the sufferings. So I collected some of my leisurely artwork from 2010 to 2015 into a portfolio, applied to only one art school, and was accepted. Then, I resigned from my very stable job at the museum, which I had obtained through the competitive exams required for entry into a public service organisation. And I also went from struggling to adapt to finding a work rhythm that worked for me. I also did very well in my work, especially in the area which not my least capable of, I overcome so much fear with my fortune of meeting great wise mentors encouraging me keep learning at my lowest life period, so I gradually having me being cultivated again in the public education service, not only getting rotated through different functions in such a large museum, but also bringing out creativity in the position definition. This professional experience working cross-functionally in a large, complex organisation with a very well-organised, detailed, systematic approach to long-term, big projects really helped open my eyes and develop accurate sensitivities and a foundation that later became spiritual discernment, practical actions in a relatively simple, smaller church-based organisation with unclear overall management which is complex during the transformative period of time with more direct projects. No matter the situation, interesting and challenging times are excellent training from God, for the ability can be transferred and used at the proper time. Actually, it's really God in working, not just me.
Coming to San Francisco with two suitcases and knowing no one here. It was not easy for me to leave my hometown of Shanghai, where I had such a comfortable life. Also, actually coming to the USA was not my first choice. Still, it seems God really has a perfect plan for me on the recovery journey, to place me in a relatively good weather place to help me with my health and psychological recovery. And the gradual side was that my parents just hoped I would be happy, especially when they apologized to me after so many years, which was another miracle. Still, my father supported me financially, and I decided on whichever country I wanted to go to and whichever major I considered; however, my academic background was non-art, and for the openness and welcoming of any background, so it all happened in a short time of concurrence; timing happened along a path, not an entirely personal desire. Ever since then, every step has been complete with growth and has continuously pushed me out of my comfort zone. But mostly fortunate was that I finally could paint and draw full-time, with such emotional relief and freedom from the heart being suppressed for so long. For God equips whom He calls, so in each life stage and season, God sharpens me on purpose. In the long run, everything will be woven together to fulfill God's will for good. My artistic practice explores diverse themes, including nature, travel memories, music, faith, education, literature, and daily life, using a wide range of mixed media, both traditional and digital. And there are so many real stories to be shared that speak for me through art. For so abundant experience and faith lived out!
In 2018, after giving birth to my son in Mountain View, we relocated to Alameda Island; however, not everything was in my plan, but in God's. Hence, it brought out my multitasking potential to the maximum, which is even more fantastic. So many I can do at the same time, even experiencing burnout, but also achieve so many, which is what productivity, high attentiveness, and clearer discernment are that God prepared me through life! It was all just perfectly timed when I was still pursuing my second master's degree and my husband had just graduated from his doctoral program. Then, in God, just my husband and I together, without any external help, we began homeschooling and roadschooling our son, and we have been together exploring and developing our family-styled home education in interdisciplinary learning ever since. Walking into marriage, my husband is also the one God prepared for me; together, we are God's instruments to fulfill His purpose. As for me, growing up in a single-parent family, the little hope for family unity was not easily realized as I went from a child to a teenager. But entering married life, I also grew a lot as a wife and mother, naturally taking on many responsibilities, which made me need to overcome a lot, and I am glad I am doing very well. I also walked our own path with my husband, in homeschooling style, with a deeper insight into education. Everything blends in together and weaves in beautifully, naturally. Since 2020, as an independent educator, I have designed and taught bilingual art courses for children and adults, both online and in person, and curated community events that integrate spiritual faith and cross-cultural considerations. For me, teaching marks the beginning of a new, deeper learning experience as an aspiring educator with a growth mindset. Since 2022, I have initiated and led our family's Music Art Ministry (now a creative arts ministry), serving spiritual communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and China. Now, it has grown steadily into our family's Creative Arts Ministry, with a current focus on the Alameda Island community where our family of three resides. Having lived in the San Francisco Bay area for nearly 10 years, I have lived in San Francisco, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Piedmont, and so on. How special and poetic it is that my husband and I are like a sailing boat, temporarily anchored on the Alameda Island.
My own faith recognition began when I learned about Christianity at the age of 12 in 2002, while attending boarding school in Shanghai. It was the year after my parents' divorce that I was sent there for a better education, as well as to be pushed away from my family. During these years of my teenage and early adult life, my heart was also touched by God at different times and in other life settings throughout my studies in China, Australia, and the UK. But it was not until 2015—the year I was baptized in Shanghai—that my true faithful journey of inner healing through nature and art began. It has been a long and arduous journey to live extraordinarily in an ordinary life, and I have experienced an immensely enriching life, enduring various kinds of difficulties and unexpected adversities from a very young age, and cultivating a character with the hope that God had prepared me for His will. For now, I am working for God, helping individuals, organizations, the community, small businesses, and any form of existence for which God prepared me! All I have been trained, have experienced, have walked out, have lived out, have become a tool to see and take action to support! The best is yet to come, and God's goodness overflows with gratitude, resilience, caring, healing, and quiet strength, which naturally enable me to bridge cultures, express faith, and inspire joy.
All Glory to God.
*Above, this is a photo of me standing in front of one of my artworks, depicting my solo travel in Norway, as I gazed out a cruise window on the way from Tromsø to the North Cape.
My Art & Teaching Philosophy | Family Creative Arts Ministry
My Art Philosophy was formed when I started to build my own brand, FanLuArt, in 2018. "Art to inspire. Art for healing" was what I formulate to represent my first period in my art career; meanwhile, how art played a role in my life before, not only as a hobby but also as a way to gradually heal the adversities I endured as a teenager. Art heals me so much in my recovery, helping me find myself again, which holds the depth, weightlessness of unspoken words in the profound spirit. While "Paint to Celebrate!" was what I developed my vision for in 2023, it represents my second stage in my art career as a professional Artist Educator, as I develop my life in God.
My Teaching Philosophy was formed when I began working as an independent teaching artist educator in 2020. "Sow good seeds to the souls." I defined that it has always been the core value in all the events, workshops, courses I have initiated, designed, taught, and launched in various formats across different settings, including churches, for all ages.
Our Family Creative Arts Ministry has evolved from our family music art ministry and now serves Cross-Generational & All Ages. Our family with God is a forever team. It has been a mission with a calling, a responsibility, and a vision that has evolved over the years of our marriage, which began in 2017. Learn More & Visit Our Family Website.
More About Me
Homeschooling Mother Experience
2018-2025 | Walk by faith and on developing a faith-inspired bilingual model integrating arts and sciences to foster creativity and lifelong learning, personalized home education
Art Teaching Experience
2020-2025 | Online - Independently designed bilingual art courses, recruited students, and managed full-cycle enrollment, from monthly to yearly course planning and evaluation, as well as overall program development for ages five to adults (students mainly from the US and China)
2017-2019, 2021, 2023, 2025 | Onsite - Churches, local communities, Schools, and museums in the San Francisco Bay Area (Redwood, San Mateo, Alameda, San Leandro, Oakland)
Ministry Leadership Experience
2022-2025 | Family Art Ministry and Creative Arts Ministry
(incl. programs initiation, design, teaching, launching, and team collaboration)
Art Freelancer Work Experience
2020-2025 | Commission and Custom Fine Art and Illustration (Music, Biblical, Landscape, Book, Education, etc.)
2024-2025 | Design Art Products & Gospel Art Gifts
Event Organizer & Exhibition Curator Experience
2025 | Ongoing events and workshops for the local communities | Alameda
2020-2022 | Online Art Events Series
2019 | SailingBoat Art and Music Salon | Oakland
2019 | Parenting With Art | Alameda
2019 | Spark Joy | Alameda
Solo Art Exhibition & Art Show
2025 | Journey: Landscape and Memory | Alameda
2025 | A Blooming Joy: Walking Through Music, Travels, and Faith | Alameda
2019 | Landscape and Memory: The Traveling Series of Landscape Paintings | Alameda
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018 | Art Contest Exhibition | Pleasanton
2018 | Stories on Canvas | San Leandro
2018 | Simple Pleasures | Alameda
2018 | 100 UNDER 100 | Alameda
2018 | Group show | Palo Alto
2017 | “What is not to love” | Palo Alto
2016 | Summer in Italy | San Francisco
2016 | Group show | Florence
Other Full-time Work & Internship Experience
2015 | Full-time Museum Educator and Exhibition Area Management at Shanghai Natural History Museum (Branch of Shanghai Science & Technology Museum)
2013 | Intern at Harvard Center Shanghai
2012 | Intern at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)
2010-2011 | Translator for the China Chief Representative of the New York Festivals Advertising Awards
Education
2016-2019 | MA Fine Art (Emphasis in Drawing and Painting) | Academy of Art University, San Francisco, USA (2016 Study Abroad in Florence, Italy)
2013-2014 | MSc Management and Organisational Innovation | Queen Mary University of London, UK (Degree Classification: Merit)
2009-2013 | BA Advertising Science (Journalism and Communication) | Shanghai Normal University, China (Received Academic Scholarships three times in consecutive years, and was awarded "Shanghai Outstanding Graduate" in 2013 graduation)
2006-2009 | Shanghai Chuansha High School, China (2007 Study Abroad in Brisbane, Australia, and was awarded "Three-Good Student" in senior year in 2009)
Born
October 1990 | Shanghai, China
