Paint to Celebrate!

陆帆 Fan Lu 

Painter • Illustrator • Educator • Wife • Mother

My name is Fan. In Chinese, 帆 is pronounced /fān/ in pinyin, meaning "All is well" and "Sailing." I was born and raised in Shanghai. Over the years, I have also studied and lived in various countries, including China, Australia, the UK, Italy, and the US. Currently, I reside in Alameda, California. Drawing and painting provide a soothing outlet for my mind and soul. Creating art feels as natural as experiencing FLOW for me. I realize that God's perfect timing always surpasses my plans or losses. 

Feeling called by God, I boldly left a stable full-time job at the Natural History Museum. In 2016, at age 25, I began studying art while pursuing my second master's degree; I saw it as a foundation for my art learning to give me the sense to start, because I had no systematic professional art training before. I applied to only one school in San Francisco and was accepted, so I moved to the USA. I got my first master's degree in management in London, and living in the UK changed my mindset on learning and thinking, even broadening my horizon in creative arts. When asked about my plans for Christmas in London, I told my friend I wanted to learn art in the USA. What a magic word I spoke! God's grace has accompanied me throughout this journey, and I am filled with gratitude and blessings. I never fear restarting; I know each time on the life journey is a learning experience to reflect on and improve. I still keep my pace on self-learning and put it into practice. There is no particular style or subject matter to define or limit me, for I embrace my curiosity and complexities in developing myself in the art expertise in multimedia to expand my possibilities. I gradually learned more after graduation through teaching and designing my art courses. Teaching is a new beginning to understand and truly learn better! I expanded my deeper research and practice in themes and subject matters in multimedia. Thankfully, my previous non-art academics and work experience also shaped and cultivated my good habits.

Through faith and art, I gradually learn to observe from different perspectives; it opens the highly sensitive senses, mind, and heart that always exist inside of me, frees me to express the ways my needs and preferences, transforms my energy, and reclaims my strength. Gladness on awakening, I can be myself, the one God made me into this life. I chose to follow my heart, embracing bravery in the process, because my mental health and well-being are significant to taking care of myself. Gradually, I realized and accepted the reality that no matter the visible or invisible scars, they forever exist. Still, coming along with my brave and authentic living, they do not always bother me as they did before. I know I am getting better after so many years. I am getting healed, for I am the beloved child of God.

I enjoy experimenting with various art projects and motifs in fine art and illustration, effortlessly transitioning between small pocket-sized sketchbooks and large canvases, covering the whole wall. God's word refreshes my spirit as I pray and paint. Reading plays a significant role in shaping and inspiring me; books have always been my best friends. I often draw and paint from my daily life and travel experiences, incorporating my emotions and reflections into my artwork. Music is another essential aspect of my life, as singing is also one of my talents. Most of my artwork carries an uplifting message, reflecting the spirit in which I live and who I am. Although I am primarily an introvert, as it saves my energy, I avoid too many unnecessary distractions and am insightful. I can be outgoing when necessary, especially in different work roles. I can transform my sorrow and sadness into positive outcomes in my art, not catering to meet outside but to be true to my heart. Art is a healing tool that allows me to express my love and gratitude while helping others.

I draw and paint joyfully, recording the little moments of happiness with gratitude. From 2016 to 2019, my many artworks were featured in two solo exhibitions and eight group shows. Since 2020, I have organized onsite art and music salons and hosted numerous online bilingual music and art storytimes and events. I also devoted myself to art ministry through various churches and our family music art ministry (visit our family website, www.FGMusicArt.com to learn more), illustrating educational books, curating my painting projects, creating custom artwork, and teaching online and in-person art classes. Additionally, I have designed and sold art products inspired by my original artwork since 2024. In 2025, I held my third solo art exhibition in Alameda, which was displayed for six weeks, and hosted a teaching event for the local community. 

From 2020 to 2024, I have dedicated significant time to developing bilingual, multidisciplinary, and innovative art courses. This work integrates my art practice with teaching and my research passion for exploring experimental niche directions in the visual arts on various subject matters that interest me. Each challenge I encounter serves as a source of motivation for me. My teaching philosophy is to "Sow Good Seeds to the Souls." Through my service in art education, I am committed to giving back for what God has given me, as He qualifies those who are called and makes way for those who trust Him. I am grateful that God has restored me, leading me to a more purposeful and meaningful life. Being an aspiring educator with experience in art education, I serve individuals of all ages. I use various teaching methods and strategies tailored to different learning goals, helping students find their voices for self-expression. 

My teaching deeply enriches my exploration of mixed-media materials, including graphite and colored pencils, charcoals, pastels, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, markers, and digital tools like iPad Procreate and Photoshop. My featured bilingual art courses also integrate themes that resonate across various cross-cultural disciplines and contexts, such as nature literature, children's classic literature, music, and science, enhancing creative expression and critical thinking.