Initially from Shanghai and now primarily based in Liverpool, Yufei Yang is the artist behind the illustration follow Rainbow Attracts. And whereas it could be straightforward to say that she brings collectively the artistic traditions of each East and West, that may be to undersell the scope of her concepts, inspiration and method. Yufei is an artist whose work explores each nook of the globe – journey, tradition, and human interplay curiosity her most.
“I am impressed by the issues I see on this planet when travelling to new locations. I am at all times curious to study a brand new tradition. Folks, vegetation, animals, buildings, meals and all the things else distinctive to a spot at all times catch my consideration,” she says. “In a unique metropolis or nation, you see totally different colors, fonts, ornamental parts and so forth.”
Rainbow Attracts Morocco.
With it comes an aesthetic that attracts on quite a lot of fascinating influences – the Bauhaus motion, Pablo Picasso, Sophy Hollington, David Hockney, Philip Guston to call a handful. However actually, Yufei’s work is filled with experimentation as she pushes daring cut-out shapes forwards and backwards to type dramatic compositions; refines restricted color palettes to evoke a sense; and provides tactility via paper textures, scribbles, scratches, and splats.
Phrases, too, play an essential position in her artistic course of. “I begin by blocking out and simplifying data. I choose just a few elements I like, write down the explanations I like them, and begin engaged on my image. I usually ask shut buddies and colleagues for suggestions. I just like the working course of to be like a dialog generally,” she says.
She’ll hardly ever create only one piece – as an alternative, she explores her topic via units of pictures, which helps her determine the place the emphasis ought to lie. It is an method that has formed her method through the years. Relating to individuals, she attracts them how she sees them, not how the digicam captures them, exaggerating sure options primarily based on first impressions.
Playing cards created for Christmas 2025
A picture begins in the actual world, with free pencil drawings for the idea. The shapes and composition are developed in Procreate, then Yufei makes use of Photoshop and Affinity to complete the art work. “The scribbles, scratches and spills are primarily based on my experimentation in printmaking once I was learning for my MA in Youngsters’s E book Illustration. I like the modifiability of digital illustration and the imperfection of conventional media,” she says.
Yufei’s love of journey has made Rainbow Attracts synonymous with journey illustration, resulting in commissions and work from purchasers around the globe. Considered one of her favorite latest initiatives is a collection of items for Condé Nast Traveller illustrating the most important journey tendencies of 2026, which drew on her personal experiences.
Japanese Grocery for Condé Nast.
Viking Wellness for Condé Nast.
“I usually embrace parts from my very own comfortable journey recollections,” she says. “I added some easy animation to those illustrations for digital use, and that is at all times a enjoyable problem. I significantly loved animating the little fish flag within the Japanese grocery journey pattern.”
At the moment, Yufei is engaged on a venture for Nationwide Museums Liverpool, which can go on show on the Albert Dock. It is a chance for her work to seem in a public area, accessible to locals and vacationers alike. This yr, she set herself the problem of illustrating playing cards to promote at markets and in retailers, printing a novel set for Christmas 2025. And her private growth has continued with the addition of animation expertise to her repertoire.
To finish, we requested Yufei to inform us one factor no person is aware of about her artwork. “I’ve an enormous assortment of home vegetation,” she solutions. “When you see vegetation in my illustration work, likelihood is they’re drawings of the actual vegetation that encompass me. That little element makes me comfortable!”
