Featured Artist: LilianaTikage
Let yourself float away with this week’s featured artist LilianaTikage. Her vivid designs are like a lens into a stunning new world that is filled with visions of animals, nature, and mystical creatures like we’ve never seen them before. This artistic world shimmers with bright watercolors and an undeniable warmth; each piece of art feels like a soft hug, a whispered encouragement, or a reminder that there is still gentleness and beauty in the world.
LilianaTikage, or Julia Lenngren, is a 22-year-old self-taught artist, YouTube video creator, and puzzle aficionado from Kiev, Ukraine. She considers her most prominent style to be realism and loves working with watercolors, charcoal, oil pastels, and more. She says, “I cannot imagine my life without watercolors and brushes.”
Julia confesses that she has struggled with depression and that “the world was gray, there was no strength to do anything.” She forced herself to paint “in order to do at least something.” However, although her journey has not been easy, she has since found hope after her diagnosis, treatment, and therapy. Today, she strives to “create colorful, light and enjoyable works” because she wants to offer a refuge from the “gray” that other people might be suffering from in their lives. She uses her past struggles as inspiration for her art and says, “I want the work to radiate warmth and people [to] feel it.”
Still, she admits that it was difficult to share realistic visions of the world, while also feeling isolated and suffering from depression. Nonetheless, with the aid of social networks, forums, YouTube, and platforms like Design By Humans, she finds herself becoming a part of the world around her again. One of her proudest moments was when her fan-inspired League of Legends design was posted on the official video game website and became a fan favorite in the League of Legends community.
She understands the stress that people can be under and encourages both artists and non-artists with “do not scold yourself for every mistake and do not be afraid to accept help.” She insists that no one is “perfect” and that life is about trying new things, improving a little every day, and helping each other take small steps forward.
