Meet Chang Liu of Rancho Cucamonga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chang Liu.

Hi Chang, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been a pretty quiet person, especially when I was younger. I didn’t really have the confidence or the language to say what I was thinking, and art became the place where I could actually let things out without having to explain them. I started drawing when I was little, not with any big goal in mind, just because it felt natural. It was how I made sense of things. Over time, that turned into a more formal study. I kept pushing myself to learn different mediums, different ways of seeing, and it slowly became not just something I do, but the way I understand myself.

That path eventually led me to pursue art seriously in university and then through graduate work. Even now, as I teach and create, it still feels like that same private space where I can speak without speaking. I’ve had moments where I wondered if I should try to be louder or more outward, but I’ve realized that the way I move through the world is okay. I don’t need a louder voice; a quiet one is just as powerful. The work itself can do the talking. And now I try to help others, especially students, find that same sense of ownership in their own voice, whatever form it takes.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think being shy made certain things take longer for me. Speaking up in public, sharing my work, or even just trusting my own ideas didn’t come easily. There were times when I questioned whether I belonged in the art world at all, because so much of it can feel loud and competitive. I had to learn to be patient with myself and accept that my way of working and moving through things was slower, but not less valid.

Another challenge was figuring out how to balance making art with real life: school, work, responsibilities, and just trying to stay grounded. There were moments where I felt stuck or unsure of what direction to take. But the one thing that stayed consistent was that making art always felt necessary. It was something I returned to even when everything else was uncertain. That persistence, even in small steps, is what kept me going.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as both an artist and an art teacher, specializing in watercolor and digital art. In my own work, I focus on small, ordinary moments that can feel slightly strange when you really look at them. I’m interested in quiet scenes, dark humor, and that subtle noir tone that sits in the background of everyday life.

Watercolor and digital art balance each other in my process. Watercolor has a softness and unpredictability that I really enjoy. The transparency and layering help me capture those in-between moods and understated emotions. Digital art, on the other hand, gives me room to experiment more freely with composition, lighting, and atmosphere. It allows me to push things darker or more graphic when I need to, and to adjust until the tone feels right. Working between the two keeps my practice flexible and lets me build images that feel quiet but intentionally familiar, but with something slightly off beneath the surface.

Teaching is the other part of my work, and it’s something I value just as much as making art. I try to create a space where students can work slowly, notice details, and figure out what feels true to them. I don’t push people toward being louder or more dramatic; instead, I encourage them to look closely and trust the small things they’re drawn to. What I’m most proud of is seeing students learn to recognize their own voice, especially when it’s subtle. I think that attention to the quiet, to the in-between moments, is what sets my work and my teaching apart.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I tend to pull a lot of my inspiration from film and movies rather than traditional art resources, especially films with a noir or dark humor edge. Movies like Fargo, Mulholland Drive, The Silence of the Lambs, Blade Runner, and TV shows like Twin Peaks have been especially influential for me. I pay attention to how they build mood through lighting, pacing, and what’s left unsaid. I’m interested in that tension between the ordinary and the uncanny, how something can feel familiar but slightly off, just enough to make you pay attention. That’s a feeling I try to bring into artwork.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://changliu.carrd.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gnaahcuil/

Image Credits
All by me, Chang Liu