Vancouver is an amazing city, chock full of creative talent. WE ARE VANCVR is a simple, elegant way to showcase all that talent in one place. Every Tuesday we profile one individual from the VANCVR community.VANCVR.com is a Domain7 Labs project.

Nothing is commonplace in the hands of illustrator Janice Wu. Chopstick wrappers, Splenda packets, or a week’s worth of receipts—when curated and illustrated in her distinctive pencil and gouache can be pretty stunning. She reimagines everyday objects into playful renderings you want to reach out and touch.

The fourth-year Emily Carr student has already had work featured in New York Magazine, BUST and most recently The Walrus, and has participated in group exhibitions in BC and Ontario. Keep your eye on this one.

Read on to find out how she likes being a creative in Vancouver, and ways she’d like to collaborate.

[photo by Kriza Borromeo]

What do you do?

I am a visual artist and freelance illustrator. I mostly work in watercolour and pencil on paper.

Why do you love being a creative in Vancouver?

I love being part of the art community in Vancouver because it is constantly growing and I’m particularly inspired by peers who are taking their own initiatives to make things happen in the city, rather than waiting for opportunities to arise. The different collaborations, pop-up galleries, and travelling exhibitions make this place an active and exciting place to be creative.

How would you like to collaborate with other local creatives? 

I’d like to collaborate with others who work in different mediums than me, but I’m pretty open to anything! It would be really exciting to work with a writer on a published book or with a curator on an exhibition project.

 What’s the best way to reach you?

On my website: www.janice-wu.com or through email: janicelkwu@gmail.com