Lucian Barbu’s enchanting illustrated characters are channeling forest pixies

Lucian Barbu’s playful practice merges art and illustration, with a wondorous sense of imagination. From chronicling their dreams in comics and weaving activism into drawings, to pursuits in independent publishing, the artist is working on creative projects both individually and collectively, often with their peers in the two artist collectives they play a part in: Balamuc and afterhoursworkclub.

“My creative influences are all over the place,” Lucian tells us. The direction of the artist’s work is often the result of “strong fixations” they develop on particular topics. A recent obsession has been circle creatures and forest pixies, Lucian tells us, which might be an explanation for the illustrator’s cheerful recent collection of fairy-like characters sporting pointed shoes and extravagant whimsical hats. Lucian often finds themselves revisiting subjects and creations from childhood “like actors’ costumes for plays I used to write about nature”, they say.

With such a multidisciplinary practice, Lucian is often switching between print, publishing and drawing. Depending on the project, “I adapt to whatever technique I feel fits best, either digital or analogue”, they say. “In my personal practice though, I tend to go on a more traditional route, choosing coloured pencils, carbon paper and gouache,” granting their gnome drawings glorious tactile effects.