Making it in Shanghai: French Illustrator la Ptite Lu

If you are French and living in Shanghai, you’ve probably heard of la ptite Lu. The cartoon series is the passion project of Lucie Guyard, a French expat who has called Shanghai home for almost 7 years. Her stories are cute, funny, and universally relatable. She started her Wechat account in 2014 and has posted almost 200 illustrations, translated into French, English and Chinese. We got the chance to ask her about art, life in Shanghai, and ‘selling out.’

1. How/when did you start making illustrations?

Well I’ve always loved to draw, ever since I was able to hold a pen. But growing up I never really thought it could be anything more than just a side hobby. When I got to the age where I needed to choose a major and a career path though I thought, well, maybe this could work. I ended up choosing graphic design.

2. So when did la Ptite Lu begin?

When I was studying graphic design at my art school, I was about 20, I just did that for fun as a hobby. And I started to blog when I was living in Paris. And it was a hobby because I really enjoyed drawing, it was a great way to express myself and do what I want because when you’re a graphic designer you always have to stick with the client’s plan, and it’s never totally free. So you end up doing a lot of stuff you don’t truly believe in, the blog became a place for my freedom.

And then when I came to China it was a good way to stay connected with family and friends. I updated it regularly, and then of course Wechat came along and it seemed like the perfect platform to share these illustrations.

3. How did you get the name ‘la Ptite Lu’?

Actually I never really created that name, I never like brainstormed for names or anything. I was drawing in my sketchbook when I was a student, and it’s me (but smaller) so it made sense. Plus, my mother always called it that when I was drawing comics, she said “ah it really looks like you, and it’s small…”

4. On your wechat account, la Ptite Lu stories are in French, English and Chinese. How does that process work?

Well I first write them in French, because it’s easier for me. Once I’m sure about the text, I do the drawing. Then I translate them to English with my boyfriend’s help (he’s Malaysian so his English is much better than mine). And for the Chinese part, I have a friend who started doing them for me last year. He runs a popular Wechat account called ‘Envol,’ which is for Chinese people who are learning French. So it was a good match for both of us, I need to have the Chinese text and he gets content that, hopefully, helps his followers understand a little more about French language and culture.

5. How long does it take you to complete one of your illustrations?

The water town one, for example, took me three or four days. Because I really wanted a nice drawing with lots of details. And the text took a long time as well because I really tried to make it something poetic and expressive of the feelings I had when I visited. I tried to create an atmosphere similar to how I remembered it.

6. What would you say these illustrations are mostly about? An expat in China, being French, your personality?

I don’t really try to show the life of an expat, some stories don’t even talk about that. It’s more just my space for free expression. I think it’s just cool to read comics in China, it’s easy to read and hopefully makes you laugh. This is what I really like to do- bring a little smile to people, knowing they enjoy it makes me really happy.

7. Do you ever run out of ideas?

It’s not really that I don’t have ideas, there’s always something going on in the world around me that I see and want to write about. What’s difficult sometimes is how to make it into something funny. Sometimes it can take weeks, or months for me to figure out how I can take an idea I like and turn it into a story that makes me laugh, without being mean or negative. For example I might see someone on the street with pajamas and think yea, I should write about that, but how?

8. Do people ever accuse you of being mean or negative about life in China?

No not really. I really try to not be mean, I don’t want to hurt or upset anyone. When I make fun of French people I think I have the right, because I’m French. But for example I would never make a story that makes fun of German people, I just don’t feel like I have the right. Chinese is different because, I’m living in China, I’ve been here for many years, and I also feel like they’re not so sensitive about this kind of stuff. Most of the feedback I get is really positive, and if I get criticism it’s almost always from French people.  

9. What kind of things do French people criticize you for?

Oh it doesn’t happen often, but sometimes when I do a commercial post I get hell for it, like as if I’m selling out or something like that. Every now and then I collaborate with a brand in one of the illustrations, like for example the water town one- I was approached by Thomas Cook travels to do that one. I don’t make a big secret out of it or anything.

10. Do you feel like that’s a valid criticism?

When it started, someone came to me about doing the brand thing. And at the beginning I didn’t want to because I thought it was like selling my soul or something. But eventually I was like well, why not, I just try to promote brands that I like, and I try not to make it too much like an ad. Usually these brands offer special deals to my readers so I feel like it’s a win-win.

11. You have a la Ptite Lu book out now ‘La Ptite Lu Made in China,’ how did that happen, and where can we buy it?

The first book came about 3 years ago. I was approached by a French Publishing house about doing it and I thought well, why not. It was supposed to be a 50 book, limited printing, but it sold 130 in two months. I thought wow maybe this is something I should work on more. Especially as people continued asking me about it.

Two years ago I printed a new one independently. The quality was much better and I had a lot more time to make it look and feel the way I wanted. I printed 200 and was nervous I wouldn’t sell them all, but in two months they were all gone. Those were gone and people were still asking so then I just went ahead and made an entirely new one with new stories inside (volume 2). I’ve printed and sold over 1000 so far. And actually I just put them up for sale at Garden Books last week, so they are available there and on my Wechat shop. Scroll down and click on “阅读原文” (Read More) to enter the WeChat shop.

12. What’s in the future for la Ptite Lu? More books, a movie?

I don’t make plans too far in advance, I think life can be too unpredictable and I’m not even sure how long I’ll stay in China. I want to make a third volume but lately I’m pretty busy. Actually this year I had iphone covers made with my characters on them. They did pretty well so I don’t know yet, we’ll see what the future has in store.

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