“I have always operated like an artist if this makes sense. It was my nature since I was little—always thinking of creative ways to do basically anything that went through my mind. Always trying to have my own perspective on things and a voice of my own.”

And when you look at her work, it’s clear that Livia Falcaru (she/her), Romanian illustrator and visual artist, was meant to be an artist. We caught up with her to discuss her inspirations, her art, and womanhood in the first of many interviews and segments highlighting artists we love.
 

How’d you get into art?
I was introduced to drawing when I was little which my mom had a part in. She used to play with me by drawing different things and explaining what they were. This got slowly embedded in me.Later on, I went to an art high school and that was the moment when I decided that I wanted to be an illustrator and started working on creating my own style of work. Slowly, the projects started coming in, but it was a struggle for many years. In the beginning, it felt like walking into a long dark tunnel with only a flashlight. But at least I had direction and a good combination of determination and delusion.What medium do you use for your work?
My work is mostly digital since I had to adapt to working easily with clients. But I also enjoy traditional work in oils, gouache, and watercolors. Right now, I’m in the process of testing to expand my work in fashion design and epoxy resin objects. I’m still in the playing around phase with this, but it’s exciting.

Your work is heavily influenced by your experience of womanhood. Can you share more about that?
I always viewed my work as a way to share my own experiences. It’s deeply personal and usually about my daily life, emotions/thoughts, and my evolution process as a human being. I think my mission is to share my inner world with people so they can relate to that and process their own feelings. My art is about growing up as a girl in Romania, becoming a woman, and working through my issues with self esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Womanhood revolves a lot around subtleties, emotions, and beautiful inner landscapes. Women are masters of those and when they learn to navigate, process, and embrace these things—it’s one of the most powerful things they possess. My work is about that process of searching, looking at our dark parts, and giving them compassion, but also just enjoying being in this amazing vessel and experiencing life here.

Do you have a favorite artist or someone who inspires you?
I don’t have a favorite artist to be honest. I appreciate and love the works of many, I couldn’t name just one! My greatest teachers and inspirations are connections with people, nature, outer space in all its beauty, and my imagination.

We know it might be impossible, but do you have a favorite piece of yours?
Actually yes! It’s called Awakening. This year, I had a calling to return to my spirituality (not the religious type). I did a lot of shadow work and therapy but I felt something was still missing in me. It was a longing for something more.

I always knew inside of me, but also experienced firsthand that there’s something more behind this 3D layer material we see everyday. This piece is about me going through this awakening and searching more deeply inside my soul for answers about life and the universe.

Lastly, is there anything exciting coming up for you?
I recently started a project that brings me joy every day! It’s called Your Own Star where I design and draw stars for people based on their personalities and vibes. They send me the details and I create a star to represent them.

The project is lovely because I get a sneak peek into people’s lives, what they love, what they appreciate, and their little quirks. It’s interesting to see how different and individual they all are. Some commissions are more emotional too—for example, I drew two stars for a person and their mother who had passed away. It’s an honor for me to be able to give people a piece of art that helps them commemorate and cherish their loved ones.

You can get your own star here. I also have an Illustrating for Brands Masterclass with Inky Goodness coming soon if anyone wants to join. Details here.