To mark our second anniversary, we are delighted to present a singular collaboration with fashion and beauty illustrator Sunny Gu. Born in China and based in Los Angeles since the age of thirteen, Sunny has become a formidable force in the industry, lending her hand to the pages of Vogue and Dolce & Gabbana’s Swide, as well as high-profile commissions for Bloomingdale’s, Shiseido, and HBO.
What distinguishes Sunny’s work is a masterful command of colour. While many in the field are content with a few gestural lines and a wash of pigment, Sunny pursues the full vibrancy of a collection. Her process is one of immense precision, capturing the most minute details—the soft plume of a feather, the glint of a bead—through a sophisticated blend of watercolour, acrylic, and graphite.
For this exclusive piece, Sunny reimagines Miuccia Prada’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection with a painterly, almost surrealist lens. The illustration is grounded by a stained-glass floor and set against a midnight sky punctuated by lightning bolts, a nod to the electric energy we strive for here. It is a work of pure optimism, reflecting the exact spirit art and fashion should evoke.
Here, we sit down with Sunny Gu to discuss her journey from Otis College to the front rows of the digital runway.
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1) Where do you live, and what did you study?
SUNNY: I live in Los Angeles. I received my BFA from Otis College of Art and Design, where I majored in Communication Arts and Illustration.
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2) Tell us about your background and how you discovered your passion for fashion illustration.
SUNNY: I moved to the United States when I was thirteen. Navigating different cultures made me curious; I learned to observe and capture the beauty in everything around me. Drawing was always my hobby, and I eventually decided to turn that into a profession. Fashion illustration was actually a found passion. I was originally interested in children’s books until my senior year, when I stumbled upon a fashion illustration book in the school library. That was the moment everything clicked.
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3) Your work is often a direct dialogue with the runway. What inspires you to recreate these looks?
SUNNY: The craftsmanship and the ever-changing trends are constant inspirations. Early on, I would illustrate runway looks exactly as they appeared to hone my rendering skills. Hundreds of them! Eventually, I grew restless with replication and began incorporating lifestyle elements or changing the model’s pose. Now, I use the runway more as a mood board—extracting a color palette or a specific texture to inform a broader narrative rather than just drawing the garment.
4) Your aesthetic is famously vibrant. What is the ultimate goal for each piece?
SUNNY: When I paint, I am bathed in happiness. I simply hope that my colorful illustrations can bring that same joy to the viewer.
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5) Who were your favorite designers for the Spring/Summer 2014 season?
SUNNY: Miuccia Prada! I was so moved by the collection that I suggested it as the focal point for my collaboration with you.
6) What is the most time-consuming piece you have ever produced?
SUNNY: Likely one of my earlier works, like “Infinite.” I didn’t track the hours, but I worked on it on and off for several months to get it exactly right. (http://sunnygu.com/Infinite)
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7) How has the rise of social media influenced your career reach?
SUNNY: I love it. Social media made my dream possible. More than 99% of my clients have contacted me because they saw my work online. It is a powerful tool that allows me to share my vision with the world instantly.
8) What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?
SUNNY: It is difficult to name one project. For me, the true bliss is the progression—seeing my work applied in different ways and having the opportunity to collaborate with the brands and people I have always admired.
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9) If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
SUNNY: A psychologist. I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior and I love helping people.
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10) Describe your style in three words.
SUNNY: Vibrant, detailed, delightful.
View more of Sunny Gu’s portfolio at http://sunnygu.com/ and shop for the prints at her online store
All illustrations courtesy of Sunny Gu.
amazing work!! so inspiring for me!