Creator Spotlight with YouTuber and Artist Tarra Lu
This week, we’re pleased to introduce you to YouTuber and Artist Tarra Lu. After reading her spotlight blog, subscribe to her YouTube channel and follow her on Instagram.
What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator? What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
I never really had a moment where I decided to “become” a creator. It’s just always been a part of who I am. When I was a little girl, I was constantly drawing, painting, and making things out of whatever I could find. As I got older, I realized that creativity wasn’t just an outlet for me. It was a way to connect with others, tell stories, and even help people heal through art. That’s what really pushed me to take this path seriously.
What I love most about the creative process is the freedom. There’s no single right way to create, and that’s the beauty of it. Sometimes an idea comes together effortlessly, and other times, it’s messy and unpredictable, but that’s what makes it exciting. I also love that creativity isn’t limited to just making art. It’s in problem-solving, experimenting, and finding new ways to share what I do with the world. Seeing how my work resonates with others is another rewarding part of the process. When someone tells me my art or words made them feel something, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about your line of work?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that being an artist is easy or that it’s not a “real job.” People sometimes assume that if you love what you do, it shouldn’t feel like work. But being a creator means wearing a lot of hats—artist, marketer, business owner, and teacher.
There’s so much more that goes into it beyond making art.
Another big misconception is that success happens overnight. A lot of people only see the final product and don’t realize the years of practice, experimentation, and setbacks that come with it. Art is a process, and building a sustainable creative career takes time, effort, and resilience.
What is the best piece of advice you would give other creators in your field about copyright and how to protect themselves?
I recently had someone steal my YouTube thumbnail. My painting was in the background, and I had taken the photo, edited it, and instantly recognized it as my intellectual property. The person didn’t have any contact info listed, so I filed a copyright complaint with YouTube. They took the video down immediately and issued the person a copyright strike.
This happens more often than people realize, which is why artists need to take copyright seriously.
My advice?
First, make sure you understand your rights. If you put your work online, be prepared to protect it. If you find someone using your content without permission, report it through the proper channels. Most platforms have processes in place for copyright infringement.
Second, keep records of your work—dates, progress photos, or anything that proves you created it. And don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Just because you share your art publicly doesn’t mean anyone can take it and use it however they want. Your creativity, time, and effort have value, and it’s okay to stand up for that.
What do you do when you encounter someone stealing something you’ve invested your intellect, time, and money into?
It’s frustrating, but I don’t let it slide. If I can contact the person directly, I do. Sometimes people genuinely don’t understand copyright, and a simple message is enough to get them to remove it. But if they ignore me or there’s no way to reach them, I take the next step by filing a formal complaint through the platform they’re using.
I also document everything because you never know when you might need proof. The reality is, as creators, we have to be proactive about protecting our work through copyright. Some people will try to take advantage of what we create, but that doesn’t mean we have to let them.
How has AI technology impacted your work and career?
AI is a complicated topic. On one hand, it can be a helpful tool for brainstorming ideas or automating small tasks. But on the other hand, it’s also making it easier for people to copy, steal, or mass-produce artwork without considering the original creators.
I’ve seen AI-generated images that look eerily similar to real artists’ work, and there aren’t enough protections in place to prevent this kind of exploitation. It’s concerning because it raises questions about ownership, ethics, and the value of human creativity.
That being said, I don’t think AI will ever truly replace real artists. There’s something deeply personal and intuitive about human-made art that an algorithm just can’t replicate. But as artists, we need to stay informed and advocate for policies that protect our work. AI isn’t going anywhere, so the best thing we can do is learn how to navigate this new landscape while making sure our voices and rights are heard and honored.
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