Lao Shu's paintings feature Mr Long Gown as the main character. [Photo/China Daily]

In his works, Liu's main character is Mr Long Gown, and his works portray him in various situations－in the mountains or among flowers, or even hugging a big fish.

His works show his main character against a backdrop found mainly in traditional Chinese landscape paintings, and include everyday elements and flourishes of modernity－from high-speed trains and lady's lingerie to submarines and a dinner table scene, all drawn using a brush and ink.

"Nothing is impossible for me. There is too much confinement in real life, so why not be true to your heart and be free about time and space on paper," he says, speaking to China Daily in his office/workshop at Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, where he teaches.

The room is piled with paper, most unlike the neat and Zen spaces he creates in his works.

The only clues to his art one finds in his room are scattered ceramics with either dried or fresh plants that dot his drawings.

When he speaks, his language is peppered with F-words and academic terms. Somehow he does not sound impolite, but exudes a sense of humor, like he manages with his rhymed poems.

As for how popular he is, Liu's works were shown on CCTV's annual Spring Festival Gala in 2015. He also held an exhibition of his paintings under the name Fun last year.

In January, online giant Tencent and China Publishing & Media Journal listed his book An Inch of Spare Dreams as the top original Chinese title of 2015, based on professional recommendations and readers voting online.