The Pre-Garden

Before I moved onto my current state of exploring photographs heavily with paint, I had a short digression period of really drawing and painting figures and faces- It's just been my habit ever since I knew how to hold a pencil. I have a great amount of passion of exceeding parts of art in techniques in my expectations, and almost last year of school, I thought it would be a perfect time to do that apart from my photography.

Probably the reason why I could not give up painting was in the past there were people who drew my face and gave me as a gift- and that was just a powerful source of positive memory that I could never forget. My art teacher back in my undergrad used to make us draw models in 15 mins for our fast hand practice. Awestruck of his skills, one day I was in class on my birthday and I asked him to draw me in that time for my birthday gift. That work still hangs in my room in Oklahoma- funny story, the custom framing probably cost way more than the paper and the materials used (laugh). But the frame done at Hobby Lobby had great craftsmanship, in turquoise color, I never get sick of looking at that color.

Another drawings were done by my longing friend who lives across the seas, another artist I always thank God that there is another Christian Artist who draws everyday for Jesus. He used to send me small sketches of my photos in Instagram, and of course on my birthday a portrait of me in blond hair was sent in a white frame.

I've been having those drawings of me for the longest time, and now I realize a tiny bit the power of art it has when it becomes drawing a person in front of my blank sketchbook. It means I observe them constantly, feel the emotions of the atmosphere, think about the memories, it goes beyond just imitating the shapes, lines, and shadows. As I received such lovely experience from the past, I did not want to give up so I could be the artist one day to draw someone as a gift. And the receiver will find the same joy I felt in receiving such gift.

The elements that I do not give up in my works these days are Hanbok, botanicals, and texture. The texture is actually built with my own photographs and watercolor paintings that were practices. Meaning, the background is not just a wall paper but a texture and a pattern created in my own memories of living the world creating such things. Somehow I have always been incorporating Seafoam Green since I had a commission last year and the client wanted that specific green in the artworks and I've been obsessed with it. It's such a mysterious color in between femininity, masculinity, and also between energy and calmness.

Also modeling paste is my best friend that I must have for my works- I had this modeling paste from Liquitex for so long that when I squeeze it the paste is actually matte and solid, not watery and glossy- which I loved because it created texture so quick and dried in short amount of time. I used all that and got new set from a different brand and I was so impatient because drying took forever!

The two experiments that I did opened my skillset to really incorporate photographs with mixed media. Can't wait to share more ! :)

Two people, one Moon (Koi)

It was during a time where I was going through a quite deep time of sorrow, and I hate it when the weather starts to warm up when my heart is still cold inside. My dear Hoya took me to Gathering place and we sat down on a huge rock by the sands near the pond, and just talked. The wind was so breezy and pink flowers were flourishing all over the park as it usually does in Tulsa in Spring. I still feel strange and abnormal to lean against people emotionally in times of dark times but God granted me a great company not only as a person but in sweet nature of his creation too. The film photos I took at the Gathering Place were all my inspiration for this collection, it was a very personal collection not related to any of my school works, and maybe that's why I still linger on it and have special feelings to them still.

My self portraits were taken in Nikon N64, printed with Canon MG printers on 300 GSM watercolor paper. Then painted with watercolor, after it dried I drew with color pencils or another layer of watercolor. Enjoy :)

Unseen Landscapes

This quarter I've been taking two painting classes only, when I'm a full MFA photography major. I have been so looking forward to really challenge my long-time hidden part of artistic expression beyond realistic photography work. Of course I still take photos, every week, but I knew being in school is the most valuable, meaningful invest I could make in my life. Since I only had about a year or two left in school, I wanted to take advantage of my prestigious art school curriculum in painting.

I originally started with just figures, no photography at all- but I received many feedbacks of them finding more vitality in my works of mixed media incorporating photography. Constantly praying and searching for new inspirations, one day after feedback from my professor I realized that was God's guidance and decided to really push photography in my paintings.

Above two are in that middle stage of really centering my photography but wanting painting to dominate my works. In these two I only used photography in terms of background creating, as one of the artists my professor introduced used photography in his painting so intricately. I thought including some inspiration artist I got recommended would be nice to share and document:

Left is Alan Feltus and right is Wei dong; Feltus' muted, textured, calm figures were fitting to the overall imagery of figures I always look for, but not intentionally that realistic. Wei Dong's content is not personally welcoming as it seems to have sexualization of women but as he creates the shirt in photography and the left decorative fruits, he perfectly aligns painting and photography together.

I am not crazy about the figure, and it's interesting because I sometimes have that edgy, strongly outlined features often nowadays. Personally it's different from how I see people but I think it's relatable to how I put the first layer down so dark. The floral decorations were inspired by my these days favorite- Kristin Vestgard, I still try to find my own decorative, feminine elements to add to my figures but not found something yet. During critique I had great compliment of created landscape behind the figure, to really pull that out in front. It was an honor that it was reminded of Monet's Haystack. Surprisingly, I had been reading about Monet and of course, I loved those series. Haystack series were drawn right after Monet's fame that he had in his late age, and the painting was sold even before he had finished painting. It's funny since then I try to create that mountain-like shapes with my photographs, but can't do it! It's always that natural, spontaneous stance when amazing figures are produced.

This was actually the first piece before the above one, and now as I see Monet's Haystacks on top of this painting, I am surprised how the color scheme is so similar; yes, I did love reading Monet's work. It's funny because I read it in my Kindle which the pictures were all black and white, but I guess I seemed to just know what the colors were looking like. Can't wait to visit Giverny this summer..

Dianthus

I have been working on a new collection, as my school project. I've been waiting for starting a new collection - to draw more on my photographs. Since I've been so prolific in my photoshoots, I had so many to choose and to tell the stories of the subjects. The feedback I received from last quarter in school was to try out new mediums to enhance the quality of illustration. Thus I incorporated color pencils, and added more layers on top to create depth. It's still a challenge for me to carve out time to make artwork along with doing photoshoots because it's a new try. But I always think about creating a tangible artwork that has depth, dimensions, and texture... Hopefully someday it will be hung on many people's walls.

I got inspired from a Japanese Painter Tadashi Asoma, an Abstract Expressionist and Japanese immigrant to America in 1960s. I mean my works do not look like anything like his (laugh), but I really loved his color palette and the mountains he draw behind the scenes. The mountains of Japan, New York, or wherever that is, that really echoed with me and wanted to incorporate those oriental lines. But my main inspiration was my subjects, as I tried to remember the time I had with my people during the shoot, or any memories that I have with them. It was like having another photoshoot with them, but like alone, and it was more reflective and memorable. The photoshoot was more of a connecting point, and the mixed media photography is more of my own aesthetic, quality time that I have.

Pre-dianthus

Royalty of Warmth

This collection was my final works for a printing class. I've explored more than 20 different inkjet papers to find out which paper is fit for my own artworks. Interestingly, the final paper I chose was neither of the 20 I explored; however, because of the huge experiment, I knew exactly how to print on this non-inkjet paper properly and professionally (Thank you professor Jones!) My main subject was definitely portraits and self portraits also. I loved how the prints would naturally mute as the tan mix media paper will bring everything - saturation and exposure- down to bottom and I adored that. On the print I added lavender purple color paint to bring the dullness a bit up and to tweak with a modern touch. I used color pencils to enhance the facial features and oil pastels for rich highlights especially the whites.

This time of period my Artist Quiet Time group (AKU) was meditating about the "sacrifice" we give to Jesus as we enter the preparation of passover. And We talked about how worship is different from sacrifice; worship is when we go to church on Sunday and receive such joy and blessing from God, sacrifice, is when we give our time, effort, talent, to Jesus intentionally. Usually not on Sundays, in our daily lives. Meaning, as artist, pastor reminded us to remember what was the first love, first talent as artist God gave me. And that should be the way we give sacrifice to Jesus. It's not about drawing biblical characters or somewhat holy works, but praying before my works for this time, my talent, my sweat and tears to be given to Jesus as a sacrifice. The purple represents royalty of Jesus as he should be the only one to be glorified in all my works. Enjoy!