InterviewFeatured Artist

acrylic painting
YOSHIKO
Profile
YOSHIKO, who discovered the joy of painting after meeting an art teacher in junior high, has always held onto her passion for art. As an adult, I started oil painting at a culture school, and now I continue to paint with acrylics, following the direction of my imagination. We delve into her passion for creating works that cherish chance and gently resonate with viewers' hearts.
"Haru Urara" Author: YOSHIKO
What inspired you to start drawing?

When I was in the third year of junior high, my art teacher was someone who matched my sensibility. I was honestly very happy that they praised me so much. I learned the joy of drawing and the joy of being recognized by others. There was even a time when my own painting was displayed at the main entrance of my school. Junior high school students are at a time when such events are very joyful, so they are cherished and remembered carefully.

I think people have memories of wanting to do something but not being able to do it forever. My desire to pursue art has always lingered like a lump in my mind. Then, as an adult, I started oil painting at a culture school, which was the beginning.

At first, I listened to the teacher and wrote still lifes and similar works. When I first started learning to draw, art was art, and music was separate from music. I didn't really feel the connection between my musical experience and knowledge as a music therapist while I was drawing. As I continued creating, I began to feel that both art and music are the same. Since both are done by the same person, it's only natural.

Please tell us about your current art style and style.

When I started learning at school, I was painting oil paintings, but now I use acrylic paints. Acrylic is getting better and dries faster, so you can add it quickly. I love acrylic paints because I can express them immediately without missing out on any of my own imaginations, and I've been using them for over 10 years now.

There are no motifs in front of you, and no esquis is prepared. The works I had prepared in advance with Esquis didn't feel like a new experience; they felt more like coloring pages. You create artwork based solely on your own sense, creating paintings with flavor through imagination. I try various ways to balance the canvas, such as vertical or horizontal layouts, and I value the idea that this might be interesting.

In the end, you end up with something you never imagined when you first started drawing, and that feeling is even more enjoyable. My current style is to face works that are born like once-in-a-lifetime encounters.

"On a Winter Day" Author: YOSHIKO
How do you feel about the moments when your work resonates with the audience?

I want to value chance and keep expanding that potential. Inside me, I only have what I've experienced. What you hear from others or read about something else ultimately comes down to your own experience. Even if you're creating works within that context, I think you can't go beyond your own scope.

Therefore, to avoid conforming to oneself, chance is very important. Viewers also have various backgrounds and ways of thinking about things. As everyone freely watches, some become incredibly hooked. At times like that, I feel puzzled, thinking that the work and the person's timing must have been there, and the moment when a work quietly reaches someone's heart is the greatest joy for a creator.

Is there anything you want to convey through your work?

Actually, I often hear customers say that my work has healed me or lifted my spirits. I think paintings that feel like my own style sinks emotionally are a bit much, so I'm really happy to hear such feedback. At the same time, I strive to create works that are not pushy. Since viewers come from various environments and perspectives, some viewers become very hooked while watching freely. At times like that, I feel a strange feeling that the work and the person must have had their own timing, and I am very happy.

It's like a gentle snuggle, but not forced. While valuing that balance, I want to continue creating works going forward.

"Landscape with a Tower" Author: YOSHIKO
Please share your outlook for future activities.

Until 2022, I was mainly active in my hometown of Kansai. In 2023, I held my first exhibition at Ginza Gallery Musashi in Tokyo, and I plan to continue exhibiting at Ikebukuro Orange Gallery in Tokyo from 2024 onward.

Until now, I often used multiple colors, but I want to challenge myself with different color tones, such as creating monochrome works. Both my style and scope of activities have a desire to take on a slightly new challenge. Just as I have expanded my activities from Kansai to Tokyo, I want to continue deepening my expression while seeking new encounters and discoveries.

YOSHIKO continues to create works that follow the direction of imagination, like a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. While cherishing moments that gently reach the hearts of viewers, they have expanded their activities from Kansai to Tokyo. As she continues to take on new challenges in both style and field of activity, we are very much looking forward to her future endeavors.

Interview: 2024/01/17