"When I was a student, I studied design at Musashino Art University. After that, I worked as a designer for several years, and I always had a desire to do painting.
I started watercolor painting when I was raising children. I started studying on my own while regaining the feeling of my student days. Since then, I have been exhibiting in galleries and teaching watercolor painting."
The reason why he was attracted to watercolor painting is its transparent colors.
"I think the charm of watercolor painting is the delicate colors that are transparent. When I put a brush on paper, I feel that the moment when the pigment dissolved in the water spreads out is beautiful.
In general, many people may think of oil paintings when they think of paintings. Oil paintings can be repainted because they are layered with paint, but watercolors are different. I like that it allows me to express bleeding and blurring, and it gives me a texture that can express even the transition of air."
Painters who were particularly influenced by him were Leonardo da Vinci and Matisse.
"I am particularly fascinated by Leonardo da Vinci's drawings. Even though it is a clean and beautiful line without waste, it is attractive that you can feel a very deep and delicate expression. At first glance, even if it is a simple line, I feel that it is very important to express it that is backed by solid technology. I myself aim to create works that use watercolor bleeding and blurring to evoke various images in the viewer's mind.
I also have a lot of admiration for Matisse. I feel a strong attraction because it is a painting style that is the exact opposite of mine, such as positive and powerful colors and compositions."
InterviewFeatured Artist
"I usually work on realistic works, but in this work, I tried to express myself in a fantastic way.
The challenge of this work was to express the world of dreams through watercolors.
"I was a child who was often dazed since I was little, and my parents often scolded me (laughs). When I was in a daze, I felt like I was indulging in a dream. Consciousness spreads in various places, and something becomes clear, healed, or purified within oneself.
I felt that this feeling was connected to the feeling of watercolor paint dissolving in water, so I decided to express it in my work. Also, during production, of course, it is necessary to consciously do something and control it, but in some parts I also value the feeling of surrendering to something other than myself."
"I am not only obsessed with watercolor, but I always want to be innovative. I want to expand the range of my work by trying different techniques.
For example, in the past few years, I have been admiring Matisse's bold colors and compositions, and I have been trying my hand at glass painting.
Glass painting is a method of painting with paint on top of the back of glass, and it is completely opposite to other techniques. When you draw a portrait, you draw the outline of the face from the whole. But glass paintings first draw details like eyes."
Recently, he has also been focusing on drawing portraits.
"I'm just finishing my charcoal painting of a man.
I was impressed by the fun of drawing people of a different sex from my own. When I was immersed in my work, I suddenly felt like I couldn't tell who I was drawing, and it also gave me an opportunity to think about gender gradations."
Currently, he is in the stage of discovering himself through various challenges.
"Now I'm doing various things such as watercolor, glass painting, and portrait painting, and I'm looking for aspects and styles that I didn't know about. In particular, glass painting, which I started with a longing for bold colors, made me realize once again that I have the property of drawing precisely.
Until now, I had avoided works that showed such commitments to the fullest, thinking that they would become somewhat smug, so I avoided them a little.
However, as I tried various techniques, I realized that there are good and bad things about that commitment. I began to want to scrutinize myself more and put out good things in my work. I believe that increasing your sensitivity to the details will lead to exploring your own path. Someday, I would like to paint a watercolor painting that explores the path I have found.
But it always appears in front of me like a mirage, and if I try to catch it, it disappears... It's always changing."
Mr. Yamane always finds his own path and continues to take on challenges. We will not be able to miss what kind of expressions will bloom in the future.