Valerie Chua
Q: What inspires you with you water colored works? My month’s stay in Fukuoka was incredibly life changing How different is it from other artworks that you do?
A: Nature, fashion and everyday objects inspire me. I used to do larger acrylic works in the past. They’re slightly darker and edgier although right now I’m leaning towards simple watercolor works.
Q: Why do you choose watercolor as your medium?
especially towards my art. I got to know the Mori Girl subculture and life there is really simple. I want to bring back that elusive feeling through my work. I guess that as long as I yearn for it, it will be difficult for me to part from this theme.
Q: What do you consider to be the greatest achievement as an artist?
A: I can’t seem to pinpoint one instance but getting A: I think my answer might be a little shallow but I noticed, published and scouted for projects, big use watercolor because I don’t have the patience for thicker mediums. I like how the effects and results are immediate when you use watercolor. I also admire East Asian artists and their use of watercolor: accidental yet precise, thin washes and fine lines. This is probably one of my influences and eventually I learned how to infuse my style with the medium.
Q: Your works seem to depict women in such a
graceful, delicate manner? Do you have a particular reason for this? Would you ever come up with a work that’s the complete opposite of what you do?
A: I used to do dark collage works mixed with acrylic
back in college. I think they’re very much different from the stuff I do now. I’ll probably revisit it when I have more time to play around with mediums in the future.
or small, and meeting new people is already an achievement for me. I’ve always thought that I’d never make it because I don’t have an arts education and sometimes I still feel nervous about it but I’m really thankful that I’ve made it this far.
Q: What advices would you give to someone who’s beginning in the field?
A: If you want to be an artist, just keep practicing and
keep working hard. Being an artist isn’t all about talent in skill, it’s about having the courage to create and to challenge. Observe more, research, immerse yourself in the beautiful and the ugly, go out and meet lots of people. Open your eyes and be kind and the world will be kind to you.