Sketches here are done on pencil, A4-sized.
Some art influences on my work are:

1. Audrey Kawasaki

A Los Angeles-born and based painter, with works mainly oils on wood panels. Personally, I feel that Kawasaki’s style is a fusion of Japanese Manga, where she gives her subject a distinctive outline and has sculptured near-perfect facial and bodily features, and Super surrealism, where the subject is realistically painted and also often posed in various imaginative-like scenes.

Kawasaki has this distinctively representational style and subject over the years- a young, demure lady, where her innocence is always being contrasted with the confidence and sexual appearance she takes on in various erotic scenes, acts and even absurd and disturbing scenarios.

I have always liked Kawasaki’s works; her technique and rendering of her subject which makes “her” extremely beautiful and inviting.

Not only are they aesthetically appealing, her works also often elude this mysterious and melancholy feeling which draws one to it at first sight. Yet, on closer look, one would realize the creepiness and somewhat cold feeling of the subject, often shown effectively through her eyes.

At the same time, the juxtaposition between innocence, vulnerability and eroticism, confidence makes the piece really interesting. For the viewer, he is constantly in a dilemma and struggle to wonder which stand he should adopt- to see it as an innocent, pure piece or to see it as a provocative one.

Her works influenced me to improve on my technique (of course!) and to also ponder more on the aspect of contrasts and juxtapositions I can play around on future works that I do- not only to make the piece more intriguing, but also help to inject this element of thought and dilemma in my viewers.

Here are some of her works:

Enrapture, oil and graphite on wood panel

2011

Untitled, graphite on paper

2008

Lili and her ghosts, oil and graphite on wood panel

2011

Sophia, Oil on wood 8x17

2006

Okimiyage, intaglio print 8"x12" with Pressure Printing

2008

Here are sketches on Kawasaki's works, and some thereby inspired ones:

This is her official site: www.audrey-kawasaki.com/

You can slowly admire her pieces one by one and be just as fascinated by her skill as I am.

This is an article on Kawasaki I find particularly interesting to read: http://www.laweekly.com/2011-05-19/la-life/audrey-kawasaki-girl-chaser/

2. Ku Hye Sun

Sure enough, most of you would know that Ku’s an actress, not an artist. But  her works really inspire me quite a bit.

However, I am particularly intrigued by her technique in her works, where she gives a sense of fluidity in her paintings and sketches. Her strokes, be it brush or pen entangles itself in a somewhat conjoined manner, appearing to be made up of an endless line. These lines intertwine and weave through one another, presenting many swirls and loops. However, despite so, they are still rather clean and simplistic. The objects are broken down into basic fluid lines yet maintaining its distinct outline. Thick, thin, smudged, distinct; these are elements which Ku plays around with simply through the pen or brush. To me, her works like Kawasaki’s, never fail to make me wonder how she came about painting or drawing the piece. On how she keeps the lines on-going, but at the same time, maintaining the harmonistic sense of the work’s entirety.

Also, on how these lines intrigue me greatly, would be the seemingly invisibility and intangibility of the work. Where Ku successfully creates three dimensionality through the lines, and spaces between them. You may choose to see it by focusing on either the negative, or positive spaces, yet both present a clean and strangely fascinating appearance for the viewer. (Painting)

And to emphasize particularly on this painting, it caught my eye on the arrangement of the piece; where it branched out to the canvas beneath it. I liked the idea, the act of extension and thought of the lines being never-ending. And that, it seemed that you hadn’t need to worry for being more than what the canvas can hold (top), so feel at ease to let yourself flow (I had the imagery of a cup of overflowing milk, with the presence of a bigger bowl helping to support it underneath- to me, it signified stability and serenity)/ and this idea, I chose to incorporate into my coursework :D

This is her official site: http://www.kuhyesun.com/