My first impression of fine art seemed to be when someone said, "Wow! This art is detailed, so fine." That buzz of a definition is how fine art occupied my head for my whole childhood.
When I really discovered my true love for fine art, it was in an elective class in which my previous respected art teacher told us to observe some objects such as shells, marbles and wine glasses. I was into observing and exploring patterns, light, distortion and magnification effects. That led me to discover my love for fine art.
When I discovered about my love of painting, I was in middle school. I was creating a cubism piece called This is a transition age, according to Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque’s famous paintings. I was starting to get into the use of different brushstrokes and the ideas of painting on canvas. I started to explore abstractionism not long ago, after which I visited Tate Modern in London and saw Joan Mitchell’s abstract landscape pieces. I’ve always wanted to create something like that.
I usually research an artist's style first when I start to explore a new painting style. Then I study those styles by using sketchbook pages, at the same time conducting some experiments like scientists do. To create bigger pieces, sometimes I use pencils and charcoal to draw the creative vision down on paper or sketchbook, then transfer them to the canvas. Sometimes, when I’m really feeling my creative spirit, I just paint straight onto the canvas. For some special scenarios, I make some clay sculptures, in order to better control the flows of lines and patterns on canvas.
My life at AUB thus far has been unprecedented, as I had never been to an art school in my life before. I was surprised and excited to enrol at the University. I have some new friends who always give encouragement when I feel a bit down. Our Bath Christmas market trip was fun, as I was stunned by the size of the actual Christmas market. I became a member of AUB’s walking and hiking club, which has brought me to some beautiful places and at the same time solved some of my health issues after high school. Overall, I feel like I am in my new life now, because of AUB.
I am really into the kind of self-leading study that AUB offers. It has forged me to become a critical, creative thinker and a clever problem-solver, which will be helpful to my own creative journey in the near future.
I am proud of an abstract landscape painting I made called Untitled (Scottish landscape), a piece I made to commemorate my family trip to the Lake District and Edinburgh. I was proud of this piece because it has made it to the Merge 2024 AUBSU x NUASU virtual exhibition. Projects I have worked on within the course this year include three portfolios, two presentations and one essay. Some projects I have done with my passion in abstract photography are called "abstract light within nature".
I choose digital drawing as my creative outlet by using the iPad. Sometimes I draw realistic things with abstract meanings. Sometimes I draw nature that seems like an abstract painting. I saw my friend using Procreate and then wanted to try it myself. I’m not that fluent in using it just yet, I still need time to learn.
I haven’t found friends to collaborate with me yet, as the majority of my friends are studying BA (Hons) Illustration and busy with their own projects. However, they have given me lots of emerging ideas about what I could create when I’ve asked them. I collaborated with nature this year in order to create my portfolios. I plan to collaborate with the sea more to make even more emotional abstract pieces than what I have made this year. I have ambitions to make a painting that covers my studio wall, full of brushstrokes, colours and mysterious patterns.
After graduating from AUB, I will probably pursue my Master’s degree in painting. In the long run, I will work in the creative industry in China, and maybe in London as well.
