I usually use acrylic on canvas, but I often use postercolor on paper. When I was younger I explored sculpting a little. While I wasn’t too shabby at it, I never really enjoyed it as much as painting. I also love pencil and paper such as observational art, like sketching, can never hurt. This summer, however, I plan to explore with film and installation a bit more.

Well, I have seen plenty of engaging exhibits because I have been taken around by my mother who is also an artist. I have not entered many art competitions however, as I find the prompts for many of them to be trite. I have participated in a few though, including one for the Asian Pacific Fund in 8th grade. I ended up placing second in the competition for the entire state of California. Then again, I do not like doing many of these competitions. The second prize win was way back in middle school and it was by luck that the other entries were not as ambitious. The 3rd place award for the “Overcoming our Differences” contest at Gunn this year has been my very latest entry in any competition so far. As for exhibitions, the studio I attend and take lessons from holds shows, maybe twice a year or so. I have been in a couple of those. They are by far some of the best times I have had in my artist’s life.

A lot of things influence how I paint. Bands like Radiohead, Björk, My Bloody Valentine, Massive Attack and The Cocteau Twins provide inspiration. I also borrow themes from some of my favorite movies like Blade Runner and Pulp Fiction, which provide the futuristic and abstract-atmospheric aspects in many of my paintings. Atmosphere, along with the weaker aspects of human response, is a familiar concept embedded in my works.

The artists I admire the most are the ones that are innovative, but are at the same time well-rounded in their styles and talents. I like many artists. A few of my favorites are Cindy Sherman (from whom I get my women-based concepts), Frida Kahlo and Francis Bacon, among others. In terms of other people, a few of the ones I find to be inspirational include Marlon Brando, Walter Benjamin and Charles Darwin.

I tend to be a perfectionist in my art, so it is very hard to live up to the standards I set for myself. However, I value criticism. I truly believe that criticism is one of the best things an artist (or anyone, for that matter) can receive because it is really the only way the artist can make improvements to their work and open their eyes to new possibilities.

While art is one of my foremost passions, I would definitely not consider going to an art college like the Rhode Island School of Design. The problem with going to an art college and getting a degree in art is that oftentimes it is very difficult for an artist to find work straight out of college. Most prominently, I really value well-roundedness. Every student, artist or not, should have a sound education in all subjects. For convenience, it is also wise to double-major so you are not wholly dependent on an art for your career. I myself will probably pursue Anthropology or some history for my own second major so that I have other options if, by chance, I get tired of art.