Today we spoke to MAIKA, who is self-taught and has dived into the world of art and continues to be active in the art world, taking painting classes and participating in public exhibitions.
Thank you very much for your cooperation in today's interview!
First of all, what made you want to become an artist?
I had never attended a painting class, vocational school, or art college, but for some reason I suddenly felt like painting while staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic, so I started painting with acrylic on inexpensive canvas. I found it interesting, and my number of works increased rapidly, and I began to take the opportunity to submit them to various public exhibitions.
I've always liked using my hands, but now I enjoy drawing the most. I want to continue to be an artist even after I become a grandma!
Staying at home made you fall in love with the world of painting!
By the way, out of all the pieces you've created so far, what is the most impressive piece of art you've created? Please tell me the reason.
This is a portrait called ``Patrice or Angela Davis''.
In May 2020, just as I started painting, I learned about the so-called George Floyd incident in the United States and the demonstrations calling for Black Lives Matter on social media. Around the same time, a black woman named Patrice who appeared in Spike Lee's film ``BlacKkKlansman'' coincided with Angela Davis, a black female political activist who was active in the 1970s, which led to the creation of this film.
The model is Miss Patrice from the movie, and she has voluminous Afro hair, and to express that, I bought a lot of 100-yen sponges and glued them to the canvas. I use real things for the sunglasses and earrings...it feels more like three-dimensional art than mixed media.
Although it is an immature work since I started drawing on my own, it is the first time I have used a painting to express a feeling that I want to express, so it is one of my favorites and leaves a lasting impression on me.
Have there been any changes in your style or way of thinking between your past and current works?
I'm still a young artist, so I'm hesitant to call it a long time ago, but in the early days, I didn't think too deeply about what I wanted to draw one after another, and I just kept drawing things that came to mind.
But now, I have started to draw works that I want to display, while being concerned about copyright issues.
MAIKA, are there any things you pay attention to or are particular about when injecting a story into your work?
Some people think that art is interesting because it can be interpreted in a variety of ways by the viewer, but I prefer art that is easy to understand and that everyone can interpret in the same way. For this reason, works such as homages to characters from Greek mythology or masterpieces are made so that even people who do not know the story of the person or the origin of the work can understand it by the title or an explanation is attached.
Also, I try to make my work so that people can look at it carefully and let the story unfold, and want to cherish it forever...I try to make my heart flutter even a little bit when they see my work.
Are there any moments when you feel stuck or happy while creating your work?
After imagining the general theme and composition in my head, I often start drawing without making any drafts and then adding ideas that come to mind. So there are times when I get stuck because things don't turn out exactly as I imagined.
My small atelier is in a small corner of the living room, so I can't really paint on large canvases, but it's fun to paint small pieces.
Please let me know if you have any special techniques.
I'm self-taught, so I don't know much about techniques, but I like drawing details with ultra-fine brushes, and I think I'm good at it.
Where do you get your inspiration for your work?
Even before I started drawing, I loved art appreciation by going to museums and looking at catalogs, and I especially love classics, religious paintings, and historical and mythological works, so I'm always thinking of ways to paint homages to them.
I also get inspiration from everything I see and hear in my daily life. I especially like choosing themes from movies, music lyrics, and novels.
Honestly, I have so many things I want to draw that I'm having trouble.
Are there any expressions or themes you would like to try in the future?
I've been going to a painting class since last year and am learning the basics of oil painting, but the studio there is spacious enough to accommodate large canvases, so I'd like to try my hand at a large-scale painting of about 100 sizes someday.
Do you have any interests or hobbies other than art?
Before the coronavirus pandemic, I enjoyed going to gospel lessons and singing with my friends, but that turned into a painting class. Right now, I'm visiting antique markets and general stores, and searching for delicious restaurants with my husband, who is a big foodie.
Lastly, if you have any motto, please tell us.
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
Albert Einstein
A person who has never failed is
He is a person who has never tried anything.
albert einstein
Introducing the works featured on FROMARTIST
Title of work: FLORA
Detail page URL: https://from-artist.com/products/flora
List of works: https://from-artist.com/collections/maikart