EXTRA EXTRA! ARTIST RESEARCH #2:

I chose Aya Takano for my artist as her surrealistic figures and use of color is something I want to employ in my art. Takano prepares for a painting by first sketching out the figures she wants to use in her art. The figures she sketches are often gender ambiguous, whimsical, and have a sort of flow to them. She sketches cleanly in order to make definite sense of what to include in her work. Takano also sketches multiple of these figures.

Then, she draws upon past experiences to guide her artwork. For example, with every painting, she always utilizes some part from her history to use in the artwork. In one of her pieces, she uses one of the Japanese festivals as imagery in her pieces. Afterwards, she draws the same figures she previously sketched onto the canvas - where she uses clean linework with paint. Takano utilizes several different types of paint such as acrylic and watercolor.

When she paints, she uses many different transition tones - this helps guide the flow of her color palette. In her pieces, she is known for her use of blending and smooth transitions into neon colors from pastel colors. By using transition tones, she’s able to seamlessly blend vibrant and pastel colors together. 

Takano’s process can help inform my process as I want to experiment with the flow of color as well. In my previous portfolio, I tended to use a limited color palette which made it easier for me to blend colors together. However, I want to also be able to blend vibrant and pastel colors seamlessly to add more dimension and variety to my pieces. This diverse color palette would help emphasize the diversity of the internet and the many ways it exists and manifests in our daily lives. I also often have troubles with blending paint as I run into muddy colors - transition tones should help fix that.

Video on Takano's Process

https://youtu.be/Wes7h58ygII?si=uDIdqRTBv1zf5lq3