• 
• 
• Home
• Changes
• Gallery
  • Portraits
  • Figures (nudity)
  • Sculptures (nudity)
  • Others (nudity)
• Shows and Publications
• Portrait Commissions
  • Why Portraits?
  • Sample Processes
  • Procedure
  • Pastel
  • Reference Photos
  • Matting and Framing
  • Copyright
  • For Remote Clients
• Meet The Artist
  • Bio
  • Artist Statement
• Calls
  • Figure Models Wanted
  • Support Us
• Contact Us
• About This Website

Artist Statement

Cars are different from their owners. However, a car could tell a lot about the owner — from the make and build he has chosen, from the accessories he has added, from the way he has damaged it and fixed it, or — not fixed it. By careful observation, you can practically see him through his car.

Very few people have the ability to see directly the being you are, still less express it in the visual form. Instead, however, we can see you through your body, the vehicle you have chosen to experience what you want to experience in this life.

Some people are fascinated with cars; I am fascinated with human bodies — their exquisite mechanics, and the functional beauty that results from it. I investigate and experience it through my own physical training including martial arts, and express it in the form of art, both in two dimensions and three dimensions.

Physicality of the subject, however, is not the only theme of my pieces. Through the expression of the physicality, I capture and fixate the spiritual being of the person in a tangible form. His spirit or hers now has a different form of permanent existence, and will touch whoever sees my piece. It is my sheer delight to be part of the process.

I see portraits as a variation of figure drawings and paintings, only more challenging. We depend so heavily on the facial features to identify a person, and we depend so heavily on the facial expressions to fathom his emotions, that our sensory abilities in that area are far greater than those in other areas. This makes people extra critical of the quality of portraits. Just one tiny line, and your portrait can be ruined. What a thrill! My source of adrenaline rush.

I work with all kinds of media. I choose whatever is most appropriate in conveying his being. I frequently use photographs for reference. I do not believe in the claim that you have to draw or paint from life to capture the personality; rather it is your spiritual antenna that does it. Photographs are just a convenient tool that I use to put things together and make it into a piece.

I do other random things too, such as landscape painting, especially when asked. Still, for me, it is not a piece per se, but an exercise; eventually I will make good use of it in the pursuit of my obsession with human bodies.

Yasuro Kawata

[Back to Top] [Contact Us]

Art by Yasuro - Seattle, Washington, USA WWW: http://art.yasuro.com/ Email: art@yasuro.com