Where did you grow
up and how has this
influenced your art?
I grew up in a small
town called Kochi in
Japan. We lived near the mountains
and the ocean, surrounded by
nature, animals and insects. I think
it shows in my paintings.
You’re a child, you see a painting
that changes everything. Where are
you and what are you looking at?
Nothing stands out in my childhood.
The painting that changed
everything for me was Caravaggio’s
The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, in
Rome’s Church of St. Louis of the
French. I saw the painting in my
early 20s, and it transported me to
somewhere eternal. It taught me how
powerful a painting can be, and was
etched into my mind.
Now, what I try to achieve every
day is to create an “eternal moment”
of beauty. I heard the expression
“eternal moment “ in an interview
with Joseph Campbell. Not only that
an act of painting is like capturing a
moment and making it eternal, but
also that the truth often lies in
between contradictions. I gradually
start seeing my paintings as a way to
visualise just that.Does one person stand out as being
helpful during your early years?
I’ve developed all my painting
techniques from a figurative painter,
Adrian Gottlieb. He was taught his
painting techniques in Florence, and
I was fortunate to be able to learn
traditional techniques from him in
Los Angeles.What was your next step in art? Did
other interests vie for attention?
Each painting is a new challenge for
me. I want to make the process more
smooth and natural, but I also think
that, for me, it will always be a
struggle each time. I’d like to domore drawings and try acrylics,
because with them I can create
things quickly and I will be able to
be more spontaneous. I love the
result of oil paintings, but it takes so
long to create an oil painting that
sometimes I miss the spontaneity.Can you describe the place where
you usually create your art?
The idea comes when I least expect
it, for example when I’m taking a
bath or when I’m about to fall
asleep. I sketch in bed or on the
couch, and refine and paint them in
my studio.What are your painting rituals?
I sketch small, then I usually do a lot
of researching, gathering
information and visual references.
Once I have a pretty good idea of
what I want to paint, I ask my model
to come in to do a photo shoot. With
the photos, I create a detailed sketch,
then transfer the drawing to canvas
or panel to paint.Tell us about your first paid
commissioned piece
My mentor and teacher from college
commissioned me to paint his wife
for her birthday gift. She’s a violinist,
and he’s a graphic designer, so
I painted her with her violin, and
overlayed his geometric design.Is your art evolving? What’s the
most recent experiment you made?
My concept and technique are quite
consistent, but last year I painted
young girls for the first time for a
group show. It was very interesting.
It opened up new possibilities for
my future subjects.What advice would you give to your
younger self to aid you on the way?
You won’t know until you try.
Chie’s oil paintings explore psychological
themes with a contrasting mix of
traditional techniques and modern style.
They’re inspired by the relationship between
human psychology and mythical archetypes.
See more at http://www.chieyoshii.com.ANOTHER FACE
“This painting is about the
layered depth of human
personality, depicted by a
mask of a fox that’s said to
change its appearance freely.”PASSING TIME
“Cherry blossoms and the
adolescent figure are short-lived,
symbolising the ephemeral
nature of life.”It takes so long to create an
oil painting that sometimes
I miss the spontaneity
Traditional Artist Interview
First Impressions
Chie Yoshii
Creating the “eternal
moment” is key to
this artist’s approach
to her work