International Artist – August-September 2019

Art Challenge 15

Finalist

Oliver Sin
California, USA, Bob, dry media,
17 x 14" (43 x 36 cm)

My Inspiration
I have been so drawn to art even as a little
boy, I once recalled that I started drawing
at the age of 3. Somehow, portraiture just
seems to be my favorite form of expression,
which I constantly practice, not only as an
art professor at Academy of Art University
but as a favorite hobby as well. Since 2011,
I have been lucky enough to come across
a few distinguished contemporary artists
as my mentors, Zhaoming Wu, Henry
Yan and Chung-Wei Chien. Their tireless
guidance has urged me to put greater efforts
in capturing fleeting human expressions
and paying more attention to precise
composition in figurative portraits.

My Design Strategy
Since I have always been deeply inspired by
a 20th-century master artist, Nicolai Fechin,
I employ his influence in creating sensitive,
soulful, emotional and dramatic portraits
in vine charcoal. To capture the insight and
warmth of each model, then transfer it from
life to drawing paper is my motivation.

To leave behind an essence of personality

on drawing paper, along with intense

personal feelings, is my attempt to reveal his

approach towards art and life.

My Working Process

This piece was started from an alla prima

drawing session for a six-hour drawing class,

and then it was finished from references.

My choice of medium for this piece is vine

charcoal on 14-by-17-inch Strathmore 70lbs

medium surface drawing paper. I drew the

outline of the portrait in term of shapes first,

and then turned shapes into planes change.

The last step was adding value.

Contact Details

» Email: [email protected]

» Instagram: @oliversin

I don’t know anatomy; I know shapes, form.

— Harley Brown