Art & Life with Motoko “Gloria” Yasue

Motoko “Gloria,” please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m from Japan and Art is my second career. Born and raised in Tokyo Japan, I received a Baccalaureate degree in Sociology. Then, after many years in a mid-management position in a life insurance firm in Tokyo, I decided to move to Houston and eventually gravitated towards the art world. I had never planned this decision, as I was always engaged in outdoor sports such as competitive snow-skiing in the great natural beauty of Japanese winters. Due to my life-long interest in art, after I moved to Houston in 2012 with my life savings, I began my study of art at Glassell School (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) where I graduated in 2016 with the Certificate in Painting. I was hooked and my passion for art and painting grew. I complementarily enrolled in and graduated from Houston Community College as a Studio Art major with Highest Honors. I have met many mentors and artist friends who inspired me as I won several awards at art shows and scholarships for life drawings and watercolor classes during my study in Houston. Some of my works were exhibited in the Kinder Morgan building in Houston downtown. These experiences have encouraged me to keep growing as an artist. When my painting was selected for a statewide exhibition “Rising Eyes of Texas, 2018”, I made up a mind that I do my best to become an accomplished artist and to ultimately teach painting in future. Currently, I continue working on my paintings for future exhibitions and shows while also being commissioned for specific work by clients. Lastly, my English nick-name “Gloria” was given to me by a neighbor who recognized my artistic talent and strongly encouraged me to formally pursue the study of art. Though he is no longer with us, I have used the nickname throughout my study at Glassell as a symbol of my appreciation for his wisdom and encouragement.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My art could be explained as “abstract landscapes in daydreams.” For me, painting is mode or method to convey our perception of the world and the feel of nature. My artwork reflects the inspiration of the distinct art climate and society in Houston as well as my love of nature and life in Japan. I have sought opportunities to expand my creativity in my “personalized abstract landscape” style while exploring the physical qualities of light which allows me to employ both bold colors and texture. It is a combination of my unique perspective of the world along with the “dream” of what the world could be. I believe my deepest and fondest memories of my childhood in Japan also influences and is depicted in my paintings. My goal too is to have the viewer through my works to be more aware and to adopt a different way of thinking or perceiving the world.

I depict mystic and dreamy landscapes in their colors and textures as well as a Japanese embrace of respect and appreciation for nature in all aspects of life. One has tendencies to see the world in a way she or he wants to see it, so I’d like people to explore their own memories and an imaginary world in my abstract landscapes. Silhouettes of something such as a teddy-bear or figure in my works adds a narrative to them. For me, watercolor itself has the potential to create the mystic effects even though, often, it is not expected. I apply the same effects to my acrylic and oil paintings as well.

I hopefully convey and emphasize the beauty of nature as much as I can by depicting streaming natural light coupled with the illumination of forms and gestures into figurative compositions. My inspiration comes from the beauty of nature including strong sunlight during the summer in Houston along with great wonders of the visual world observed in water, air and the sunlight. It hopefully helps the viewer experience a view of the world through another lens when they see my artwork. My message to people is that everything in life has many ways to view it and to appreciate its many aspects.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Life for artists has become easier in recent years because of computer technologies including the influence of photos and videos. The computer becomes one of many tools for which artists can engage. For example, many artists will take digital photos with their cell phones with an eye towards using them as a reference later on. Artists explore a variety of sources of creating art through the internet such as beautiful scenes that they would have never otherwise witnessed. This visual information in cyberspace can be an inspiration for artists as well as in the real world. Also, the internet through a website or social media, for example, has become another way to give artists global exposure, sell their work to someone on the other side of the world as well as to connect with other artists. Although artists can take advantages of cyberspace and computer technologies without even leaving their studio, confronting reality and engaging with real people is still most crucial.