I Became a Painter

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What kind of reaction makes an artist happy?

junaida

In my case, I’d be happy if my picture leads the person looking at it to daydream.

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Daydream?

junaida

Like, wondering what happened immediately before and after in the world of the picture. Where did the character come from? Where is she going? What kind of person is he? Are these two people friends, or lovers? When I draw my pictures I always leave space for thoughts like that.

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Do people talk about things like that when they’re looking at your work?

junaida

Once in a while, yes. Like when a couple of friends stop by. When I come across a conversation like that I feel like my work was able to give them a good time.

—

I see.

junaida

I think I’m happiest if the viewer is able to use my art as a plaything and feel moved by it at the same time.

—

Is it OK for you if each person interprets a piece in their own way?

junaida

Yes, of course. In fact I’d enjoy it the most if everyone would tell me their own interpretation.

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For years people have been saying that reading is dying, but if you really think about it, humans read more now than they ever have before. Before words, everything was pictures, like the Lascaux cave paintings.

junaida

Yeah.

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Humans have been experiencing art for tens of thousands of years. But when the age of words came, nobody said, “Pictures are dying.”

junaida

That’s true.

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Which makes me wonder, what is art? I can’t draw at all, and maybe that makes art all the more magical to me.

junaida

Yeah, I’m not sure of the answer to that question. With cave paintings, it almost feels like a demonstration of how they captured their prey, or like they had something they wanted to show someone.

—

A means of communication.

junaida

I’m sure at some point it turned into a means of self-expression, but what we’re doing now is still communicating our thoughts and feelings.

—

So the essence of it hasn’t changed?

junaida

Maybe pictures are something we trust to communicate something to others on our behalf.

—

And you’re happy if the message gets across?

junaida

Yes.

—

But in that case, there’s a reason you’re using pictures and not words.

junaida

Some things are just easier to communicate through pictures.

—

I see.

junaida

Even what’s difficult to express in words can be expressed through pictures. And if the audience can receive the artist’s intended message from his work, I think that brings it all a step deeper.

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That’s true. If you ask what love is, you’ll get a much better image through pictures like those in your HUG collection than if you were to look the word up in a dictionary.

junaida

Although I think there’s incredible power behind coming right out and telling someone, “I love you.”

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Was there a reason you chose to work with watercolors?

junaida

When I first graduated from art school I used markers. But I didn’t have much money, so I couldn’t buy many colors.

—

I see.

junaida

So I thought about how I could save money, and I realized that watercolors last a really long time.

—

So it wasn’t a last resort, but it also wasn’t a very enthusiastic decision.

junaida

Of course I’d thought before that watercolors worked well for my style.

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But one of the major reasons was that they lasted a long time.

junaida

I think it worked out really well. I quickly ran out of money for more markers! (Laughs)

—

I interviewed two photographers the other day; one of them used a digital camera and one of them used film.

junaida

I see.

—

Each of them had already mastered their own camera and published photography books. But when I asked them why they each chose their camera, they had nearly the exact same answer: The film photographer said digital cameras cost too much at first, and the digital photographer said film cost too much over time.

junaida

(Laughs)

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So they also made their decisions for financial reasons. But they each grew comfortable with the medium they chose and use it to this day.

junaida

I have a feeling there are no particularly dramatic reasons. (Laughs)

—

Plus, opportunities always lie close at hand.

junaida

That’s true.

—

Your artwork includes a lot of fine detail while still evoking a feeling of warmth and roundness. What would you say about your technique?

junaida

I’ve been drawing for so long that if I want to draw a picture in a certain style, it usually comes out that way. But if choosing a particular style is always my method, I’ll never escape the boundaries of my own expectations.

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In other words, that way isn’t interesting.

junaida

Every time I create something I feel like I’m assigning myself a way of expanding the breadth of my skills, and what I can expect from them. It might seem trivial to the viewer, but all that matters is that I’m pleased with it myself. My satisfaction with a piece determines its quality, I think.

—

So it’s necessary for you to become a fan of your own work first.

junaida

Once in a while, I’ll think a picture is really well done. I want to reach that level too, so I’m doing my best to be more satisfied with each piece that I make.

—

I see. Thank you for talking with us today. My last question: Why, even though you’re selling so many products and have your own store, don’t you sell your original art?

junaida

Because I would miss it.

—

Ahhhh.

junaida

I’ve accumulated quite a lot, and I have nowhere to put them anymore, but I don’t want them to disappear. It is kind of a childish reason, though. (Laughs)

[End]

2016-12-06-Tue

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