Ways to improve your composition

Lorland Chen draws on a range of ideas and influences to help him produce a stunning original

Lorland Chen applies a range of ideas and influences.

’ve always had a soft spot for classic children’s tales such as The Wizard of Oz, in which a clever girl accompanied by friendly folk go on an adventure. I also believe in reincarnation, and perhaps in my past life I was a young woman. It might explain why I like painting females in a fantasy setting.

When I was studying in college, I fell in love with classic oil paintings, especially the aesthetic that the artists conveyed in their work. It affected my views of

Ifeminine beauty, which continues to this day. So, for example, for this piece I’m not keen on painting a cartoon-like scene, but rather a realistic and classic image. The model is one of my students, who was cosplaying when I first photographed her. The results inspired me, and I asked her to hold a particular pose and made her act like an elegant lady, even though she was wearing a larger-than-life cosplay costume. This proves that artists can be inspired by a range of sources – you just have to look beyond the obvious.

Clever colourising When painting a piece it’s tempting to zoom in when colouring your line work. The trouble is that you can become lost in the image, literally not seeing the big picture. For best results, remain zoomed out and colour your art on a...