A Precise Plan
Chua was the Third Prize winner of International Artist magazine’s Challenge No. 112, Favorite Subjects.
Malaysia-based artist Carolyn Chua received her first set of colored pencils when she was 6 years old and began illustrating imagery from pop culture. The majority of her inspiration came from vintage MAD magazines with Dave Berg’s “Lighter Side of MAD” shifting her toward figures and portraits. Years later TV shows such as Charlie’s Angels added other influences into her work. After graduating from Malaysian Institute of Art, she spent the next 30 years making illustrations for advertising, media and broadcasting industries. Now she is a full-time fine artist specializing in narrative still lifes.
“My inspiration comes from many sources: my life experiences (bad and good), nature, my interests, happenings around me, etc.,” says Chua. “I’m also fortunate to find it through strategic idea formation from my years of working experience in the media. While I have many themes, series that I’d like to pursue, I have decided to focus on three to four core series for the time being to be disciplined in my artistic direction. The series may end or evolve over time depending on how I’d see myself grow creatively as an artist.”
Several of Chua’s works are from the woman’s perspective based on the objects that she places in the still life, such as the items in Les Bijoux Enchanteurs De
Mademoiselle and Très Chantique that include perfume bottles, jewelry chests and more. Once the materials are found, Chua sets up the items to create an ideal composition. “During this time, I would move the objects around to create a favorable picture and drawing composition and proceed to take my reference shots,” she explains. “The best picture selection will become the next artwork in the making.”