Taimeng Lim
Third Prize is a one-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine
My Inspiration
Staying at home became the new normal during the pandemic, and I have had to rediscover aspects of the home that have otherwise been ignored. Rooms have been cleaned, documents organized and old photographs revisited with the newfound time. Revisiting old photographs always gives me a new reward as it rekindles memories that may have gone dormant over time. I literally stumbled on some photographs that I only had a vague recollection of capturing, especially the one I captured during the first day of our Chinese New Year back in 2014. It was such a precious moment, seeing both of my nieces have a wonderful time, and enjoy chit chatting and laughing in the bedroom. So, I decided to paint it in the hope that seeing this image allows me to travel back in time, one memory at a time.
My Design Strategy
Painting from photographs, I always make sure the photograph comes with a good variety of values (shading and depth). For this piece, I wanted to capture the details of this scene with a great mood and atmosphere. I worked around with my photographs until I found exactly what I wanted, then I proceeded to the painting process, which included the pleasing composition, natural expressions, focal point and color temperature.
My Working Process
First, I started with a detailed drawing on sanded pastel paper. Then I did a complete monotone underpainting by using burnt umber acrylic paint to establish the value relationship early on. With the combination of hard and soft pastels, I applied the first layer of color working thinly, then adding layers of color working more and more opaquely, and finally the details and highlights. I constantly adjust the form and shape until I am satisfied. This process allows me to take time to appreciate the beauty of each element in my piece, and I hope it can draw the viewers in to elicit an emotional response and rekindle some happy memories of their life.
Contact Info
» Email: info@taimenglim.com » Website: www.taimenglim.com