Please give me an introduction about yourself. When did your passion for art arise?

I’m Florence Yuqing, a London-based artist. I specialise in creating portraits and figurative paintings, mainly in watercolour. I’ve always had a passion for art ever since I could remember. In my childhood, I loved drawing and painting faces, as well as inventing characters. I would often play this game with my friends where I would first draw a tiny character, and ask them to guess the personality of the character, then I would tell them if they guessed what I had in mind when creating the character, that was one of my favourite things to do when I had met up with my friends.

For many years, since I was 6,7, I have carried a small set of watercolours with me wherever I go. Whenever I felt bored in the company of adults or friends, I would escape into my own world and create unique little figures, I’d imagine their characteristics and make up stories for them. I think that’s what led watercolour to become my favourite medium to work with.

My mum has had a massive influence on me when it comes to art, I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be the artist I am today had she not taken such an active interest in nurturing my talent during my childhood. We have experimented with various painting and drawing techniques, as well as creating art from a mixture of materials. Together, we have sculpted clay, made little creatures, we would paint or even sculpt on seashells that we picked up from the beach. These activities have built my love for art from a young age, and even now, my mum remains my greatest supporter, I’d always ask for her opinion whenever I’m unsure about the piece that I’m working on.

What led you to watercolour painting? What do you like about this medium?

Like previously mentioned, I have always carried my little watercolour set with me whenever I go when I was young, it just clicked with me and stuck with me, when I’m painting with watercolour I feel like I’m at ease, it has allowed me to freely express and manifest my creativity.

I love the translucency that watercolour creates, and so does the efficiency when it comes to its drying time, every time I start a painting, I can’t help but get all excited that I can’t wait to see it finished, that’s why watercolours are perfect for me as they let me achieve my artistic vision in no time.

Although watercolour has been my favourite medium for ages, I'm open to trying new mediums too, such as oils, I’ll see how it goes, but for sure I’ll never stop painting with watercolours, they’ve got a special place in my heart.

Your portraits mainly depict the female figure, why is this? What messages would you like to convey through your work?

There is no particular reason why I mainly paint female figures, but I suppose it's because it's what I feel most comfortable with. When painting a portrait, I enjoy exploring and expressing elements such as the delicacy and fragility of human beings, the sensitive nature of them, and most importantly, the beauty of flesh. These elements are often present in both genders, but for now I think that female figures give me the most freedom to express them, even though I can’t quite find a reason why. However, I have always wanted to paint different types of people, such as males and children, and this is something I hope to do in the near future.

Thinking about the most recent piece you created, what was your creative process? How did the work develop?

My most recent work is a watercolour painting entitled “Truth”, it’s a portrait of an imaginary character. When creating portraits, unless it is a commissioned piece or I have a specific existing face in mind, I begin by exploring my imagination. I first think of a personality and persona, then I envision their age, hairstyle, and whether they should be making direct eye contact with the viewer. This is one of my favourite parts of the creative process and I become very excited. Once I have a clear idea of the character's personality and general feel, I begin to edit various facial features such as eyes, nose, and mouth, to create a face that aligns with my vision.

I then start drawing roughly with a pencil to map out where everything will go, before proceeding with painting with watercolour and going into more details. I usually finish the painting with acrylic mixed with water to add highlights. I consider a painting complete when I can see a soulful person on the paper and am satisfied with the result. Then it comes to naming them, names can often be accidental and impulsive, I would just pick a name that I think would fit this character the best. Also, I sometimes get inspiration from music, like the lyrics of the song that was playing when I was painting the figure. (I always paint with music playing)

Sometimes, I also invent stories for my characters, such as in the case of "Truth," who is a woman who has just learnt a truth, but what that truth is, I leave it up to my audience to decide.

‘Self Portrait’ is a very emotive piece of yours, what thoughts/feelings are you trying to evoke from the viewer? How does this portrait represent you?

“Self Portrait” is actually my first attempt at capturing myself on paper. When I created this self-portrait, I wanted to express a sense of vulnerability and serenity. The portrait is quite intimate, and I hoped that viewers would be able to sense my emotional state at the time of its creation and that my heart is at ease. I aimed to create a portrait that was not necessarily pleasing, but rather one that was honest.

In terms of how the portrait represents me, I would say that it captures a glimpse of my inner self. It reflects a moment in time when I was feeling particularly peaceful. The portrait is rather a representation of my emotional state, even my personality, as I tend to find the most comfort in moments of calm rather than dramatic happiness. I believe that as an artist, it is important to be vulnerable and allow your emotions to be conveyed through your work. This portrait is a testament to that belief and my desire to share an authentic piece of myself with the world.

Out of all your works, which piece are you most proud of and why?

I have created many works that I am proud of, but "Self Portrait" stands out to me as a personal favourite, well at least at the moment. It is not only the first time I have attempted to paint myself, but it also was an exciting experience for me in which I found a sense of liberation in the process. I had to confront my own insecurities and vulnerabilities while creating this piece, and while working on this painting, I also discovered more about myself, as an artist and as a person. I am proud of the level of honesty and vulnerability that I was able to convey through this piece, and I hope that it resonates with viewers on a deeper emotional level.

Overall, “Self Portrait" represents a personal journey of growth and self-discovery for me, which is why it is such an important piece. I am eager to start on my next self portrait, perhaps next time I’d be looking into the audience eyes.

In your career so far as an artist, what has been your greatest achievement?

I would say that my greatest achievement is that I’ve always gone and done what I wanted to do, whatever I had in mind, I always tried it out, and I left no regret. Though I have only been pursuing my art career professionally for the past two years, during this time, I have entered my works into Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Society of Women Artists and the Royal Society of Marine Artists, all of which my works were selected and exhibited, and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of them. Furthermore, I was recently elected as a member of the prestigious Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, which is a true honour for any watercolour painter. I am proud to have achieved all of this on my own, driven by my can-do attitude and my motto of "there's only one way to find out," which always drives me forward.

Why do you think art is important in society?

Well, without art, it would be quite boring, wouldn’t it? People tend to talk about art as a subject, but it's actually all around us. I really believe that art is rather important for society because it helps us connect with one another regardless of our backgrounds or language barriers. It's like a universal language that makes everyone one big family. Art is a way for us to express and explore the complexities of what it means to experience things as humans. It allows us to explore our deepest feelings and our wildest imaginations, and bring them to life in ways that words sometimes can’t. It also helps us to think outside of the box and inspire change, it has the power to bring people together, and can show us different perspectives and help us understand each other better. Also, I think that art is rather a powerful instrument for documenting history, It's like peeking through a window into the past, you can often learn so much from it like the culture, and the events from the past times, which I believe would be always meaningful for future generations.

https://www.florenceyuqing.com

ARTIST INTERVIEW: Florence Yuqing