We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Motoko Yasue. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Motoko below.
Motoko, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
It took a lifetime to truly realize my purpose and pursue my dream as a fine artist. I found that my passion and deep appreciation of the arts has been deep within me since I was a child. After many years and upon leaving the corporate world, I knew I wanted to actively pursue the arts and life as an artist.
I was born and grew up in Japan full of curiosity. I appreciate the fact that my parents allowed and encouraged me as a child to challenge myself with many kinds of learning opportunities outside of school. I juggled multiple classes, piano lessons, calligraphy classes, and painting classes after school under the premise of always doing my best. Though my painting class was closed a year later after I joined due to the instructor’s schedule, my passion for painting has always lingered deep within. While loving and enjoying the natural beauty of the outdoors of Japan, swimming and snow skiing in the mountains and being wrapped in the beauty of nature, it became a major thematic influence in my art later on. As life would have it, as a young adult, I set aside the passion for art realizing the practicality of making a living and I pursued a professional career in the international financial sector in Tokyo.
After my mother’s sudden passing years back, I realized something was missing in my life and with the words of encouragement from some of my best friends, who always said, “Why don’t you consider going to an art school?” Six months later, I found myself alone on a plane to Houston from my home country, Japan, with a goal of formally studying art. I truly followed my heart, enrolled and pursued my dream, developed and honed my skills and techniques under the excellent guidance and advice from the best professors and instructors at art school, community college, and graduate school as a studio art major. For that, I sincerely appreciate their professionalism, patience and generous advice and guidance that nurtured and inspired me.
I recall a time when I was so absorbed in my art studies and practices that I didn’t even notice the passing of time. I have always tried to do my best in life and to carefully learn as much as possible. I actually recall all the wise words of my art professors and colleagues much like a sponge absorbing water. I found encouragement in listening. I also continued to listen to that inner voice and from those who care about me. Earning an MFA in 2021, confirmed and reassured my dream of achieving my goals by following my heart and putting it into action.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a Houston-based fine artist while being an Artist in Residence/Office Manager at Art Museum TX ( https://artmuseumtx.org/museum-galleries) in Sugar Land. These days, I create 2-D and 3-D artworks for galleries as well as private clients who commission me. As mentioned, I’m originally from Tokyo, where I was born, raised, and enjoyed a long professional career in the financial sector. I moved to Houston in 2012 to study fine art at The Glassell School of Art. While graduating from the art school with a painting teaching certificate, I completed an AA at Houston Community College as a studio art major. Then, my professional ‘artist’ career started and I earned an MFA from Houston Christian University (HCU) in 2021.
My span of work currently includes watercolor, oil painting, and glass-resin sculpture. I have currently some of my works displayed at the Art Museum TX in Sugar Land and Caroline Garcia Gallery in Houston (https://www.carolyngarciagallery.com/exhibitions) that recognizes and exhibits the works of local Houston artists. In addition, two of my paintings are in the permanent collection at HCU Fine Arts Museum and another painting is traveling in the U.S. with the annual “9/11 Memorial Exhibit” held by the non-profit art organization, Ground Zero 360, as a part of their permanent collection. Currently, I have received an invitation to join an exhibition in Japan as one of Houston artists this coming June, 2024. I have also received an invitation for a solo exhibition in Houston in the fall, 2024.
As an artist, my focus has been depicting my adoration for the beauty of nature and its embracement of human life in abstract landscapes. I begin my work with a geometric, circular shape motif and often include small silhouettes of human figures within that circle. That visual inspiration came from a classic, architectural circular window ‘oculus’ on the wall of a tea ceremony room in an old temple in the historic city, Kamakura, near Tokyo. The oculus has pleased the viewers’ eye for a thousand years by illuminating the outside scenery seen through the cut-out circular wall opening. For me, it metaphorically represents a portal from which one’s spirit travels from one person to another beyond time and space. My challenge is to share a moment that is reflected as fractions of my memories but also, hopefully, engaging the viewer in this process. That is more important in that I intend they too may explore and find their own interpretation and narrative within my dreamy landscape.
In my artistic creative process, I explore a variety of techniques to use accidental shapes and happenings by dripping or pouring effects of paint (and unexpected strange forms that I get by firing glass for sculptures), as one must often accept fate in life. In an effort to express my deepest senses and feelings about nature along with human life, I try to depict or communicate that through the concept of thoughts traveling through that portal between past, current, and future, seeking hope and solace in a busy, sophisticated but chaotic contemporary world.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I always remember one of my painting instructors said, “if you don’t create art with your heart, who will be touched by it?” That statement inspired me and caused me to ponder the genre and style of my art. Practice makes perfect in many things. It may sound a bit like a cliché, but I do think that good art is created with craftsmanship and uniqueness. The creation of art as a business, requires one to establish their unique style and technique. I believe it’s key to find the merging points of three concepts considering, 1) “who is your audience”, 2) “what do they expect to see in your work” and 3) “what do you want to express through your art”, all while keeping the best quality of your works. I continue to be ever mindful of and seek, expand and develop those three inter-related concepts.
How would you describe your ideal client?
When someone purchases my artwork or commissions me, the most rewarding aspect of creating art is to feel that I’m involved in that special occasion in a client’s life. That’s one of the moments when I feel the most satisfaction and gratitude to the clients, audience, and people that encourage and inspire creativity in me. I have continued to do my best with all my heart to create, study and hone my artistic skills. Whenever I get opportunities to create a work of art for someone, I spend considerable time getting to know the client, his/her taste so that I can create a piece that best fits the client and their desires. My art reflects who I am. It’s demanding and time consuming to complete each work and I treat my artwork as my “children”. Sometimes, when I sell them, it is emotional for me to let them go. But the most rewarding aspect of creating art is to feel that I’m involved in the special aspect of a client’s life. For instance, a young couple that liked one of my paintings contacted me a few years ago wanting to purchase the painting for their new home. It was beyond their budget, but they came to see me and shared how much they liked my work. Eventually, they ended up ordering a smaller, more affordable version of the same original work.
In my discussion with clients, I like to determine in detail why a client has selected me and what they seek in my artwork. If the client is not clear as to their expectations, which is often the case, I take the time to explore and determine their wants and expectations. By going through this process, I have assured myself that I have a clear focus and the client will be ultimately happy with my work. I gain great satisfaction knowing the client is satisfied with my work and my work becomes part of their art collection. This conversation eventually stimulates my creativity and helps me grow as an artist. The more challenging the expectation is for me, the more I enjoy creating the work for them. My ideal client would be one that is open to discuss their needs and expectations, their overall appreciation of art, and where the theme and style of my art fits into that appreciation and desire.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://motokoyasue.wixsite.com/myart
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motokogloriayasue
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/motoko-yasue-artist
- Other: Saatchi Art: https://www.saatchiart.com/GloriaMotokoYasue
