Artist Spotlight: Arisu Nomura

Today's spotlight artist is Arisu Nomura. Arisu, which is her nickname, is used to protect her privacy. She is just turned 21 on June 5^th and is from Portugal.

Arisu doesn't remember when she first started drawing however her mother tells her she was drawing perfect circles at the age of 2. Her mother used to think it was her brother or sister drawing those circles until she saw Arisu drawing them once. She works best in her room where she is comfortable.

She loves to draw people especially women. She is also a photographer along with being an artist. She is currently working on her main art and trying to create more for a possible solo exhibition. She would like to do some art books with her art but needs to produce more images before she gets into contact with anyone. Her favorite mediums are canvas, pens and pencils. She has painted with oil before but it feels a bit awkward to her because it dries so quickly and the painting feels like it is actually alive.

For many years she drew by copying Winnie the Pooh and things such as that. She then stopped, thinking she lacked creativity and she could not go to art classes to pursue the artist in her. When she was in junior high and high school she would draw very random stuff. The artistic turning point in her life was when she was 14 and had to decide what she wanted to be when she "grew up." She didn't give it much thought until her brother started teaching her how to use filters in Adobe Photoshop and that was when she decided she wanted to be an artist. She couldn't picture herself as anything else unless it was dance related. She doesn't believe she was inspired to be an artist but rather she was born with it.

Arisu's two uncles are also artistic by painting, however none of them pursued art as their career. Her mother used to draw and paint as well, but is a very multi-talented woman who is creative in every field that is given to her.

She is driven by her feelings. She believes her work is inspired by Japanese mythology. She states "you could say my art is Japonism style or Japanesque." She is fascinated with death and decay, although not in a sad way but in a way to see it as a beautiful release. She does not believe in the afterlife or that ghosts exist but that when you die there is nothing else besides that.

Arisu has many favorite artists such as William Bouguereau due to his perfection and smoothness. He has a very intense subject theme because it is supposed to be innocent but it is rather outrageous and scandalous. He is definitely a different artist than any other she has seen. Romain Slocombe who is a medical art photographer that captures women and their shapes rather well that include innocent fantasies. Ingres due to the detail in the personalities he paints as well as how he paints the eyes with such detail. She loves old art.

Arisu is a full time artist and admits that it can be rather hard. However, her favorite thing about being an artist is that she can work all day long and take breaks whenever she wants to. Her least favorite thing about being an artist is sometimes dealing with people she would rather not deal with. She doesn't like to be insulted or those who interpret her art in a way that it was not meant to be. She doesn't believe anyone should have to deal with that.

Arisu admits to wanting to quit and give up because it is a very time consuming talent. It takes time to get your art out there and to define your own style. Then when you get rejected it brings you down and you think you will never make it unless you make your art like everyone else. Not including that sometimes you loose out on money because your art isn't selling. However, she can't picture herself not being an artist and is encouraged by friends not to give up.

When asked her view point on her images and art usage on the Internet she states "I think the Internet is one of the best ways to get noticed, at least for me it has been, but if you want to be noticed in real life that is a different matter. Places like My Space help a lot. I first started to get invited for groups shows through My Space. I allow usage of my art yet, but indeed if it is properly credited and if it is not for profit and if it is not to be manipulated in a way to ruin it obviously!"

Arisu's message to children is to try everything and see what you really want and like to do because when you are young it is hard to know what you really want. There are many who decide what they want to do and it isn't really what they want as well as many who still don't know what they want to do. So do plenty of different activities, read, play and explore. If you loose years doing something you dislike, it can be frustrating.

Arisu's message to aspiring artists is to keep doing what you do best. If this is something that you really like, don't let others bring you down, even if it is your family or you are rejected by galleries. Fight for what you really want to do and don't sit around and wait for it to fall into your lap. Always challenge yourself to become better in your technique and themes and be sure to try out different things.

In her spare time she loves to watch TV and movies, going to places she has never been, taking photographs and going swimming.

You can view her art at Arisu "The dying black swan" where you will find portfolio, photography and blog sections. She is also part of a few art groups which are Raster and Creativestem. She invites you to Google her and add her to your My Space and Twitter.

Arisu does accept commissions and you can by her art through her or the shows she is a part of. Prices of her art depend on how many limited editions she does and the size of the paper. You can check her art out at Compound Gallery where she has 2 pieces selling. You can also buy her art through. (www.3rdthought.com)

Her message to all of our viewers is she hopes you enjoyed reading about her and feel free to visit her website and/or contact her anytime.

I hope you all have enjoyed learning about Arisu and will visit her website and comment on her art as well as her photography.