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The Q&A: Sharon Liu

By Peggy Roalf   Wednesday December 27, 2017

Q: Originally from [where?] what are some of your favorite things about living and working in [your current locale]?

A: I was born in Hong Kong and moved to England when I was 13. One of my favourite things to do in London is to visit galleries and museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum; aside from the exhibits themselves, the atmosphere and the architecture never fail to inspire me.

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between art you create on paper [or other analog medium] versus in computer?

A: Despite being an animator and most of the time working digitally, I still believe in doing things by hand. My sketchbook is a fun playground that belongs only to me. It allows me to create a world where I can explore and discover the unexpected. While working on the computer, I miss the feeling of art materials through my fingers, pushing the materials to move to from illustration to animation.

To keep the balance, I like to combine traditional media and digital techniques to create a whimsical, watercolour illustrated reality. My animation Geronimo! is artworked frame by frame in watercolour.


view Winsurfer animation  | View Summer Weekend Mood animation


Q: What is the most important item in your studio?
A: The skylight above my desk! I like to look up at the sky when I’m stuck for ideas or need a break.
Q: How do you know when the art is finished?

A: I usually instinctively know when something is finished. When something feels close enough to how I originally imagined it, I know that it’s done.
Q: What was your favorite book as a child?  

View Xmas Tree animation

A: My Humpty Dumpty illustrated storybook was my childhood favourite. I can still remember what the character looks like. Unfortunately, it got lost a long time ago and I can’t remember the name and author of the book.
A: What is the best book you’ve recently read?

A: Lately I’ve been obsessed with making origami to decorate my Christmas tree. The book I used for that is The Encyclopaedia of Origami by Nick Robinson.

Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?

A: Watercolour. I really enjoy seeing different colours dissolve together and I think it gives people a feeling of familiarity and senses of emotion. When I'm able to control the flow of different colours , it is deeply satisfying.

Q: What elements of daily life exert the most influence on your work practice?

A: Without a nice big mug of tea to start the day I’d be much less productive.

Q: What was the [Thunderbolt] painting or drawing or film or otherwise that most affected your approach to art? 

A: The expressionist artist Emil Nolde, I created my undergraduate film, Nolde’s Sky, about him. Before knowing him, I didn’t know paintings of the sky could be so colourful. Looking closely at his work totally changed my perspective on colour. I like this quote from him; “Colors were a joy to me, and I felt as if they loved my hands.”

View It’s Friday Spin your work chair animation

Q: What was the most interesting assignment you've taken that has an important impact on your practice, and what changed through the process?

A: I occasionally teach animation and create workshops as a visiting lecturer. The workshops give both the students and me an opportunity to watch each other work, discuss ideas and engage in art-making activities. We both learn more about various techniques and processes, gaining a greater understanding and appreciation for animation.
This experience led me to believe that very little of what we know as individuals is learned alone. I learn most skills from others. I learn by sharing; animation/ illustration is always made to share.

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: Pancakes!

Sunday Pancakes 
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BZtNOmZBWCH/?taken-by=liuneytunes


Sharon Liu is an animation director and illustrator based in London, specializing in handcrafted-art-based animation techniques ranging from hand drawn and painted to mixed media animation. Her practice ranges from illustration to animation, books, posters and clothing.
www.sharon-liu.com
https://www.instagram.com/liuneytunes/
https://twitter.com/sharonsharonliu

 

 


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