Tina Yu is an artist that I discovered several months ago via Instagram. Her work ranges from sculpture, to painting and drawing, assemblage, installation, clothing design and basically

anything she can put her mind and talents to. Her style covers a huge range of themes and executions but it can, I think, generally be described as bubbly and playful, it definitely reminds me of a very nostalgic, childlike emotion. This being because her color pallets are usually very limited and/or more pastel colors, also her subjects often include things like small animals, doll-like figures, and playful settings. Subjects are typically very life like, but with a slight abstraction or twist, for example, she will paint a woman but give a stylized sense of proportions, or sculpt a creature that is part human and part animal. Many of her sculptures tell a narrative, usually one that is telling of the subject, personally.

I’ve included three of my favorite pieces by her, Annabelle, Juliet and an unnamed piece which depicts a centaur/unicorn woman. Annabelle and Juliet are both rabbits with human girl faces — Juliet, specifically, represents a population of rabbits that are abused and murdered for the cosmetic use of their fur, a topic that the artist feels very strongly about. I feel a connection with the pieces and the artist herself for several reasons; firstly, my personal artistic style is based upon realism and rendering, which Yu definitely incorporates, however she adds her own style that is not easily replicated which is something I am trying to find of my own. As someone whose main talents revolve around my ability to create naturalistic imagery, it’s difficult to offer something that other people can not, like some kind of individuality that is all my own and comes from only my brain. Additionally, I relate to the concepts she’s chosen to relate, not only in the animal activist aspect, but in the fantasy-like, magical aspect she adds through the original creatures she designs. I hope that soon I can find my own style and be able to continuously make works that I’m not only proud of but that represent the person I am, the beliefs I share and the talents I have to offer.