Emma Fan
The theme of these artworks is loneliness because she believes it is important to examine the impact isolation can have on people. Each of these artworks presents a different perspective on being alone. Studio Dreams portrays the relaxation that can come from being away from humans and having only pets for company. Some pieces have a more negative or introspective tone, focusing on self-reflection, emotional distance, or the difficulty of connecting with others. Tension explores the feeling of loneliness even while in a relationship, to the point where it can turn into resentment. Some take a lighter and more humorous approach, such as portraying how a cat might feel when forced to take a bath. Together, these works explore the different ways isolation can be experienced, from emotional loneliness and alienation to more lighthearted moments of being left to deal with a situation on one’s own. She explores these ideas through pieces created on different types of canvases and paper, using a variety of materials including acrylic paint, pencil crayon, gouache, watercolour, and oil pastel.
Emma Fan is a Canadian-Chinese (Hong Kong) illustrator based in Mississauga, Canada. She has loved drawing since middle school when she decided that she would take art more seriously. She pursued her dream of attending OCAD University as an Illustration student. Over the past few years, she has been able to explore various mediums and styles along with improving her technical and creative skills. Most of her past work is digital, however she most enjoys working traditionally with water colour, acrylic, and pencil crayons. Her palettes tend to range from either soft, pastel colours, to darker Gothic-inspired colours.
While she loves to draw human and pet portraits, she particularly enjoys drawing anything aesthetically related to the Victorian era. What interests her the most is the fashion of this era and the Japanese subculture that followed (Lolita style). She loves the details of such elaborate clothing; featuring corsets, hoop skirts, and intricate lace. As she is inspired by these designs, she enjoy incorporating the aesthetics in her artworks when appropriate.