Copyright © 2010 Emi Nakamura

To say that art is my passion is an understatement. I remember being just 6 years old, completely drawn to the beautiful artworks in malls and galleries; I would often look to my dad and say, “I’m going to draw like that one day”––and I did. I knew by age 11 that I was going to devote my life to drawing, painting, and art. Every year, my desire to express parts of my inner self through art became stronger and eventually evolved into a mission to inspire others. Now at 20 years old and largely self-taught, the past 9 years creating artwork has finally led me to the beginning of the journey––an exhilarating place where I am ready to grow some branches and blossom.

I enjoy drawing portraits and painting landscapes in a semi-photorealistic approach. I prefer working in oils, graphite, colored pencil, and charcoal. Drawing in a realistic style has always appealed to me and it became my niche in the art world. My favorite celebrities from Asia are often the subjects of many of my drawings. My oil paintings are inspired by the beauty of my surroundings and other places I long to find, that sometimes only exist in my mind. I am also exploring other forms of art like photography, digital imaging, and the art of make-up.

Although I currently attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa as an undergraduate, I believe the highest form of education––what matters most––is the time spent outside the classroom, perfecting your craft. The notion of “starving artist” is a sickness I believe any Artist can avoid or be cured of. An Artist can prosper in wealth and succeed, if she willingly chooses that path, and I have chosen that path.