I’m Cathy Qu
Art has always been a refuge to me. If I’m feeling anxious about what the next day will bring, I’ll simply open up a new page in my sketchbook and start to draw. Focusing on my creative vision and the art in front of me, I’m able to clear my mind of any stress and negative emotions.
An aspiring artist, I have won several Scholastic Gold & Silver Keys for my paintings and drawings, many of which have been displayed at the Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey. I love art as a hobby, and it’s something that I have enjoyed for most of my life. Through this web page and gallery, I hope to document my journey as an artist. Part of that is to share my experience with various mediums of art (acrylic paint, pastels, graphite, etc) and give the best advice that I can to readers like you! I hope that seeing my art pieces and the improvement that I’ve made over the years, you’ll be inspired to try art for yourself.
Personal Gallery
Sketch
I’ve drawn sketches using many types of pencils, even mechanical ones. I find that professional graphite art pencils are the best for getting really dark shades without building up a glare on the surface of the paper. The red/brown tinted sketches were drawn using the Derwent pencils, which have a soft lead and work great for figure drawings.
Painting
These are all painted using acrylic paint. I have used oil paint in the past, but I don’t recommend it as the paint had a strong odor and can take over 24 hours to fully dry. Acrylic paint is easier to work with as it is odorless and dries quickly, though very saturated colors like bright yellow and red tend to be transparent and require multiple layers.
Colored Pencil
I love drawing with colored pencils because of its versatility. The only downside is that it can take an incredibly long time to finish a piece if it requires a lot of detailed layering.
Others
About Me
After a long, stressful day, my favorite way to relax is to draw while listening to classical music. When I’m not doing art, you can probably find me practicing a challenging clarinet concerto, or skating with my friends at the ice rink. I’m always open to questions or friendly conversations, so feel free to send me an email!