ATSUKO has always enjoyed artistic environment and creative activities. As a child, she used to stop outside an art supply shop and enjoyed watching their colourful displays of pastels, paints and colour pencils & papers which simply made her happy.
Atsuko took up painting classes in 2000 with her favourite media, watercolour, which creates unexpected beauty in colours and textures. She believes that she is very lucky meeting her first watercolour teacher, Debi Riley, and many other painting friends who she can share skills, knowledge and artistic views.
Atsuko enjoys painting any subjects which inspire her ambition, particularly in the categories of still life and portraits/people. She usually paints from photos looking for interesting light & dark contrasts and shadow shapes. She aims to translate her feelings onto paper and would like viewers to feel the same.
Atsuko also enters local competitions, such as RQAS Big Art Awards and The d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards. In order to further develop her technique, skills and creativity from wide angles, Atsuko participates in some workshops, including those conducted by world renowned watercolourists, Charles Reid, Robert Wade, Robert Lovett, Herman Pekel and Tony Smibert.
She is currently a member of Royal Queensland Art Society, Gold Coast, and actively exhibits at the Society’s gallery, as well as taking part in its volunteer work on a regular basis. Atsuko has also volunteered for a local annual art event, The d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards, as an Event Administrator/Director for 4 years (2010-2014).