from the words by art critic Jim Magner, for the “Art and the City” column of the Hillrag in Washington, DC. April 2008.
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“Jason Yen gives you a start, the first chapter, then you can be off recounting your own adventure.
...
He uses a collection of techniques to make the picture come alive. The flatness of design is optically challenged by adding layers of cardboard or other materials to some figures in the composition. The layers produce shadows and highlights, and the story evolves as light sources change. Complex color patterns and unexpected cultural images are added by cutting and pasting snippets from magazines. A wax marker is used to suggest the location and background elements. The end result remains cool and uncluttered, but it connects – catches your curiosity.
...
Jason describes his work as evolving...that he is constantly looking for ways to make it better. But as technique is vacant without ideas, I suspect he will always stalk the perimeter of the mainstream – the expected – tasting, and at times, consuming thoughts that wander away from the pack."
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
“Jason Yen gives you a start, the first chapter, then you can be off recounting your own adventure.
...
He uses a collection of techniques to make the picture come alive. The flatness of design is optically challenged by adding layers of cardboard or other materials to some figures in the composition. The layers produce shadows and highlights, and the story evolves as light sources change. Complex color patterns and unexpected cultural images are added by cutting and pasting snippets from magazines. A wax marker is used to suggest the location and background elements. The end result remains cool and uncluttered, but it connects – catches your curiosity.
...
Jason describes his work as evolving...that he is constantly looking for ways to make it better. But as technique is vacant without ideas, I suspect he will always stalk the perimeter of the mainstream – the expected – tasting, and at times, consuming thoughts that wander away from the pack."
