Linda Aquaro is an Italian artist who came to illustration via painting, engraving and architecture, the influence of which can be found in the structural facets of her work. As an avid reader, many of her pieces are birthed from literature. “I find great comfort in everything that unites word and image,” she told us, “In creating images that accompany the word, my imagination is harmonised with that of the writer.” Citing the work of Sergio Toppi as an enduring inspiration, her work features close-up depictions of people and intimate, everyday moments.

Her realist style is made uncanny by geometric brushwork that incorporates light in subtle, angular strokes. “The portrait is the central theme of my artistic research,” she explains, “playing with perception between solids and voids helps me to emphasize expressiveness and bring the image multiple levels of reading.” The softness of a face against these more structural forms draws the eye into a deep analysis; the intense focus on the familiar elevates her realist style into something dreamlike.

Working between haptic and digital techniques, Linda starts each piece by hand, making sketches to prepare her composition. “Different areas may require greater realism, so I like drawing from photos or live subjects,” she shared. Using charcoal, pastels, watercolour and acrylic inks, she builds up her image before customising the textures and colours digitally. Through Cluster, Linda aspires to bring her work to new audiences outside of Italy. “I hope to grow from the interface with other artists, and enrich my work through exposure to multiple perspectives.” 2021 has been a prolific period for Linda, who has just inaugurated an exhibition in Rome as well as participating in an illustration collective in Cosenza. Her next showcase will be as part of the contemporary art fair in Rome.

Similarly, the work of Misao Iwamoto embodies a jarring sense of realism. As a literature graduate of Osaka University, Japan, her work is inspired by the stories we hold dear. “I capture those narratives in my drawing in order to look closer at them, for a little while, as eventually they will be lost.” She went on to study visual arts and graphic design in Flanders, Belgium, where she became inspired by the work of 17th century Dutch still life, Edward Hopper, Léon Spilliaert and the movies of John Cassavetes.

There is a sense of wistful longing in Misao’s work, which is enhanced by her realistic style. Her drawings exude a desire to preserve the intimate moments of our past, to capture what is fleeting. In her own words, her subjects are; “small anecdotes, life-changing events, happy memories, tears, fears, laughter, secrets, regrets, repressed emotions.”  In each of her pieces, the distance of time is palpable; the faded, black and white evokes the sting of nostalgia, “Stories come and go, people die. It’s not grief that I represent but acceptance and the embracing of our fragility.”

When starting a new piece of work, Misao consults a range of inspirational references from books and movies to scenery and stories. Next, she visualises her idea to come up with the composition and uses photos as reference material for poses. A self-described minimalist, the absence in her images is just as important as what’s present. “My drawing process is subtraction. Cutting away the excess fat,” she told Cluster, “knowing when to stop is crucial, the drawing must be in balance, it’s pure intuition.”  As a member of the creative Cluster family, she hopes to explore the process of other artists work, share their struggles, achievements and reach new audiences along the way.