ARTIST STATEMENT

      I paint figures and seascapes in various ways, like how I explore the life and cultures in different cities and countries. I grew up in China under a certain Asian culture. At the age of 16, I came to the US for high school in Los Angeles. I saw the conflict and connection between the western and eastern cultures, then I started to mix them together and create something unique based on my own understanding of art. By using different elements, techniques and thoughts from different cultures, I come up with new ideas for my paintings every few months. The more possibilities I give to my artwork, the more opportunities I get in my art life. 
   As an ocean lover, I spend the most time on the beaches in California and Hawaii. The crystal-clear seawater and the color transition from turquoise to the dark blue became a big attraction to me. There are many ways to depict ocean waves, I capture the light and movement from the dawn to the dusk, from the rising tide to the falling tide. 
     The society and culture I grew up with were traditional and reserved; I try to think outside of the box in the way I have been inspired by old masters and contemporary artists. I create the art of nudity through the classic anatomic body forms, the variety of colors and the application of paints; I share the technique from the seascape to figure painting by various brushwork and color choices. This is how I create my figure paintings so far, and this is also what I have learned and experienced through the time I spend in the western world.