Artist STATEMENT
I believe art has the power to ignite our inner light, guiding us on a journey of self-discovery and self-reflection. Through intuitive painting, I explore inner truths and nurture my personal growth. I see art as a deep breath - awakening our ability to feel. Sometimes, I discover beauty and humor in my artwork; other times, an unexpected story unfolds. My hope is that these pieces of artwork resonate with viewers, sparking their own sense of connection and discovery.
Artist biography
I was born in Shanghai, China, and raised in the suburbs of Ningbo. My parents were both middle school teachers. At age 17, I was sent to the countryside as part of a national movement during the "Cultural Revolution" where school graduates were expected to be "re-educated through physical labor." During this time, I discovered my interest in art when I was asked to create calligraphy for the village.
In 1977, I was admitted to the College of Pharmacy at Zhejiang Medical University. The demands of college life kept me away from art, but during my final semester, I found time to take a few night classes at the China Art Academy. After graduating from the pharmacy school in 1982, I worked as a pharmacist for four years.
In January 1986, I moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies in medicinal chemistry at the University of Kansas, earning my M.S. in 1990. I went on to work as a research scientist at the University of Kansas (1990-1992), the University of Washington (1992-1995), and Pfizer Central Research (1995-2000). During my time at Pfizer, I developed an interest in photography, learning to develop and manipulate negatives in my darkroom. Using a microlens, I captured the beauty of transparent objects like colored glass with flowers, producing striking photographic images.
My passion for photography continued after moving to Brookings, South Dakota, to join my husband in 2000. It was then I transitioned to full-time self-study artistic work, focusing primarily on semi-abstract painting via an intuitive approach. In November 2013, I was introduced to Lifers, a figurative drawing club organized by John Rychtarik. This experience deepened my practice in figurative sketching.
I believe that art plays a vital role in both society and personal well-being. As a creative outlet, it has the power to bring joy, to inspire reflection, and to connect people through shared expression.