99-sheep: magic 2 Print

Ever since I had memory drawing and painting have totally intrigued me. At the age of 9, I decided my life’s calling was to be an artist. I have studied extensively, receiving 3 art degrees (B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.) and an art education teaching certificate. My approach to art starts with events or inspiration coming from daily life. It stays in my mind for a time. One day I decide to paint it. For me, it is not unusual that a 1st painting inspires a 2nd or more on the theme resulting in a series of related creations. I have many themed series paintings. No doubt art is very important to the world. It has the power to touch people’s soul, and it allows people to live and exist on a higher level. Art draws attention, makes you think and often can bring in great emotion. I remember when I was nine years old I first saw Paul Cezanne's paintings of "La Montagne Sainte-Victoire" from my father's magazine. It took my breath away and I started copying his mountains. I believe it was a seed for modern painting in my heart. His color inspired me wanting to be an artist. During my early days, the famous Taiwanese watercolorist Ran In-Ting was my hero. I would always look forward to seeing his artwork in the newspaper. He combined Chinese art with western art and depicted the Taiwanese lifestyle of the common people with Taiwanese landscape. He died when I was 13 years old; however, the influence of his understanding of Chinese brushwork coupled with his mastery of the western style of vivid colors never left me. Later on, German expressionist Franz Marc inspires me by his expressive colors and the subtle way he allowed animals to express the emotion of wartime agony. I did many goats and horses’ paintings and pay my homage in my German series “Pink Spring and Blue Horses” exhibit to him. Marc Chagall inspired me by his amazing usage of color and the freedom to express stories of people’s lives in multiple orientations and perspectives. The above role models are but a few that cause me to be both driven and excited about painting. I was born in Taiwan and studied at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. After twenty-five years in Taiwan, I moved to the United States. My formal education includes a MFA degree in Modern painting, a MA degree in Computer Graphics, and a BFA degree in Chinese Art. My artistic search has focused on how to bridge the East/West cultures and bring them together.