My medium is watercolor, acrylic and gouache on Japanese silk. The technique is the labor-intensive "gongbi" style of traditional Chinese brush painting, whereby multiple light washes of color are applied in successive layers to build up the intensity of colors. It takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete a 30 inch by 20 inch painting, working on one painting at a time, 8 to 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I incorporate a multitude of symbolism into the work. As I read a story, an image forms in my mind, and that is what I paint. And the emotions I feel are expressed through the colors I use. Through my work, I hope to share the culture of a civilization over five thousand years old, as well as to give some insight into the motivations, aspirations and ethos of modern-day China.
|