Artist Statement
Being half-Chinese and half-Scottish in America has presented me with the unique opportunity to experience several different cultures and views all at once. As an artist, I want to introduce my world and my life to the viewer, and so the subjects of my paintings are primarily my family and friends.
A theme that permeates most of my work is the sense of identity and individualism. As most of my works are of portraits and figures, I try to focus in on what makes that person unique; we all have our nuances, habits, intricacies and extremities, and it's my goal to allow those details to shine while connecting us.
For instance, in my portrait titled Beth, it appears to be a traditional portrait of a girl on a couch, until you notice what she is wearing. Beth is the kind of person who can keep a straight face while she jokes, so you can rarely tell whether she is being serious or kidding. I've tried to capture that trait in her by posing her in a serious manner while dressing her in a silly one. Beth’s facial expression and folded hands suggest a poised and solemn attitude, while her glitter-adorned red unitard does not. Each of my portraits, whether of family or friends, is an attempt to narrate what I see in them, how they stand out, and how they are important to me. I enjoy painting in a classic sense, with dramatic lighting and with a limited color palette. I feel that this aids in drawing the viewer in, introducing them to the people I have rendered on canvas by creating intimacy.
It is my hope that with every layer that's added and as the details come into greater light, the viewer will feel the emotion I've tried to convey. Whether solemn or lighthearted, I hope they will experience all the quiet moments that are in everything that I paint.