Home  |  Representational  |  Drawings  |   Abstract  |  Watercolor  |   Artist  |  Contact

Artist Statement

As a visual statement, my painting enhances western art traditions with modern spirit. One of main issues in my painting is about art standard. The painting techniques I grasp is the media of language to express my contemporary art philosophy no matter it has been done realistically or abstractly. I always believe that a professional artist must have something that those who are not art professionals do not have, that are the techniques of image making and the ability of using such techniques to present philosophical concept. It would be wrong to say that artist only need philosophical thinking without technical training. My painting has shown a clear point that art is not only a philosophical symbol but also an unique statement of creativity and aesthetics though professional skills. It is based on a simple knowledge that philosopher and thinker are not artists.

The other issue in my painting is about cultural diversity. As a Chinese American artist I am proud of having the privilege and the responsibility to create artworks with multi cultural concepts as I believed an important part of Contemporary Art. In this global cultural society it becomes more and more important issue not only in artistic expression but also in all free communications.
 
I have greatly admired both western and Chinese old and modern masters who have done remarkable works with exceptional techniques and profound philosophical concepts. Those who have influenced my creative work are not only the techniques of their depictions and presentations, but more importantly the passion of creativity and its originality. From Botticelli's graceful, rounded style and the projection of a sense of spirituality in his works of later 15th century, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael's depth and powerful depiction icons in the High Renaissance, to Kandinsky, Mondrian, De Kooning and Pollock's abstract expressions in the 20th century; From Wu Dao Zhi's paintings in Tang dynasty, Guo Xi's paintings in Song dynasty to Wen Zhen Ming, Shen Zho's paintings in Ming dynasty, Ba Da San Ren's paintings in Qing dynasty … I have been truly inspired. In retrospect, my art experiences have shown the convergence of multiple approaches with those masters' influences in conjunction to my independent vision of the modern world.

 

See more event pictures

Professional Activities

钱自奋简历

生于中国上海. 早年拜师颜文梁，刘海粟，张雪父等前辈画家。 1983 年毕业于上海师范大学艺术系获人文学士学位。 同年被分配到世界卫生组织上海卫生教育合作中心 “青春与建康” 杂志社任美术编辑。 1982 年至1987 年期间作品曾参加华东六省一市油画巡回展及上海市美术作品展。 作品曾在“文汇报”，“福建日报”，“文学报” 等报刊上发表。 1987 年，获美国波特兰州立大学 ( Portland State University ) 全额奖学金录取为研究生并聘为助教。 直接受教于美国当代画家，艺术教育家 James Hibbard 和 Byron Gardner 二位导师及其他教授。 1989 年获该校艺术学院美术硕士学位 MFA (作为美术创作最高学位等同于其他专业博士学位) 。 1989年至1996年任教于美国西北太平洋艺术学院 ( Pacific Northwest College of Art ) 。 1990 年至1992 年，被聘为美国古典瓷艺公司 ( Classic Clay Concept, Inc. ) 艺术总监。 1993 年，被选为美国西北地区中国美术家协会会长。 1992 年至今被聘为美国凯罗威尔舜美术公司 ( Carol Wilson Fine Arts, Inc. ) 高级美术家. 1994 年，应邀为美国白宫及好莱坞社交要人之 “Entertaining With Betsy Bloomingdale” 一书 创作四十幅画稿。1995 年， 画家生平被编入“世界华人艺术家成就博览大典” 。 2000年，油画“同路人”(Traveling Companion) 被选作美国大学历史教科书封面。 美国“华盛顿邮报” (The Washington Post)，“休斯敦记事报”( Houston Chronicle)， “俄勒冈人报” (The Oregonian) 及中国“人民日报” 先后对画家及其艺术作过报导。举办或参加过几十次个人及团体画展. 作品被美国政府，大学, 艺术博物馆及大公司和私人收藏家收藏并被广泛 出版。部分绘画以发表在贺卡上等多种形式遍及美洲，欧洲，澳洲及非洲十六个国家。从2000年至2008年，画家生平已连续8年被载入美国年度 世界名人录 ( Who’s Who In The World ) 内。

admin