The Work of Zhaohui Liu and Song Feng Liu

This week ends the exhibit of two remarkable sibling artists: Zhaohui Liu and Song Feng Liu. I’ve felt very honored to have their work available to show at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center this April.

                                             Zhaohui on the left Song Feng on the right. I’m the one in the middle.

 As a parting shot here are a few more photos of their work.

 Here’s Zhaohui’s very traditional approach based in European traditions:

We've shown this one before but it's so large that it's difficult to get a photo that accurately conveys it's color and scale. This one's closer.

And here are just a few more of Song Feng’s delightful, slightly askew takes on Chinese art traditions.

(Translation: Swatting at mosquitos in the middle of the night, no where to be found)

The One Who Captures Evil

(Translation: Where evil unfolds even in broad daylight,

such ominous ghosts are bound

anger boiling over such sinister things, 

with a knife, he shall now go after the ghosts,

relief had fallen upon the common folk)

(Translation: Atop a monk, begins the birth of fleas,

struggling to satisfy the itch,

clothes come undone,

undertaking the task at hand)

                                           At the reception artists Harry Cohen and Geoff Bernstein

Song Feng and Zhaohui meet Peter Groat

                                                                     The Liu family

For more information  about these artists and images of their work check out the April 7th posting on this blog.

Molly's Turn: A Look at Several of My Student's Work

I teach a class in acrylic painting at Riley Street Art Supply. I've been wanting to showcase several of my student's work for a while. Here are two of them:

Here's Harry with his first animal portrait

And a close up, isn't he great!!

Next up a friends dog, Harry is becoming very prolific.

And a close up. Harry is already starting on his 3rd dog!

Here is Cristin's grandaughter,
it has been quite an experience watching
Cristin learn to paint a portrait.

Here is the photo from which Cristin is working. I hope to post a completed painting soon.

Teaching is a delight to me. I love working with students and watching them grow as their understanding of acrylic paint and what it can do develops. I have created a syllabus that gives my students an overview of what acrylic paint can do and how to apply traditional painting skills with this medium. Once they have read this syllabus and start to apply what they are learning to canvas it is amazing to see how far they can go in such a short time.  It is wonderful to see the beginning of my students work and then their end product. 

I absolutely love it when I watch another person get the concept of how to manipulate paint and use it. It's a wonderful experience to share.

For more info check out:

http://www.rileystreet.com/classes-events/san-rafael/

Coming to You at a Nearby Marin County Based Community Center: The 25th Annual Spring Art Show

I've been preparing for the big May event at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center for the last couple of months.

                                                                                             "All Along the Way" copyright by Priscilla Patey"

This year we selected the fine work of Priscilla Patey for our Spring Art Show post card.The show begins with a reception on May 8th.  More details soon.     -Larry

On exhibit in April: The work of Zhaohui Liu and Song Feng Liu

                               Song Feng Liu

Each month I organize an exhibit (or two) at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center.

I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to put together this month’s remarkable exhibit showcasing the work of Zhaohui Liu and Song Feng Liu--two brothers with prestigious art careers steeped in two diverse artistic traditions.

                                                                                                     Zhaohui Liu

Here’s the work of Zhaohui Liu.

At first glance it may look like the work of an old European master but Zhaohui Liu was born in Ningxia, China in 1963. Apparently he was regarded as a renowned up-and-coming young artist in the early days of his career in China.

In 1992 he had a solo exhibit at the Beijing National Gallery and received considerable attention from critics, marked by nationwide TV and newspaper coverage. Zhaohui moved to the US in 1996.  In 2005, Zhaohui graduated from New York Academy of Art with a Master’s Degree in Fine Art. His work has been exhibited at the Dahesh Museum of Art in New York. He and his family currently live in the San Geronimo Valley.

Equally remarkable is the work of his brother, Song Feng Liu. 

Song Feng Liu was born in 1958, also in Ningxia, China.

Song Feng continues to live in China and has a long resume. He is Deputy Secretary General of Ningxia Artists Association and also a member of the Chinese Painting Art Committee, Ningxia Calligraphers Association and Ningxia Mass Art Fine Art Photography Department. His calligraphy works were selected for The 10th National Art Exhibition, 17th National Print Exhibition, Eighty Years Army National Art Exhibition. 

Song Feng has won the "Ministry of Culture Bronze Award" and “Outstanding Chinese Artists Exhibition Gold Medal”. He is also the recipient of the Ningxia’s “Book Fair Gold Award” as part of the fiftieth anniversary of the People's Republic of China Book Fair.

He brought his work over from China specifically for this exhibit.

I particularly enjoy the juxtaposition of the two siblings work. Walking back and forth from one gallery space to the other I often find it a little difficult to comprehend that the two are brothers.   The quality of the work in both cases is stunning.

The art reception is this Sunday, the 12^th, in the Maurice Del Mue galleries of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center.   www.sgvcc.org