陳素華Suhua Low

1950 – Born in Taiwan

1968-1974 – Studied western painting with Professor Shih-Ciao Li and Chinese painting with Professor Ku-Mei Li.

1973 – Graduated from Aletheia University.

1986 – Moved to New Jersey, United States.

2002 – Studied Contemporary Art with Professor Christopher B. Koep.

2006 – Solo exhibition at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Community Center in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

2007 – Received a Award of Excellence from the Somerset Art Association, New Jersey

2007 – A Taiwanese gallery published a book of works.

2009 – Exhibited works at the Bendheim Gallery of Greenwich Art Council in Greenwich, Connecticut. Had the honor of sharing exhibit with works by Pablo Picasso and Aldo Parisot.

2011 – Invited by the Greenwich Tree Conservatory in partnership with the Greenwich Art Council for a joint exhibition. Showcasing the works of 11 artists and their interpretation of the Montgomery Pinetum.

 

I am not an academically trained artist, but I have always possessed strong interests in art and a deep love of visual imagery. That is why I appreciated the chance to learn to paint from Taiwan master artists Shih-Ciao Li and Ke-Mei Li. From them I received guidance on painting skills and inspirations of art. This is the foundation of my Western and Chinese painting works.After I moved into the New Jersey, U.S.A. in 1986, I frequently visited Manhattan for exhibits in SoHo and Chelsea as well as museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the MoMA. I participated in art workshops by artists with different styles to learn more painting techniques and the application of new materials. Impacted and influenced by modern fashion, I started to learn from contemporary trends. I was at once touched by the subjective works of Impressionism, form manipulation of Cubism, endless imagination of Surrealism, bold colors of Fauvism, and the construction and beauty of the musical rhythm of Abstract Expressionism. Thus, I tried different painting styles during the period, immersed in the world of painting, and enjoying the fun of creation.

Since 2002, I have had more time to paint and started to participate in various art exhibitions throughout the New York metropolitan area and Taiwan. My personal preference for natural and floral themes has become the major focus in my art works.

Cameras take pictures that reflect the image or object before them, but cameras cannot fully interpret that image or object. My objective is to go beyond what a camera does and show the essence of the images I paint. For example, when I see a tree I hear the music of the tree, sense its poetry and feel its meaning, and that is what I want to portray.

Accordingly, my art works present a stronger essence than the actual figures. The real intentions of my creations are the result of shade manipulation and constructional design of lines and areas. Shapes and colors are the essential elements of paintings. I transform everything around me into an interaction of shapes and colors. Meanwhile, I present the inherent vitality of different form elements by adding dissimilar materials to shape the paintings. My canvases emphasize the subject by weaving together and contrasting the elements by my natural way of mixing thick, thin, and bold lines with impasto and thin wash. I surprise the eye with my unique blend of cool and warm colors. Eventually, I depict the artistic moods of the paintings with the “splash” technique. I think my fondness for these techniques comes from the influence of traditional Chinese water and ink paintings.

Using mixed media on paper is another of my art forms. The smooth quality of paper responds well to all media: watercolor, acrylic, oil, and pastel. The distinctive color and texture produced by each medium can be used to create poetic, thick impasto images, all on the same surface. The advantage of the fast-drying mixed media provides the spontaneity and freedom I need in the creation of abstract art.

I want the people who look at my paintings to get pleasure and beauty from them. I want to make it easier for them to experience something deeper and richer each time they revisit a painting, and to be happier because of it.