Min Li

Artwork submitted for bid 
at our September 6, 2009 auction:


"Catalina 2009"
16"x20", Oil on canvas.
Gallery Price: $1,200

Online bid on 8/01/09 for $800

"Min Li was born and trained as an Oil Painter within Red China. He has since the early 90s found his home in Southern California.

This juxtaposition of experiences has enriched his paintings.

A rigorous study of Russia, French, and Chinese masters combined with personal experiences of modern Chinese culture gave Min his background.

Today, Min paints the California landscape, various Cityscapes, and portraiture. His works include both En Plein Air and studio pieces.

Additionally, he is an art educator in the various classical mediums.

Min has recently exhibited with the Southern California Plein Air Painters Association, Southern California Artists Association, the Catalina Art Festival, and the Artists' Studio at the Palos Verdes Art Center."

Min was born in Taigu, Shanxi in 1955. In mountainous North China, Min’s surroundings were characterized by China’s industrialization, agriculture, and transitioning village life. From this visually rich environment, Min pursued his curiosity for painting during an exciting era of populist realism.  Min graduated from oil painting at Shanxi University in 1978 and his fellowship at Nanjing Art College in 1983.
Min studied under excellent teachers- Liu Haisu and Cheng Dayu. During his rigorous soviet-styled training, Min supplemented his studio work with arduous painting trips deep into the Taihang Mountains, into the loess caves, high altitude plateaus, and painted en plein air the native villages & their inhabitants.
In complete contrast to the Yellow River scenes of Northern China, Min and his family moved to sunny Southern California in 1992. On arrival, Min joined the US Chinese American Artists’ Association. By 1997, Min served as its chairman. In this period, Min’s paintings drew its images from the streets of Los Angeles. Ironically, SoCal’s powerful sun & desert-like atmosphere was in many ways similar to dusty Shanxi. As such, Min was able to naturally build upon his painting knowledge.
While painting, Min began art education in 2003 when he became the principal of US Arts Education in Torrance. Since then, he’s been teaching various mediums to enthusiasts of all ages-about half children, half adults. Meanwhile, Min has become interested in Cityscapes: in particular his works of New York Catalina, San Pedro, and Chicago, captivating an evocative American spirit.
Most recently, Min’s been revisiting en plein air techniques and adding colors to his palette. Min’s chosen Rancho Palos Verdes and the beach cities to be his latest subject of interest. In his depiction of the bright California sun, you’ll find fascinating cool & warm colors subtly embedded into the whites.
Combining Russian atmospheric effects, French impressionism, and the rigorous realism education Min received in China, his work is uniquely fresh while maintaining technical strength.  Min enjoys figure painting as well as land/cityscapes and various still life compositions.
Min’s work has been represented by Catalina Art Association, Palos Verdes Village Gallery, Grace Editions, and the Kolibri Fine Arts Gallery. He is also actively pursuing events & competitions such as the Richard Schmid Fine Arts Auction, LAPAPA, Portrait Society of America, and the Autry National Museum.
Some of his works can be seen here: minlifinearts.com.

 

 

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