biography »
Dorothy Chan was born in Hong Kong, of parents who were originally from Canton province in China. In her youth, she studied piano in Hong Kong and London, and then developed her artistic skill to painting. Dorothy studied the ancient history of traditional painting with the esteemed Professor Shao-an Chao, in Hong Kong. Professor Chao was a proponent of the Lingnan School of Art. This artistic movement took traditional painting many steps further by focusing more on the art of brush strokes and introducing the concept of expressionism into contemporary Chinese painting. Upon moving to the United States with her husband and children, Dorothy also earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Rochester, with a focus on painting and sculpture. She incorporates her knowledge of traditional Chinese painting with her Western education of studio arts. Her work has a sense of lyricism and poeticism, influenced by her extensive studies in music and piano.
Dorothy resides in San Rafael, CA with her husband Donald. Their two daughters are married and living in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Dorothy is also an active member of Marin Society of Artist in San Rafael, CA.
painting style »
Dorothy practices a type of "freestyle" painting, or "painting without bones", since no outline or sketch is used to guide the paint. This technique brings out the spontaneous nature of brushwork. Brushes play an important part in Chinese painting. The Chinese brush was invented over 2000 years ago during the Ch'in Dynasty. Brushes are made by hand, and can be made of sable, fox, wolf, horse, goat, or lamb hair. Soft lambs wool brushes are used for flower petals and fish; horse hair brushes to produce strong brush strokes seen in the windswept branches and wings of birds; fox hair brushes to create delicate, more controlled strokes for flowers and insects.
Most of Dorothy's paintings are painted on rice paper with watercolor and Chinese black ink stick and Chinese pigments. The chop, or seal, seen in red ink on each painting, is the typical signature of a Chinese artist. Dorothy's chop contains her Chinese name, Siu-Ling, which means "small and dainty". She also uses contemporary-styled rice papers that are made with rice husks to create more texture.
In Dorothy's work, nature's creatures delight in the company of each other and seem to dance around the surface. The communication seen among the birds and sea creatures give us a sense of playfulness and innocence. For Dorothy, painting is an extension of sight, an expression of the beauty of nature surrounding her - in her garden, throughout the lush landscape of Virginia, and within the limitless realm of her imagination.
resume »
| Dorothy S.L. Chan | |
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education |
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER, Rochester, NY, 1975-1979
LINGNAN SCHOOL OF ART, Hong Kong, 1963-1967
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teaching |
BONITA SPRINGS COMMUNITY CENTER, Bonita Springs, FL, 2003
ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER, Rochester, NY, 1987-1992
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demonstrations |
PCA CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AT FS MALL, Charlottesville, Va. one day each year since 2001 PIEDMONT CHINESE ASSOCIATION NEW CELEBRATION AT FSM, Charlottesville, VA, 2001-2005 one day each year UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, Charlottesville, VA, 1999 THE COLONNADES, Charlottesvile, VA, 1995 UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER, Rochester, NY, 1993 THE SLENDORS OF CHINA, Special Event, Midtown Plaza, Rochester, NY, 1992 ETHNIC FAIR, Museum and Science Center, Rochester, NY, 1992 HONG KONG TRADE FAIR, Sponsored by B. Forman Co., Rochester, NY, 1991 |
exhibitions |
MARIN SOCIETY OF ARTISTS, San Rafael, Ca. 2021 MARIN SOCIETY OF ARTISTS, San Rafael, Ca. 2016 CAFE HOT CAKES, Solo Exhbition, Charlottesville, Va. 2012 ART DE TRIOMPHE AT FARMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB, Charlottesville, Va. 2012 THE GROUNDBREAKERS SHOW AT BEVERLY STREET GALLERY, Staunton, Va. 2011 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA MAIN HOSPITAL LOBBY, Charlottesville, Va. 2010 Solo Exhibition C’VILLE COFFEE THE STAGE CAFE, 2009 McGUFFEY ART CENTER, Charlottesville VA Watercolor Guild (CVWG) juried show 2007 McGUFFEY ART CENTER, CVWG juried show 2005 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, CANCER CENTER, Solo Exhibition 2005 McGUFFEY ART CENTER, CVWG juried show 2004 SUN TRUST BANK, Bonita Springs, FL, Solo Exhibition 2003 McGUFFEY ART CENTER, CVWG juried show 2003 SPRUCE CREEK GALLERY, Nellysford, VA 2003 CENTRAL VIRGINIA WATERCOLOR GUILD, juried show 2002 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA MEDICAL CENTER, Solo exhibition, Charlottesville, VA, 2002 SHENANDOAH VALLEY ART CENTER, Solo exhibition, Waynesboro, VA, 2002 CENTRAL VIRGINIA WATERCOLOR GUILD, juried show 2001 NEW DOMINION BOOK SHOP, Charlottesville, VA, 2001 WESTMINISTER CANTERBURY, Charlottesville, VA, 2000 McGUFFEY ART CENTER, Charlottesville, VA, 2000 ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER, 1994 GENESSEE REGION ORCHID SHOW, Rochester, NY, 1992 MIDTOWN TENNIS CLUB, Solo exhibition, Rochester, NY, 1992 MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Rochester, NY, 1990 BROWNCROFT COMMUNITY CHURCH, Penfield, NY, 1989 MEMORIAL ART GALLERY, Clothesline Show, Rochester, NY, 1988 |
awards |
GENESSEE REGION ORCHID SHOW, Rochester, NY First and Second Place Awards for Painting, 1992 |
artistic interest |
Contemporary and traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy;
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