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 |
email | Click Here |
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education |
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER, Rochester, NY, 1975-1979
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Studio Arts
LINGNAN SCHOOL OF ART, Hong Kong, 1963-1967
Studied Chinese Art with Professor Shao-an Chao
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teaching |
BONITA SPRINGS COMMUNITY CENTER, Bonita Springs, FL, 2003
3 day course in Chinese Brush Painting.
ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER, Rochester, NY, 1987-1992
Instructor of "Chinese Brush Painting." Conducted two to three sessions each academic year.
Taught basic techniques of Chinese brush painting with an emphasis on traditional subjects.
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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
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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
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awards |
GENESSEE REGION ORCHID SHOW, Rochester, NY
First and Second Place Awards for Painting, 1992
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artistic interest |
Contemporary and traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy;
Photography, Sculpture and Collage.
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