DPW Spotlight Interview: Yuehua He

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Yuehua's painting, "Einstein" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Yuehua's DPW Gallery Page:

Member of Portrait Society of America
Member of Allied Artists of America, Inc.
Born in 1959, Beijing, China.
Graduated from Central Academy of Arts and Design (renamed Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University) in Beijing, China.

1997-2000 Curator of Beijing design Art Museum.

Started painting when was a child.
Worked as fine art designer for over 10 years.
(click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I first started painting fifty years ago, when I was six, and I remember my first painting was the "sun". The circle wasn't even round, and around it I drew lines for the rays of sunshine. When my mother helped me and made a few changes to the painting, suddenly, I felt "wow! this looks just like the sun!" Since then, I have been interested in painting. My mother was in a school of arts education and there were a lot of works there; I would often look around and observe the paintings.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career? 

When I was fifteen years old I began to learn oil painting. I studied professional graphic design at a University in China. For ten years, I did exhibition design. Then, I settled in New York in 2000, and for many years, taught children how to paint at my art school. Then in 2008, I started oil painting again.

Einstein
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Yuehua's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I studied Rembrandt 'Ingres and Sargent's painting method; I recreated a lot of their work.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Prior to joining DPW, my paintings were large in size. Now, I find a small painting is more challenging to make in a very short time with a few strokes showing rich attributes.

Fruit
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

In DPW, there are a large number of excellent works I appreciate and learn from. I try a variety of performance methods, and I look forward to engaging realism and abstract exploration.

Who or what inspires you most?

Sargent's painting method is the most exciting me.

Winter
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Because of my age, I cannot waste time.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I am now a full-time painter. At this point in my life, I have the freedom to paint all day. I sometimes have social activities and interaction, but in most cases I am a very dedicated artist. It has become a passion; I can not imagine not painting.

Practice
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Before painting, I will consider: What is the theme of this painting? What do I want to express? Then I consider painting forms, such as: style, and color.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I think you cannot overthink a painting too much, have too many goals, ask for too much or spend too long on a painting. It is better to have a painting with a set size, target, and completion time.

The Sharp Challenge
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I feel that a piece of work is a comprehensive portrayal of the artist's life, culture, art, language, and I'm trying to paint as much as I can.

What makes you happiest about your art?

It makes me the happiest when people like my work. Also, when works of art convey an idea and communicate with people.

Thanks, Yuehua!

© 2015 Sophie Catalina Marine