We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Liu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.
Katie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
With teaching students ten years experiences, I create a lot of works in oil painting and watercolor. In early years, my works inspired by French Impressionism, David Hockney and Chinese traditional culture paining. Those works describe my feeling and view about nature, because from 2012 to 2016, I lived in Cary, North Carolina. The quite country life led me to observe the world around me, such as the little forest at my backyard, the variation on color of leaves from spring to winter. From the tiny flower and grass, I found the whole life. Those works embodies the essence of Buddhist philosophy: “One flower, one world； one leaf, one Bodhi.” Not only plain air pain)ng outside, but I also tried to use abstract style to narrative my feeling. From 2014-2017, these works showed in my solo exhibitions and juried exhibitions in NC, Miami and NYC, some of them collected by personal and organization.
After giving birth my second child, from 2017 to 2018, I faced new challenge: I have lost some inspiration, and I spent whole time to take care of newborn baby. During that time, I’ve just been doing some sketching exercises and taught the
teenager students then I developed an interest in portrait pain)ng. Lucian Freud’s works helped me a lot. I would like to explore inner world of the person: What his/her personality? What his/her life? My works of self-portrait appear me as the first-generation immigration to US, what’s about my mind, even though I live in US so long time, I still feel confused. My other works of portrait painting, someone are my family members and friends, someone are strangers. In the processing of works, I try to imagine the life of strangers or describing my friends in the correct manner. In my opinion, portrait painting is not only a form of realism, but also expression of societal and psychological aspects. In recent years, these works have been exhibited in various academic exhibitions.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
After graduated from SCAD, I worked as adjunct professor in studio art such as drawing, print-making and character design at colleges, I am the owner and art educator of Liu’s Artspace and TopIn Portfolio, teaching the students preparing for portfolio and application for art colleges, most of them enter RISD, SVA, Pratt, SCAD, SAIC, MICA, CCA and ACCD. The students also get high price scholarship.
Exhibition:
2023 The work selected in Portrait Society of Atlanta fall exhibition
2023 The work selected in TEMPERATURE Exposition D’Art Contemporain Carrousel du Louvre a Paris
2023 The work accepted in “Limited Palette” juried show in Rhode Island Watercolor Society.
2023 The work accepted into Adirondack national juried Exhibition of American Watercolor
2023 The work selected in Portrait Society of Atlanta spring juried exhibition.
2023 The work selected in 53rd International Watercolor exhibition -Louisiana Watercolor Society.
2023 The watercolor work selected in 46th International Water-media Exhibition-Houston
2022 The watercolor work selected in Deep Cut Art Exhibition-Avant garde Art Projects
2022 The watercolor work selected in Reality or Abstraction exhibition and got an honor award-Atlanta Artist Center.
2022 The work selected in Asian Art Biennial Exhibition-Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan.
2021 The work selected in The Voice of Silence-Zhu Naizheng Art Research Center
2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, as an outstanding educator whose dedication, commitment, and guidance are represented by student work selected for national honors.
2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, as an outstanding educator whose dedication, commitment, and guidance are represented by student work selected for national honors.
March 2018 – “Her Vision 112”-contemporary art exhibition-Beijing, China.
August 2017 – “Dawn” group exhibition, 456 gallery, SoHo, NYC.
September 2016 – Solo exhibition in Village Circle Art Gallery, Cary, NC.
July 2016 – The watercolor works were displayed and sold in a private auction in Beijing, China.
March 2016 – The work was selected and shown in 2016 North Carolina Artists Exhibition, Raleigh, NC.
December 2015 – “From the East to the West” exhibition in Split Level gallery, DUMBO Brooklyn.
December 2015 – The works showed in Fridge Art Fair – 2015 Miami Art Basel.
September-December 2015 – “One flower, one World” solo exhibition in Fo Guang Shan Temple, Raleigh, NC.
June 2015 – “Eye and Mind” 2015 China contemporary synesthesia experimental art exhibition in Shenzhen Art Institute, China.
July 2014 – “Mountain, Sea and Nature” exhibition in Heng gallery, Nanjing, China.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I feel that the greatest strengths and qualities on my artistic exploration path are resilience, being somewhat gifted as an artist but more so diligent through hard work. Secondly, I am good at communication, which may be directly related to my long-term teaching career. The process of teaching also inspires me to think more about my artwork. Thirdly, I always maintain curiosity. Curiosity triggers my exploration and challenges of the unknown, which also applies to my artistic creation
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents have given me unlimited support on my artistic journey, both financially and emotionally. As parents from an East Asian background, their acceptance and understanding of my pursuit in the arts have been invaluable. This level of support is something truly remarkable.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: katie121609
- Facebook: Katie Liu Artist
- Linkedin: Katie Xiaoxue Liu
- Youtube: @121609katie
Image Credits
Self-portrait, watercolor, 2022 Young man’s portrait, watercolor, 2022 Sleeping boy, watercolor, 2022 The artist Kris, watercolor,2023 The girl who holds the pear, watercolor, 2023 Nuremberg,watercolor,2014 The tree, oil painting,2015 Self-portrait ,oil painting,2018 The secret garden, watercolor 2015
