Aesthetics and Storytelling
Artist Biography
John was born in Shanghai and he grew up in Hong Kong, he immigrated to Canada in the late 60’s and to please his father, he studied engineering at the University of Waterloo. He struggled to fit into his profession but eventual he realized that he is an artist at heart and restarted his art pursuit that he had begun in his teenage years.
He initially painted in the French Impressionist style but moved to his own style and techniques, using ‘aesthetics’ and ‘story telling’ as his main driving force. In his art, he tries to show his viewer, what an artist can see and feel about the society that we all live in. This goal has not changed.
Artist Statement
Whenever someone see my artwork, whether it is made with charcoal on canvas or oil on hardboard they’ll notice the care and attention I’ve spend in choosing the subject matter and the total control I’ve over the mediums.
My whole process of art making is a chaotic and a complete madness. Right from concept to the many small sketches and pre-work, I’ll take my time to make trial runs and on to the final work, but if initially everything goes bad, it is usually a good sign that the artwork will turn out beautifully. I also like to make impulsive art. Art by impulse is usually some very dynamic and full of tension pieces. I initially painted in the French Impressionist style but moved to my own style and techniques, using ‘aesthetics’ and ‘story telling’ as my main driving force. I try to show my viewer, what an artist can see and feel about the society that we all live in.
CV
1962—————Start “copying” painting and drawing
1967 – 1987——Continue painting and drawing and selling art privately
1987 – 1992——Operated a graphic design studio in Ottawa
1992—————Solo watercolour exhibition at Josephine Tessier Gallery”, Ottawa
1994—————Solo watercolour exhibit at Ottawa Public Library
1994—————Sold watercolours to Regional Municipal of Ottawa/Carleton
1995—————Group show at the Ottawa Art School, Byward market, Ottawa
1995 – 2010——Continue drawing and painting and selling art privately in Ottawa
2010—————Solo canvas print exhibition at VPL’s “Moot Gallery”
2002 – 2010——Worked at art shop, “Sephine Jewelry and Art”, Vancouver
2010 – present–Continue drawing and painting and selling art
2019—————Group show at VPL’s “Britannia Branch Gallery”
2020—————Group show at the “Connection Salon”
2020—————Group show at the “Liquid Amber” Gallery
2024—————Group show at the “Connection Salon”
