Chinese Watercolor Artist
Artist Statement
Fanny has an obsession of Chinese Watercolour painting and is fascinated by the various strokes of brushes, quality of brushline, subtle differences of ink combined with watercolour and water, effect on rice paper and silk, which altogether make paintings come alive.
The four seasons are major themes pervasive in Chinese painting. The harmonious movements and rhythms of the nature are captured by the medium of the Chinese brush and ink. The aim is to capture the essence of an image or idea. The goal is to paint not what the eye sees but rather what the mind knows; thus Chinese painting is less concerned with the appearance than the essence of things. There are two basic styles in Chinese painting, Gongbi and Xieyi. The method of Gongbi is detailed, meticulous, and carried out with slow, fine brushwork. Xieyi method is spontaneous and unrestrained, requiring free, swift, and bold brushstrokes.
Some of Fanny’s paintings use Gongbi method, and some use Xieyi method with Chinese watercolours, ink and mixed medium to paint landscapes, birds, trees, and flowers on different types of rice paper. By using the combination of these two methods in some of her paintings, Fanny finds it more exciting and challenging and she is trying to push the boundaries from conventional Chinese watercolor painting.
Artist Biography
Fanny Ip was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada in 1992. Throughout her life, she has been always fascinated with Chinese Watercolor painting. The interest was cultivated during her childhood years, however she did not have an opportunity to pursue this hobby further during her working years. Not until settling down in Richmond, she rekindled the passion to express her impression of this beautiful province through her art.
Fanny expresses her creativity through Chinese watercolor on rice paper. As an artist, she has always been inspired by nature. She depicts the colors, rhythms and atmospheres of flora, birds and landscape from her experiences. Flowers and birds are the primary subjects which she uses in her artwork to create a harmonious nature, in order to raise awareness of the threat to birds and flowers caused by human displacement of their natural habitats.
Fanny’s paintings were exhibited and showcased at Asia Invitation Art Exhibition in Seoul, South Korea; the Chinese Canadian Artists Federation in Vancouver; the Richmond Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Club; Richmond Art Gallery; Burnaby Art Gallery; Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver; South Delta Artists Guild; and North Vancouver Arts. She is an Active Member of Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver.
