Longtime Irvine resident and artist, Minna Chow is sharing some of her beautiful brushed paintings with the community through an exhibit at the Lakeview Senior Center (20 Lake Road).
This free art exhibit is open to the public Monday thru Friday from 8am until 6pm.
Minna began her love of brush painting as a young child in China, with guidance from her mother. She went on to study Chinese language and literature during college, where she learned different styles of calligraphy and Chinese brush painting techniques. This traditional art form is steeped in history, with each piece created in your own “handwriting,” each stamped unconsciously with your own style. In China, it’s very fittingly described as “writing the picture.”
When Minna immigrated to the United States, she put her artistic interests aside, choosing to obtain a degree in Accounting. She went on to work in that field while she and her husband, Wing, settled in Irvine and raised their two children, Christina and Titus. She also served as an early childhood education specialist in the City’s bilingual Chinese/English classes.
After retiring from her accounting career, Minna rediscovered the art form she had loved in her youth. She began taking Chinese brush painting classes where she learned how to master the structure of paintings; control different color palettes; and use ink and watercolor to express her artistry on traditional rice paper. Fond of freehand techniques, she paints landscapes, flowers, birds, and animals.
Minna is a member of the American Artists of Chinese Brush Painting (AACBP) and the Orange County Chinese Art Association (OCCAA). Her work has been featured in a number of art exhibitions across Orange County — including our local libraries and the Great Park. Last year, Minna’s paintings were featured at an art exhibit at John Wayne Airport.
Minna sees her paintings as a way to bring communities together, helping residents to connect with one another through their shared appreciation for this ancient Chinese art form.
In a full-circle moment, Minna’s latest art exhibition is located in the same building where she took one of her first Chinese brush painting classes upon retirement — the Lakeview Senior Center.
The exhibit is open to the public through October 31st.
To learn more about Minna’s work, visit her website by clicking here.
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