What To Know
- He is the first painter to specialize in painting Russian Orthodox subjects with Chinese painting, lending a uniquely Asian feel to an esoteric subject (most painters would be oil or water color painters instead).
- “I believe art need not be confined by artificial boundaries, whether it be how Chinese brush paintings should be, what brushes to use, what paper to paint on, what genres, what size of paintings, or price tags,”.
Editor’s brief: Asian artist Seamus Phan brings online, some of his calligraphic and brush painting works, through website artistaviator.com. Read more below.
SINGAPORE – Asian artist Seamus Phan, who has rediscovered his artistic roots after 37 years, launches his online gallery at https://artistaviator.com, featuring mini Chinese paintings with genres of landscapes, flora, fauna, people, and “podvig” (Slavic for “spiritual struggle”).
Art without boundaries
Out of mobility and convenience, Seamus paints with pre-inked Japanese brush pens and A5-sized sketchbooks, adapting his classically trained Chinese painting style of “xieyi” (寫意, which is a bold and liberal form of Chinese painting), with contemporary painting techniques such as pointillism, for the smaller size paper medium and the constraints of Japanese calligraphy brush pens.
His favorite subjects are carp, flora, landscapes, and his unique genre of Russian Orthodox Christian monks and chapels (which he termed “podvig” on his gallery website). He is the first painter to specialize in painting Russian Orthodox subjects with Chinese painting, lending a uniquely Asian feel to an esoteric subject (most painters would be oil or water color painters instead).
Seamus has made his art approachable, ranging from S$199 onwards (from US$148), so that everyone can easily afford art meant for desks, offices, and homes.
“I believe art need not be confined by artificial boundaries, whether it be how Chinese brush paintings should be, what brushes to use, what paper to paint on, what genres, what size of paintings, or price tags,” says Seamus Phan, painter. “I hope that I can bring something classical like Chinese brush painting to be appreciated by more people, by breaking down boundaries and making my art approachable by anyone. I have to thank many friends who encouraged me to bring my art forward, including many friends from around the globe.”
Visit https://artistaviator.com.
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