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 Astrid Lee
Astrid Lee Contact details Download Her Art Brochure
Artist Statement & BioBorn and raised in art-loving Holland, it was natural for Astrid to undertake extensive self-study in visual art in Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Tokyo, Johannesburg, New York City, San Francisco, and now Vancouver. This extensive travel offered me a global perspective on art, besides being a great resource to draw upon when developing my portfolio. My earliest serious drawings date back from childhood in the '70's, when I was ill in bed for several months. I studied master drawings, books and books on end, and try to reproduce the master pieces. The real kick-off point to develop my own original art started much later in 1986. One night after visiting a Kabuki play downtown Tokyo, I was so inspired, a bought a set of Japanese ink and watercolor on the way home and started to play, trying to create that great wisteria on a 6x8" pad. I have come a long way since. Over time, my watercolor works became larger (e.g. 24”), and I was searching for ways to lay down flat surfaces of color. I switched to acrylics as medium in California in 2001. When I came to the US, --following a 10-year international management consulting career based on an MBA from NYU --, I came with my focus on the Internet and art. I initially completed a Multimedia Art Certification at Foothill College and created the Los Altos digital art gallery, an exhibition sponsored by Adobe featured in the Los Altos Library in 1997. Upon completion, I started to teach web design, digital media and Internet marketing. Throughout my life, I have been awarded grants and awards, including Teaching Assistant Fellowships & Tuition Grants from New York University, a Grant from AT&T, a study Grant from a business in my local community, and an International Student Exchange Award. I have also been nominated for the Australian Business Women of the Year award, before my current focus on art.
My motivation to paint is linked to the exploration of deeper meaning. I want to portray the pure and positive in life. My colorful (mixed-media) paintings are meant to express my love of paint and the magic of serendipity during the act of painting as well as commenting on the subject matter. My hues tend to be bright, and I try not to be too neat, using relatively large brushes and sometimes even palette knives for top layers after having worked out the more detailed anatomy of my story telling and/or subject matter.The vigor and energy that radiates from my canvases seem to captivate my viewers. Serial works are usually thematic. While each painting is valuable in its own right, each painting belongs to the series as an aspect of concept exploration. My titling reflects this. For example, the title of the series, “Proof Exists” relates to the objective of the artist to find proof of subliminal guidance in art making. The shapes and colors of the resulting personal iconography are formed intuitively in the process of painting, as well as a research into universally understood symbols and icons. ARTISTIC PROGRESSION
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MissionI create art that conveys the positive in life. The mission of my art is to be an enlightener, bringer of hope, health & happiness. Call it 'bringer of Divinity' if you wish. Within this context, the "Tibetan Buddhism, Aspects of Ceremony"- series is about highlighting the spiritual meaning of some common and not-so-common Buddhist objects: statues of Buddha's and other Deities, Lotus flowers, bells & cymbals - instruments used to call upon the Deities for special wishes and everyday virtues of compassion, wisdom and balance. I hope that my artwork inspires you spiritually. Works such as the Lotus Flowers Chakra Meditation series is designed for meditation. Most of my art lands in people's private healing places or on 'altars'. 'Encouraging Hearts' is another series to visually help viewers connect to the Heart Chakra, and heal that aspect which needs healing the most. Many paintings do so in whimsical ways.
HEALING ART In addition, when I give the artwork Reiki while painting them, immediate
suggestions come into my head about what to depict and how to &
execute the artwork. When I follow these suggestions, I am enthralled!
I'm becoming a better painter through them, as they helping me improve
the artworks technically, and to be a better artist, as they help me
conceptually to better symbolically articulate what I mean to convey. |
ShowsIn addition to the online exhibitions here at eArtfair and on other websites, I have held open studios and solo exhibitions for private collectors in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I have participated in group shows and undertaken solo shows in California and Vancouver since 2002, including the exhibits below. See the eArtfair home page for my upcoming shows and recent news.
2007 FEBRUARY "The Look of Love", International Juried Valentine Exhibition
JANUARY Dreamhealer painting featured in juried Artwanted.com
animal calendar.
2006
DECEMBER Charity Art group show at CityScape Gallery,
Londsdale, North Vancouver, open daily, December 1 till mid-December
NOVEMBER Artist Open Studio, pre-XMAS sale, Marine
Drive, West Vancouver, open daily by appointment, Nov 1-31. Artist Reception Saturday 25th, from 10-4.30
pm. ONGOING
" Proof Exists - series " , art exhibit at Starbucks,
1718 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, open daily; “Meet the Artist
Sunday Coffee ” March 12, 10-11.30 AM "Heart of hearts", art exhibit at
Blenz at Vancouver public library, W. Georgia, Vancouver, BC AUGUST
" Daisies - series " , art exhibit at Starbucks Dundarave,
Marine Drive, West Vancouver, open daily FEBRUARY
"Valentine Hearts" , art exhibit at Blenz, Vancouver Public
Library, Robson, Vancouver, open daily. JANUARY "Art Rental", art exhibit at CityScape
Gallery, Londsdale, North Vancouver, open daily, January 6-21; “Meet
the Artists Reception” on Thursday, January 5th, from 7 –
9pm 2005 DECEMBER "XMAS show" at Lynnmour Gallery,
North Vancouver "Annonymous", group show, CityScape
Gallery, Londsdale, North Vancouver NOVEMBER "Hearts and Flowers", Art Exhibit
at Lynnmour Gallery, North Vancouver OCTOBER "Heart of hearts", Blenz, Vancouver
Public Library, Vancouver, BC |
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