Charles Zhan (Born in 1959) was born in Canton, China. In his paintings, he lights up the canvas with broad brush strokes, splashes his imagination with the oil colors, and delves into the articulate details with paint knives and brushes. The artist fancies this classical color medium, so he has modified his painting style from gouche, water colors, and the Chinese ink to impressionist oil painting. To him oil color is an excellent medium for the expression of a riot of glorious texture and color. From 1974 to 1985, Zhan studied and practiced at Dongyu Chen’s studio; he was a student of professor’s Su Urlong and Lau Sing. He is inspired to seize the moments he has experienced with feeling and transmit the infinite natural essence onto his canvas.
To capture the perfection of the countryside, Zhan repeatedly observes every scene that has ever touched his heart so as to capture the magic of the countryside to perfection. He has taken photos of and studied the same view in different seasons and at various hours. He aims to reveal the changes of color, the light and shade of the scene. Zhen tries to collect as much information as he can to strengthen his work. He then completes the work in his studio. In 1980, Zhan became a designer for the Southern China Institute of Landscape Architectural Design. He worked here until 1985. His work focused on Architecture and landscape architecture. He moved to the United States in 1985 and joined Pratt Institute in New York City from where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Fine Art and Design in 1993.
