March 11, 2016. Oil on canvas. 40 x 50″

This model told me that she had graduated from the best art college in Hong Kong and wanted to be an art critic one day. Right now she was working part time in an art book store, around 2 days a week.

Therefore when I painted her, I had mixed thin kings and feelings. 

On one hand, I sort of worried about her future. In Hong Kong, painters didn’t  have a career. There was no market for local artists. Galleries here promoted overseas artists and had a closed circle. Therefore I doubted whether her career goal as a critic realistic or not.  

On the other side, I was pressured:  if she was as good as she thought, how would she rate my painting?

Something interesting about this young lady – unlike other young women of her age, she seemed to be a bit bold in curve, gender wise a bit neutral, and outfit a bit rough. And of course she did not have much feminine element and did not wear make up.

It sounded silly but to me she had a temperament of a factory worker or a farm worker. Very down to the earth. Primitive. Solid. To a young woman this might not be a compliment. But to a painter I found these special component of her interesting. Therefore today’s painting was a success. I brought her characteristics into my work. The colour was very vigorous, the brush stroke was very certain.