"Let the beauty we love be what we do." By poet Rumi

Born in China, Ying Liu showed interest in drawing and painting in her early childhood. As a young adult, however, Ying chose teaching English at her home university in China as her profession. Ying came to the United States in 1987 to pursue graduate studies, starting at the Ohio State University, and continuing to the University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles.

At the end of 2003, after all her graduate studies, when Ying decided to again enthusiastically embrace her love for fine art in the form of drawing and painting. Inspired by great masters such as Joaquin Sorolla, Anders Zorn, John Singer Sargent and many contemporary artists, she developed a strong, loose, yet richly-toned realist style, tailored to suit her love of the Southern California sunlight. She also increasingly desired to paint an expanding range of subject matter, primarily in oil, but often watercolor and pastel.

In Fall 2003, Ying started taking classes in Life Drawing and Watercolor painting at Long Beach City College and recently in California State University in Long Beach. Independently, she also studied various artists via videos, books and demos. After long of hours of practice, Ying found her art improved greatly; she could now paint at a very confident artistic level.

In June 2004, Ying studied drawing in Florence during a 2-week Summer Art Program sponsored by the California State University. Ying was greatly influenced and inspired by the Renaissance artists. Her efforts earned her the acclaim of her instructors as one of Ying`s drawings was selected to be hung in the CSU Chancellor`s Office in a rotating exhibition with the 23 CSU campuses.

In October 2004, Ying was selected as a finalist in the national juried exhibition of Art Methods and Materials 2004 sponsored by American Artist Magazine. At this event, Ying`s watercolor, Chuck, was awarded 1st Prize.

Ying`s paintings are also hung in the private homes across the nation.

Selected Juried Shows:

2010 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils hosted by Mountain Trails Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming, October 9 - November 10, 2010.