Meet Sally Huang-Nissen!
Sally is one of PPWS’ Featured Artists for June 2024!
Sally has been a member of PPWS since 2015 and is a Signature Member. She is also a Signature Member of Colorado Watercolor Society, a member of Sumi-e Society of America and the Oregon Society of Artists. Sally is also on the PPWS Food Committee for our monthly social.
Sally’s Bio:
Growing up in China, Sally received extensive training in Chinese brush caligraphy and this skill became an integral part of her passion for Chinese Gong Bi watercolor painting. In addition to a minor in art at Oregon State University, Sally continued her interests in art by taking painting classes in watercolor and oil during subsequent years.
After her retirement from a full-time career in human resource training and development, Sally was able to devote almost full time to Chinese Gong-Bi watercolor painting training (first 5 years by a Chinese artist in Portland, Oregon). From 2009-2019, Sally spent 3 months a year in Taipei, Taiwan, in order to study with two leading Taiwanese teacher/artists, Ms. Lin Shu-Nu and Chang Ko Chi.
Sally’s Awards:
Sally’s unique paintings have received numerous awards from PPWS, CWS and Sumi-e Society of Artists.
Her “Peony” Watercolor on Xuen rice paper won the First Place award at the CWS 2021 Explorations in colors show. (see above)
“Autumn”, watercolor on Xuen rice paper, was featured on the quarterly cover of the Sumi-e Society Fall 2023 edition. (see below)
“Autumn Glory”, watercolor on silk, Received Semi-e Society 59th Hisshin award. (see below)
Sally’s favorite things to paint:
Mostly flowers, birds and insects, plus some Chinese character and symbolic signs
Sally paints on three different materials: silk (pre-treated with alum gum), Xuen rice paper, and Japanese gold treated paper.
Sally’s goals for the next year:
My hope is to broaden my painting subjects to reflect more of nature’s beauty.
Painting Philosophy:
The Chinese believe that artistic pursuit is a way of “cultivating one’s physical and emotional well-being.” My motivation to do Gong Bi style of painting is to portray nature’s beauty in all its splendor.
Gong Bi Painting:
Gong Bi (literally translated means labor-intensive brush work) is also defined as “fine-line” painting. For more information regarding Gong Bi style of watercolor painting, please visit Sally’s website.
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