Laura (Yi Zhen) Chen Art

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A town square boasts structures with mixed architectural styles. Lively street performers and the crowd enjoy each other's company. It captures the vibrant esse...

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A vibrant autumn scene unfolds as towering trees with golden leaves stretch toward the azure sky. The quiet neighborhood below hosts quaint houses nestling amon...

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In a neighborhood building, old friends huddle around a worn table to play mahjong. Their eyes are focused on the tiles, thinking of the best strategy to win th...

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Artist Laura (Yi Zhen) Chen paints a lady walking with her tall and graceful poodle during early fall. "It's a time when nature and architecture harmonize in a ...

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"The house right at the neighborhood entrance," says Laura. "Never been occupied - it looks so moody at certain time of the day. Love the style and its rustiness, the light on the front of the house and shadow on the ground."

About the Artist
Laura begins the painting process by taking multiple photographs, which she then combines and sketches into one composition. She takes a spontaneous approach to color, and often finds that her final paintings are quite different than her original intentions. As such, her color palette is vibrant and at times unexpected. Laura’s artwork is executed with stylized modernism, featuring heavy outlines and dramatic shadows. Much of her subject matter is architectural. “I especially like historical buildings in my area,” says Laura. “I am fascinated by the geometric shapes of the old buildings, their varieties and repetitions, their dramatic color contrast. To me, their simple structures have personality and dignity.” Laura works best when her studio is clean and well organized, and finds inspiration in the “miles of good paintings” hanging in the world’s great museums.

Words that describe this painting: house, neighborhood, expressionism, architecture, expressionism, representational, acrylic painting, blue

Moody Blue House...

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"How wonderful it is to soar above the earth and be carefree," says artist Laura (Yi Zhen) Chen. A cheerful landscape sets the stage for a fun summer pastime, with a young girl in a red dress flying a...

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The city of Prague is quaint and vibrant. There are so many little pockets of beautifully juxtaposed buildings.

About the Artist
Laura begin...

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This scene reminds me of the view I had while living in Nivelles, Belgium. The cows seem to be content and happy. This painting is on a gallery wrapped can...

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Dorothea Dix Park in North Carolina near the sunflower fields. "The place has so much history," says Laura. "I tried to capture the stillness and quietness by...

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Laura remarks of her attraction to this scene, "the color of this remarkably well preserved house, the rich history behind it. How the light reveals the under...

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Yellow victorian on a quiet street in Cary, North Carolina. Bright spring light shines from the right, illuminating the new growth in the yard and casting an ...

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Evening in an italian town. The title "Passeggiata" refers to a leisurely stroll often taken after dinner where friends meet up on the street. Dramatic lighti...