Laura (Yi Zhen) Chen

A Quiet Afternoon, Original Painting

2019

Artist Comments
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 taking a snapshot of a lady and her dog under the tree." Expressionist color palette and tilted composition add energy to the scene.

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: urban, tree, lady, dog, architecture, park, expressionism, architecture, expressionism, representational, acrylic painting, green

A Quiet Afternoon
Laura (Yi Zhen) Chen
Acrylic painting on stretched linen
Finished white edges
Ready to hang
One-of-a-kind
Signed on front
2019
20 in. h x 16 in. w x .75 in. d
0 lbs. 12 oz.