Painting a Canvas of Beauty and Belief

Winning the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Island’s prestigious Governor’s Award in 1998 was only the beginning for Michelle Chen’s appearance on the world art scene. She recently won the gold medal in NTDTV’s 2009 Chinese International Figure Painting Competition.

Ms. Chen has immersed herself in art since the age of 10 when she studied calligraphy from Chinese masters in her province. She then painted landscapes in the style of Chinese brush painting (known as “Sumi” art), which uses colored ink on rice paper. She now focuses exclusively on oil painting.

Her oil on canvas “Shock” depicts a Falun Gong practitioner losing her shackles and rising high in her prison cell as guards look on, shocked and terrified. Epoch Times recently spoke with Ms Chen about her art.

Epoch Times : What inspires you to paint?

Michelle Chen: Stories of faith. I was shocked, very moved when I read a true story about an elderly lady who was tortured in China because she wouldn’t give up her spiritual beliefs. She refused to quit the cultivation (self-improvement) practice of Falun Dafa while in prison. She was shackled but persisted in the meditation exercise of Falun Dafa.

Suddenly, in the presence of prison guards, her fetters broke and released her. Shocked and scared, her torturers kowtowed (bowed respectfully) to her and begged her to forgive them. The next day they released her so she could return to her home. Truly, a miracle of righteous faith.

Epoch Times: About your technique, how do you get started? Do you sketch to work out the composition?

Ms. Chen: When I have a good idea or am inspired to paint, I do some preliminary sketches to arrange the composition. Then I look for a model and ask them to pose according to the composition. I supplement models posing with photographs as a reference.

Epoch Times: Why do you paint?

Ms. Chen: I have tried to express my feelings as a Falun Dafa practitioner about this terrible persecution in China. I create my paintings in a realistic style to offer viewers insight into the situation and to stop the killing. As an artist, I feel it is my duty to use my skill with a brush to get the truth out there—it gives meaning to my life.

Epoch Times: Can you tell us about your winning painting?

Ms. Chen: This painting was originally accepted into the Truth Compassion Tolerance International Art Exhibit that has toured around the world. When submissions were being accepted for the 2009 Chinese International Figure Painting Competition, I entered the painting. Competition rules state that works must be figure paintings and use classical academic techniques. I felt the purpose of promoting cultural exchange and the presenting works that portrayed pure truth, pure compassion, and pure beauty was something I wanted to be involved with.

There are two parts to the composition—a triangle within a larger triangle. Everything revolves around the Falun Gong practitioner in the center. She is filled with light and emanates light outwardly. The larger triangle brings in the figures of the astonished guards. Each one has a different way of expressing what he sees—one is terrified, another is shocked, one appears filled with remorse as he covers his face, another kowtows in respect, and another is blinded by the unearthly light.

I wanted to express not only beauty but to express a spiritual meaning, so that people would feel peace and a good energy after viewing the work. There is a sharp contrast between the central figure and her torturers, also a contrast with light and darkness, compassion and evil, quiet and unrest.

Epoch Times: Can you describe your aesthetic style?

Ms. Chen: I like to paint subjects based on traditional virtues and values using classical Western realism.

Epoch Times: Do you have a favorite type of subject?

Ms. Chen: My favorite subjects are God, Buddha, sages, and people of noble quality, such as Falun Gong practitioners who face evil and never relinquish their beliefs.

Epoch Times: Do you ever get commissions to paint a particular subject?

Ms. Chen: Yes, I have. I received a commission from CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands) Museum to do an historical work a few years back. Also, many people ask me to paint portraits of their family. I generally prefer to do figures and portraits.

Epoch Times: What is your approach to painting?

Ms. Chen: I feel that the truth of art is pure truth, pure compassion and pure beauty. It makes the world more pure, clean, and beautiful and is good for people’s morals.

Epoch Times: Besides oil painting, what other kind of art do you do?

Ms. Chen: I do watercolors, Chinese brush painting of landscapes. I also do calligraphy and some pottery.

Epoch Times: Any other pastimes?

Ms. Chen: I play flute in the Tian Guo marching band and enjoy singing.

With her painting endeavors, Michelle Chen teaches art at a school in upstate New York. Ms. Chen’s winning artwork and her other paintings can be seen in the Truth Compassion Tolerance Art Exhibit showing at various venues around the world.