Jie Wei Zhou

Enlightenment

2023

Artist Comments
Standing before a vast sunlit valley, an elder cradles a baby while holding a prayer wheel in his other hand. Layered glazes and textured brushwork render the man’s weathered face and the child’s soft skin in striking contrast. Beaded ornaments gleam against heavy garments, while warm light and an expansive sky evoke the quiet strength of faith, continuity, and tradition. Painted in oil with classical realism, the work unites cultural depth with timeless technique.

About the Artist
Artist David Qiyi Liu paints realist works in oil, blending traditions of naturalism, neoclassicism, and elements of photorealism and impressionism. “I create this work because I believe painting has the power to honor life with care and to reveal the quiet poetry of the world around us,” says David. His subjects range from portraiture and Tibetan life to landscapes and still lifes, all reflecting his reverence for both individuality and universality. Influenced by masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Velázquez, and Andrew Wyeth, he strives to unite technical precision with emotional resonance. After receiving a Fine Art degree in 1977 and a Master’s in Oil Painting in 1988, David taught for more than thirty years in China before moving to the United States in 2022. He now works from his Flushing, New York studio, where morning light fills his space with clarity and calm. Outside of painting, he enjoys studying original works in museums, exploring art books, and guiding students in their creative growth.

Words that describe this painting: elder, man, child, prayer wheel, Tibetan, culture, traditional clothing, faith, tradition, spiritual, Andrew Wyeth, Jules Bastien Lepage...

Artist Comments
A young Tibetan girl on her way to school symbolizes the start of a new semester and a new life. The sun overhead casts shadows on her form, revealing the textu...