Rising Stars: Meet Yanyan Ouyang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yanyan Ouyang.

Hi Yanyan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was 4-5 years old, my mother hoped for me to have more hobbies. She wanted to train me to be a unique girl. So she brought me to a well-known local painter for learning. This is the enlightenment of my career. The teacher was a Traditional Chinese Painting master. I watched him draw a variety of animals with brush and ink. That made me think painting is impressive, so I fell in love with it immediately.

When high school, everything changed. I started more professional training. I closed myself in a room every day to improve my skills. Then I was at about fifteen, and I could not feel the joy of painting gradually. I had no choice but only continue. My goal was to enter an Art Academy. For parents and teachers in China, only those who were admitted to the college were considered successful. After that, I got the admission letter I wished for, but I was not excited. I suspected whether I love art so much. I even put down my paintbrush For years.

This resistance to art did not change until after marriage. My husband is a photography artist, and he loves art very much. We often travel and watch various art exhibitions. We had lots of wonderful times together. Until one day, I confided in him that I was an artist before. I showed him my previous works and some of my achievements. This made him feel incredible and excited. Then, with the encouragement of my husband, I picked up the paintbrush again.

Maybe I was mature, or my understanding of art changed. I’d no longer struggle with techniques but pay more attention to inner expression. I think any art category is interlinked. Whether it is music, sculpture, or painting, the most important thing is to convey the creator’s visions and opinions to people. In the future, through more practices and experiments, I may have a deeper understanding of art. Art leads me to grow, and I also boost art. We complement each other.

Now, art is my best friend. I paint when I feel happy. I paint when I feel sad. I paint when I even feel angry. Art is my blood, and every piece is true me.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was born and raised in China. In that nation, art is not an easy road, accompanied by many depression and frustrations. To be admitted to the art academy, I had to reproduce the works of various masters year after year, day after day, and repeat the practice of painting the same plaster statue. Aim to improve painting skills, stand out among many candidates. Of course, this is very common in China. This process made me feel way disgusted and suspicious of art. I felt depressed. I thought this was not what I wanted. For a long time, I was at a loss for the future. Confused and lost the goal, I even put down my paintbrush for seven years.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional artist now. I am good at using abstracts to express myself. I often break the fixed forms and prefer to create freely. My work is not limited to paper and canvas, and it can be completed in any medium.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I often travel with my husband. My favorite city is Los Angeles, the kingdom full of blue sky, sunshine, and ice cola. It is my Utopia. For an artist, this place is filled with colors and freedom. I can make more artist friends in Los Angeles and watch various premium exhibitions and artworks. So we moved to Los Angeles, where we can start a new life and creations. We love this city, and I believe that I will also make more and better works here.

Contact Info:

• Email: oyyy.dwtc@gmail.com
• Website: www.yyoy.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazingyyoy/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJesmhTGNfT2k1vtu6qTZg