Camarillo artist cherishes her Chinese roots

Christine Leong Christine Leong delicately holds the handmade bamboo paint brush. Her strokes against the rice paper are soft, lyrical and precise.

The Camarillo artist is creating a vibrantly hued watercolor. Other similar paintings of koi and lotus dominate her studio.

Leong's penchant for Asian artwork is connected to her native Hong Kong, from which she emigrated in 2002 to come to the United States.

Substituting inspiration and passion for formal training, Leong immersed herself in the Ventura County art scene. She has found much success.

In the last four years, Leong has exhibited her paintings at private galleries, community centers, state and county fairs, and most recently at the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks.

In addition, Leong is one of 15 area artists who will be featured in the 15th annual Ventura Music Festival art show. As part of the select group of artists, Leong will create artwork using plain pinewood chairs.

Leong said she did extensive research on Russian folk art before she began her project, which combines both traditional materials—rice paper, acrylic and lacquer—with modern technology—computer printouts.

"I've never painted on wood before, and I'm still learning," Leong said. "I am also a work in progress, and so is my art."

The China native said she is inspired by the bold, bright colors of nature.

"I like painting koi and lotus because there is so much I can do in terms of color," she said. "They are such versatile subjects."

Leong said she adheres to the Chinese system of balance within an environment, better known as feng shui, and said her subjects always number two, three, six, eight or nine, which are believed to be good luck among the Chinese.

Leong said the rice paper she paints on is also versatile. "I can crumple rice paper to give my paintings texture or the wrinkled effect," Leong said. "I can also paint from behind the paper."

It is difficult, she said, to achieve the same effects with other types of paper.

As a child, Leong loved to sketch clothes and cartoon characters.

"My parents still have one of my earliest sketches—bellbottom pants," she said.

As her art and her fashion evolved, she drew inspiration and guidance from Master Li Woon Ping, a Hong Kong artist wellknown for his brush techniques.

Here in the United States, she credits Bob Oiszewski, a Disney employee, for introducing her to the art of building replicas and miniatures. Having learned the "art of good mentoring," Leong said she pays it forward by teaching a class every Friday at the Camarillo Arts Center.

"Christine shows no hesitation in teaching her students," said Jeanette Young, a student of Leong for the past three years. "I once brought a picture from a magazine, and she helped me figure out what technique to use and how to do it."

Another longtime student and Camarillo resident, Florence Tillman, praised Leong as a teacher. "She makes the classes look so easy, fun and interesting," Tillman said. "We can be as creative as we want, and she'll guide us."

The 15 chairs created for the Ventura Music Festival will be unveiled Dec. 10 at the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, 101 S. California St., in Ventura. The chairs will then be distributed throughout the county and put on display at various businesses.

The Ventura Music Festival will run from May 1 to 9 at various venues throughout Ventura.

For more information, call (805) 648-3146 or visit www.venturamusicfestival.org. The nonprofit organization raises money for a number of education programs countywide.