About Me:

My greatest inspiration comes from nature. In the colors and shadows, the singing of birds, waterfalls, the smell at dawn, I find both my motivation and my muse. That is why I love to go to parks and hiking, and I always take my sketch book with me. 

I grew up in Shanghai and attended art schools since I was 5. My parents held learning art in a high regard and felt it was an important skill for life. For me, however, it is so much more than that. Creating art fills me with joy and passion.

After years of training in traditional art skills, I studied art and design at the Shanghai Institute of Technology. This gave me a new perspective on art. Opening my eyes to a wide array of styles and aesthetics beyond traditional forms of art. I also studied at the HAW University in Hamburg, where I learned illustration and calligraphy. Not only did I fall in love with the museums and art history in Hamburg, it was in Hamburg that I met my partner. After my studies, I joined him and moved to Israel. It was there that both our sons were born. During my years in Israel I worked as a translator and tour guide. I learned a lot about western history and religion during this time through rigorous studies and as a direct result of the work. I am fascinated by the arts and history of different cultures. I enjoyed my job, but I felt as though something was missing.

Two years ago, we moved to California, and I decided to make a shift in my career path and become an art teacher for children. It was partly because inside I’m just a big kid who never grew up and I love to muck around with paint, glitter, glue and toilet paper rolls, but also, after years of learning and living in different places and cultures, I realised the importance of diversity, stories, art. I wanted to share the art of these different cultures with children. 

As I mentioned, I derive great inspiration from nature. I am not alone in this, many around the world have been inspired by nature for centuries. The same source has inspired different peoples in such different manners yet the powerful thread of art has woven through it all. Everywhere I have lived and loved, every culture, history, and art form has left its mark on me. It is my love for the many diverse forms of art and culture that I bring with me to share with my students in the hope of generating curiosity and a desire to learn and create in them as well. 

Most important things in my art class is to immerse different culture through stories, folk art, experience with different materials like color pencil, oil pastel, acrylic, watercolour and recycled materials. Be inspired from famous artists and have fun!