Chinese Inkwash Artist 寫意水墨畫家

About the artist:

Oi Yee's brush strokes are deft and mature, yet the feel is innocent and playful. Her aim is to capture the essence and not the form. She sees beauty in simplicity and has developed her own spontaneous minimalist style. She loves to leave ample empty space in her Chinese ink wash paintings where the painted implies the unpainted, the tangible blends with the intangible. The "unpainted brushstroke" allows room for the viewer's own imagination, and also creates bonding between artist and viewer as what is not said is understood. This stems from 老子, 莊子 Laozi and Zhuangzi's Taoist thinking of Wu Wei, action in nonaction.

Follow the heart and go with the natural flow. 隨心所欲,順其自然...逍遙自在,樂其在中 .

Canadian Chinese brush artist Tai Oi Yee 戴愛兒 was born in Hong Kong, and immigrated to Toronto, Canada in the early 1980s. Before leaving Hong Kong, she learned Chinese brush painting from the late Master Lai Yuk Hay 黎毓熙 who was a renowned artist trained by the great masters of Chinese painting, the late Lin Feng Mian 林風眠 and Pan Tian Shou 潘天壽 . She was fortunate enough to be accepted as one of Master Lai's last private students before he passed away. Though the learning journey was cut short by Master Lai's passing, it has enabled her to flourish on her own here in Canada where she has been able to bring East and West together in perfect harmony in her fusion sumi-e.

Tai Oi Yee 戴愛兒 ...The meaning behind the name...

"I have been asked many times which is your surname, Tai or Yee? What does your name mean?
For Chinese names, the surname always comes first, so Tai 戴 is the surname (it means "to support"). Oi Yee is the Chinese first name. Oi 愛 means beloved and Yee 兒 means child . So you can call me Oi Yee Tai or Tai Oi Yee. Either way is fine : ) "

Exhibitions

Tokyo, Japan - November, 2022 : ICCPS Exhibition -
the ICCPS has held the International Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition of 2022 successfully. My painting "Beware" won the "Outstanding Performace Award".

Beijing, China - Oct 19 – 26, 2019 : International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society Exhibition -
The ICCPS International Exhibition was held China New Ink Painting Institute Art Museum, Guanzhuang Road, Wangsiying Town 798, Chaoyang District Beijing, China. Oi Yee's painting won the International Calligraphy and Sumi-e Society Award

USA - October 26 - 29th, 2018: High Mountains Flowing Water Exhibition -
Oi Yee's art was exhibited in the USA at the Oregon Society of Painters in Portland

China - October, 2017: ICCPS International Exhibition -
Oi Yee's art was exhibited in China. Oi Yee's painting won the ICCPS Head Office President's Award.

China - October 1 - October 7, 2016: International Chinese Painting and Calligraphy International Exhibition -
Oi Yee's art was exhibited in China. Oi Yee's painting won the Council Special Award.

Canada - Dec 3 - 6, 2015: Art For Cancer Toronto Exhibition -
Oi Yee's donated painting was sold on opening night. The proceeds went to the Art For Cancer Foundation which helps cancer patients, their families and caretaker to heal with art

China - October 1 - October 7, 2015: Fifth ICCPS International Exhibition -
Oi Yee's art was exhibited at the Anshan City Public Cultural Centre in China. Oi Yee's painting won the Anshan Youth Activity Centre Award.

Australia - August 15 - September 7, 2014: International Chinese Ink Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition -
Oi Yee's art was exhibited at the The Orange Regional Art Gallery in New South Wales, Australia.

China - September 30 - October 6, 2013: Third ICCPS Exhibition - China - October 1 - October 10, 2012: International Chinese Ink Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition -
Oi Yee's Chinese paintings were exhibited at the Jade Buddha Temple in China. Oi Yee's painting won the Judges' Special Award.

France - August 25-September 9, 2012: "On the Tracks of the Mind Zen" Exhibition -
Oi Yee's chinese ink paintings were exhibited in Maulevrier, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France . Oi Yee's painting won the ICCPS French Award.

Canada - February 17- 24, 2012:
"Art As A Healing Force" Exhibition -
OiYee's whimsical paintings were exhibited at the Toronto City Hall, Canada .Oi Yee's paintings which were exhibited have been included in the book published by the Art for Cancer Foundation.

China - September 19-October 3, 2011 :
"Golden Autumn in Anshan" International Exhibition-
Oi Yee's Chinese ink paintings were exhibited at the Anshan Museum, China. Oi Yee's painting won the Special Merit Award.

Commissions:

Commissioned Panda Art for Toronto Zoo

2013- Oi Yee was commissioned by the Toronto Zoo to do a painting commemorating the arrival of the pandas Da Mao and Er Shun
2016 -when the panda babies were born, Oi Yee was commissioned by the zoo to create new art and custom signed prints for the the name reveal VIP event
2016-2017 - Oi Yee was commissioned by the Toronto Zoo custom panda art for sale the Zoo

Affiliation:


ICCPS: Oi Yee has been invited and inducted as a premiere member of the International Chinese Calligraphic Art and Ink Painters Society since 2010. This art society is headquartered in Tokyo, with branches all over the world. This international sumi-e society is made up of artists with different backgrounds and styles from China, Japan, the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Spain, Argentina, Russia, Croatia and Australia. You can view the works of these wonderful international artists at this link
Community Work: Art For Cancer Foundation : Oi Yee was a guest artist invited by the Art for Cancer Foundation to conduct art workshops aiming at helping those living with cancer, their families and caregivers.The Art for Cancer Foundation carried on its meaningful mission in Toronto for a decade until 2020.

What is Sumi-e / Inkwash painting?

Sumi-e is inkwash brush painting originating from China over a thousand years ago, and embraced enthusiastically in Japan, Korea and now internationally. The name sumi-e literally means water+ink+painting 水墨畫. You can read more about it at my post here

It is the expression of the mind and spirit of the artist through The Four Treasures of Chinese painting and calligraphy. If you want to know more, you can read my blog post .

Supplies: I have also been receiving enquiries as to where to get Chinese painting supplies and what to buy, so I have compiled a basic list of supplies for Chinese painting and calligraphy as a suggestion.

Here is a corner of my studio: