Artist Statement:

I am a Canadian artist living in Mission, British Columbia (B.C.). I was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the next state over from B.C. and was painting as a child. Later, I took workshops and lessons when available, in Oregon in the U.S.A., the Okanagan in B.C., and the Fraser Valley, which is where I live. This valley is lush green valley between the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, close to Vancouver, B.C. In this valley, everywhere that you look is a beautiful scene just waiting to be painted. I never run out of ideas.

I graduate from the University of Alberta and also hold a degree in music from Toronto, Ontario. I have been painting seriously since about 1974. Besides being a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, I belong to several art clubs, and am a life member of the Mission Artists Association, in my home city.

I am a self-representing artist who paints every day, if possible. Painting, to me, is like eating--if you don't do it every day, you get a gnawing in your stomach. My works are original oils, original watercolours, and original mixed media or collage. Some of my works are abstract. Usually I work in my studio, but I like to work outdoors "plein air" (out on location) too. I have works in private collections in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.

My belief is that art is a gift and as such has to be used. To me, it is a lifetime love. I'm sure that a lot of what I feel shows in my original work. My paintings are always changing and evolving as I get new ideas.

Hong Zhu was born in Shanghai, China. She started her training in visual art at an early age when she was selected to study at an educational center for gifted children. Later, she became the youngest artist at prestigious Shanghai Arts & Crafts Research Institute where she perfected her skills for painting and traditional Liu-Ching bamboo carving. Her artworks had been chosen to participate in regional, national as well as international exhibitions and many of them were rewarded prizes for excellence.

In 1991, Hong came to Canada to further her pursuit of Western art and studied under Prof. Ray Robinson and Bill Arnold. The same year, she had her first North-American show at One Hundred Antiques (Ontario) where her artworks were highly appreciated by exclusive gallery clients. The following year, she had her second solo show at Kenneth Gallery (Ontario). It had drawn great enthusiasm and interest in her artworks from both public and local media. She had participated in annual arts council exhibitions as well as numerous group shows. Many of her works received special awards. Her latest work of glass paintings were a huge success at a 4-person exhibition at Charisma Gallery in Abbotsford, BC Canada.

Over the years, Hong's artworks have become objects of considerable interest on the part of collectors all over the world.