Original Artwork of PNW Professor Generates New Life in 2016

Original-Artwork-of-PNW-Professor-Generates-New-Life-in-2016Associate professor Yueqi Zhang of the Communication and Creative Arts department of the Purdue University Northwest Calumet campus completed his internationally award-winning watercolor “Nostalgia” last summer, and it continues to receive praise from the art community.

“Nostalgia” received the Gold Level Jack Richeson Award at Pikes Peak Watercolor Society’s International Watermedia 2015 Exhibit last summer. This summer, the watercolor was awarded the Past Juror’s Innovation Award by juror and famous artist Jeannie McGuire at the Northwest Watercolor Society 76th Annual International Open Exhibition. The submission was chosen from 400 selections entered from around the world.

“’Nostalgia’ communicated the complexity of a spiritual world by conveying a subject of harmony between humanity and nature,” Zhang said.

Professor Zhang said the idea came to him when he visited Seattle years ago. As he walked downtown, he heard different musicians playing a variety of music. He said it reminded him of emotional homesickness and the music evoked strong creative desires within himself.

McGuire, a figurative artist and the juror that selected the watercolor for the award, said that “Nostalgia” was selected because of its distinct variety of style. She admired the contrast between the different figures in the work such as the vivid red background balanced with blueish leaves.

“As a juror I’m drawn to paintings that invite me to participate in the action or observe the presence of the subject,” McGuire said. “In “Nostalgia,” I can hear the sound of the flute and sense movement as though the flowers are reacting as the man and his music moves along.”

Zhang said that creativity is a part of his life and for his work to continue to be selected by national and international exhibitions generates a sense of comprehensive recognition.