San Francisco painter, Calvin Lai, presents Chroma, a new series of 20 paintings, inspired by his desire to see life clearly and simply. Each 12″x12″ piece explores the human figure and purity of color.
The way we see is a skill that needs constant development and refinement. Most people do not consider this, but it is very important for those in the visual arts. These past several years cultivating this ability to see clearly has become essential as our society faces layers of alternate facts and alternate realities. For Calvin, the benefits of an artist’s eye has become a viable method of cutting through the deluge of misinformation. His new series is a result of his constant practice to develop his ways of seeing in his art and his life.
In these paintings, Calvin takes the bold step of removing many of the factors that an artist usually considers, and creates pieces that render the human form with a mainly monochromatic palette and a square picture plain. By limiting the amount of elements to deal with, Calvin frees himself to concentrate on how he sees his subject in order to render it successfully. Each piece is a reminder that the process of seeing clearly and simply is a skill that needs fostering, and can be applied to all aspects of life, especially in today’s world.
Calvin is a San Francisco based oil painter who has been described as a contemporary realist. His work which is rooted in classical realism adds modern techniques and aesthetics to create a unique style. His subject matter varies from figurative paintings, to still lifes, to cityscapes.
Chorma is available for the public through Calvin’s website https://www.calvinlaiart.com/, and his Instagram account @calvinlaiart. There a visitor can view paintings and move through the online exhibition for a unique gallery experience.
