Birds are the spirits born from Mother Nature, full of spirituality and vitality. They roam the mountains and fly over waters, adorned with colorful feathers. They soar, sing, drink and peck, each displaying different postures. Whether in the mountains, treetops, thickets or by the water’s edge, these creatures transform these scenes into something truly picturesque.
Little Reunion, watercolor, 21½ x 15¾" (54½ x 40 cm)
I’ve currently painted nearly a hundred pieces within this series, including a hundred different kinds of birds—and their numbers are gradually growing. There are over 9,000 species of birds in the world, so I feel like my subject matter is endless. However, the only thing I need to consider is how to portray their beauty.
Interdependence, watercolor, 12¼ x 9" (31 x 23 cm)
I rarely paint backgrounds, which gives my paintings a feeling of scientific illustration. This is one of the few paintings I’ve done with a background. In reality, these beautiful pelicans were found in front of a pile of scattered bricks and tiles. Because they are entirely white, they need a background to set them off. Their orange beaks and webbed feet are highly decorative, so I used blue to create contrast. I used masking glue for the pelicans’ bodies and a flat brush to apply the blue background, gradually transitioning from light to dark, from blue to yellow-brown. The composition employs contrasting elements of light and shadow, warm and cold tones to depict the velvety plumage of the pelicans and their sturdy beaks.
As an artist, inspiration comes from everyday life. When a Chinese blackbird with black feathers and a yellow beak searches for earthworms in a flower bed, or when a small sparrow jumps among the rose bushes, creative emotions are instinctively evoked within me, and ideas naturally begin to take shape in the mind. Currently, my series Little Reunion represents my established style. It is inspired by the saying in Jieziyuan Huazhuan (a painting manual of the Garden Jieziyuan): “One must understand the entire body of a bird, as they originally come from eggs. An egg shape adds a head and tail, gradually growing wings and feet.” Birds always carry the characteristics of their egg-shaped origins. This led me to create a group of chubby birds in the shape of eggs, using ovals as the basic form. I search for patterns, enhance characteristics and incorporate a design style with a sense of aesthetics. I do not exclude any technique. While I hope to have my own artistic style, I refuse to be limited by any so-called style. I am constantly seeking the next source of enlightenment, hoping to continuously surpass myself. —
Half Dream, Half Awake, watercolor, 11 x 7½" (28 x 19 cm)
I particularly enjoy drawing owls. Every time I draw an owl, it gives me a sense of interaction as if we are gazing into each other’s eyes and guessing each other’s thoughts. This is a Eurasian eagle-owl in the “Fukurou” owl cafe in Akihabara, Tokyo. When I gently stroked its head, its closed eyes blinked once, instantly warming my heart. For this painting, I used Daniel Smith mineral pigment, which has a special sediment of mineral particles that gives the colors a layered feeling. It is especially suitable for drawing brown feathers, such as those of owls, sparrows, warblers, quails and also squirrels, which I often draw aside from birds.
Absorbed, watercolor, 14½ x 18½" (37 x 47 cm)
These four small birds with different forms are painted using water dripping, water spraying, special pigments and masking fluid. Part of the painting process is also an exploration of the characteristics of various mediums like paper, brush and pigments. They are applied and controlled as freely as possible in suitable subjects. Water is an unpredictable medium that often brings unexpected surprises. However, if you miss the little surprises along the way while hoping for a bigger one, it would often be very counterproductive. Therefore, one must know when to stop and be content with what is achieved.
About the artist
Chen Yanhua in studio
Chen Yanhua, known as “Miimoo,” graduated from the art department of Shanghai Normal University in Shanghai, China. In 2019, she had a solo exhibition titled Hundred Chirps, Thousand Voices featuring watercolor paintings of birds, and in 2020, she had a solo exhibition called In the Forest of Freedom featuring watercolor paintings. In the same year, her works Redstart and Owl were exhibited at the Invitational Exhibition of Shanghai’s Famous Fan Painting Artists. Additionally, her work Cuckoo was exhibited at the Art Special Exhibition of Shanghai Citizens’ Art Exhibition in 2020. She has also participated in the 2023 Xianghe Spring Painting Exhibition, among many other accolades.
Contact at
miimoo@qq.com