William Liao

About the Artist

Artistic inspiration began at an early age for William Liao. Growing up in Beijing, China after the Cultural Revolution, He was surrounded by classical Chinese culture as well as new European art. These are the influences which continue to define and inspire his work today. William explorative drawings and paintings combine traditional mediums with modern techniques, providing his audience with another dimension of experience.

Mediums: Painting and Drawing

Artist Statement

"My initial artist pursuit was to become a fashion designer. I soon learned that I preferred painting, whether it be Chinese painting or oil painting, and received very systematic and rigorous artistic training in university. Later in life, visual art became my profession, instead of painting. I used computers to create static and dynamic images and did this kind of work in China for ten years followed by another ten years in Canada. During my time in this digital world, I found myself ignoring my ability to observe and paint in a traditional fashion. I wanted to go back to something more complex and deeper than the digital art I was currently creating. My paintings’ subjects are quite varied — portraits, cityscapes, landscapes, florals, and abstract compositions. I believe artists should express themselves in all genres. Every painting depends on my feelings at the time and my understanding of life. This feeling and understanding change over time, sometimes to the complete opposite. I love seeing this transition because it shows me that I am growing."