Andrea Allen

As a child in Michigan, I was fortunate to begin taking art lessons at the age of four. At age ten, I studied and made ceramics, and my life-long passion for creating art was born! Studying art at Western Michigan University gave me the opportunity to further my artistic interests and skills. My move to California challenged me artistically even more as I began studying Chinese Brush Painting. After six years of study in this ancient art form, I knew I had found my soul's true artistic home! I continue my love for the Dynasty-old Brush Strokes and have been painting, teaching, and exhibiting in this style for over three decades. The desire to be part of an artistic community led me to a wonderful art studio on the Bay in Sausalito. Here I was further inspired by the majesty of the water, incorporating my experiences into my paintings, as well as the ceramics I was now additionally creating. Living on my houseboat for ten years also added to the overall quest for dynamic-serenity in my work and my life. My move to Gualala five years ago has totally fulfilled my passion for being part of a fantastic art community! I continue my painting and ceramics while looking out of my studio at the magnificent ocean. I am incredibly inspired to incorporate all the new visual and sensory experiences into my work while continuing to utilize all the traditional Chinese techniques, balanced with a subtle contemporary flair. Ancient symbolism and philosophy continue to influence my work, enhancing the feeling of vital energy and serenity. The overall effect is for the viewer to be effortlessly invited into each painting,

experiencing a peaceful balance and harmony in a timeless continuum. I am very proud to have exhibited extensively throughout the Bay Area, including the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. My work is in many art collections around the world, including famous singers and actors. As I continue to share this ancient art form, my wish is that each painting brings the viewer as much joy as it did me as I was creating it.