Serene, evocative, intimate, ethereal—those words convey the essence of the softly impressionistic portraiture of Chicago-based artist Mary Qian. Although Qian’s command of color and technique is exceptional, her style also suggests a sense of innocence and promise, perhaps because the artist herself is still on a personal journey of self-discovery.

Mary Qian (Illinois)

Rob Rhythm Of Black
Oil
16″ By 12″
Starting a series of models in black.

Mary Qian (Illinois)

White
Oil
18″ By 17″
This is the first piece I did with a model in a white dress on a white surrounding. I used to prefer a more contrasted setup, but the color in this very high-key setup is so rich, I started a series after that.