Artist StatementMy work is painterly and allegorical, caught somewhere in the middle between the representational painter and the narrator. I am inspired by the idea of a childhood revisited through fables, fairy tales and nursery rhymes that are often told as bedtime stories. It is through this story telling and other childhood rituals that I have begun the process of deconstructing the ideas of childhood innocence and how that may influence and imprint who we become as adults. I often find myself working simultaneously with animal imagery in a separate body of work that allows me to explore these sentient creatures and ponder their symbolism and meaning in modern and ancient cultures. The animals are not sentimental and cute but characters with a trace of humanity. It is imagination at the core of these pieces that drives me to create my own stories and interpretations that often contrast the unexpected and represent the possibility. As a contemporary painter, I choose to use a combination of indirect painting and wet-on-wet techniques. By blending these techniques, I can add bold color (wet-on-wet) as well as create depth of layers that can only be achieved through glazing. Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Gwen Wong has lived in Atlanta for nearly 30 years and has exhibited in Atlanta and nationally nearly as long. Her work can be seen in numerous private and corporate collections. Gwen Wong is a fourth generation Chinese-American artist and a graduate of the University of Georgia. She specializes in oil painting, with a diverse portfolio that includes figurative work, animal portraits, narrative scenes, and landscapes. Her work is particularly noted for the realistic portrayal of hummingbirds set against gold foliage, merging intricate details with rich, vibrant backgrounds. Her pieces blend traditional techniques with a modern perspective, offering viewers a rich and varied artistic experience that reflects her personal and cultural influences.