MeeLi's earliest memories of drawing
and painting were during the days she spent with her dad in his laundry in New
York City as he worked. He corrected her as he ironed, nurturing her every
stroke.
When she saw Rembrandt’s Aristotle
Contemplating the Bust of Homer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during an
elementary school field trip, she was mesmerized by the painting’s
light. Its drama lingered in her mind. It was then that she aspired to become
an artist some day.
She earned a B.A. and M.S. in education
from Queens College and subsequently taught elementary school in NYC. In 2001
she was honored with the prestigious Bank Street Early Childhood Award for
Excellence in Teaching. As an educator, she was afforded opportunities to
travel the world to visit museums and study priceless artwork during her
summers. It was also during the teaching of children that God prepared her to
become an artist. God taught her patience, to solve problems, to persevere, and
to be teachable. It took 33 years!
In the midst of life’s lessons, the
door opened for her to attend the Art Students League in NYC where she studied
with John Howard Sanden, Anthony Palumbo, and David A. Leffel. It was with David
Leffel that her childhood aspiration of becoming an artist blossomed. She
studied with him for three years at night after teaching during the day and during the
summers. She considers it an honor to have studied with David. Through studying
with him, she learned to have a concept in mind before she puts her brush to
the canvas and how to realize the painting's concept through the use of
composition, edges, values, color, and exploiting all the qualities of oil
paint.
Upon leaving the League, she entered
shows and competitions. Her paintings have won various awards and are in numerous
private collections. She had a one woman show at La Guardia College in Long
Island City, Queens. Her paintings were featured in Nina's Choice,
Bergdorf Goodman's art gallery in NYC.
After caring for her aging parents with
her faithful siblings; rearing a beautiful daughter; and finishing a successful teaching career; she is again in front of her easel
solving problems with patience, perseverance, being teachable, and keeping true
to the concept of each painting.
She is grateful to God, the ultimate
Creator who has made it possible for her to participate in the creative process
and to Jesus-her Savior; her healer; her therapist; her teacher; and her
inspiration for making it possible for her to be in relationship with God.
Her goal is to create
beautiful paintings with light that will linger in the viewer’s mind. It is
also her hope that her viewers will be drawn into her paintings to experience
the quietness and peacefulness that she has found in her relationship with God.