Xiaohong Song

The September October show at the Top Shelf Gallery, East & West, Paintings & Drawings by Xiaohong, will feature painting, drawings and yarn works by Xiaohong Song. This will be the second appearance by the North Windham artist, who produces florals, still lifes, landscapes, and portraits in a number of media, including oil, watercolor, charcoal, and pencil. The show will open officially with an artist's reception Wednesday September 16 at 5:30.

Song says that her "art is inspired by quiet moments in everyday life" along with nature and memory, and she produces poetic charcoal drawings of everyday objects, as well as decorative watercolors of floral subjects.

Trained in China, Song's talent was spotted in elementary school when her teacher recommended her for art study at the Children's Palace. Later, she learned oil painting and various watercolor techniques through online courses.

Song enjoys other art forms besides painting and drawing. Under her pen name, Qingheart, she has written novels, essays and poems, and she mentions her joy in singing in her church choir. "Although I wasn't very good at it, I was still very happy." she says.

A similar can do attitude led to her fulfilling her dream of dancing by joining a troupe. "I believe that art is the best gift God has given to mankind; all forms of art are a blessing from God," she says. " I feel immense joy swimming in the ocean of art!"

Although Song's training was clearly traditional, she has an experimental side. Not content with the traditional paint media, she likes to "paint" with yarn, which she thinks can provide a different visual feeling.

Whatever the medium, her motivation remains the same. "Through my art," she says, " I hope to bring viewers a sense of calm, kindness, and quiet beauty in a complicated world!"

Song participates in Artists Open Studios in our area, as well as showing her work at The Slater Memorial Museum, Paul Nigra Center, and Arts of Tolland.

The Top Shelf Gallery is at Fletcher Memorial Library, 257 Main Street, Hampton. Info at 860-455-1086.