Summary
On a recent Saturday trek to Art First Studio, located at 69-40 108th St, PR3, a group including myself, were treated to a three hour workshop conducted by artist Zhaoman Zeng (website www.zengzhaoman.com), known as Aman. He, along with his wife Jane Qiang, and apprentice/student Baoyi Zeng, an artist in her own right, guided us novices in a step by step fashion, by demonstrating technique, pencil sketching, mixing paint, and then creating a scene on a provided woodcut from a still life or a photo. The environment, supportive and encouraging, is surrounded by Aman’s completed works, in different methods and styles, hung around the walls. The couple, who live in Rego Park, opened the studio in December, and Jane, who attends a creative writing class at Elmhurst Library, invited class members to share in the experience of this art venture, a time we will surely reflect upon with smiles.
I spoke with Jane and Aman, who together moved to the United States six years ago with their three children, including twins. Jane worked as a documentary filmmaker and journalist in China for two and a half years, and held positions such as curator, magazine editor, and graphic designer. While balancing her husband’s studio, she hopes to return to school for study once again, preferably in the visual arts.
How have things progressed since the Art Studio (www.artfirst.studio) opened in December. At this point, classes are geared towards children. When do you hope to open workshops for adults?
Jane: Our studio is busy every day and fully booked on Sundays. Aman offers one-on-one classes, and teaches part-time at a tutoring center once a week, and he travels to Long Island to teach weekly as well. I plan to hold Saturday classes for adults, parents, and kids, to make our studio more community centered.
Why did you choose Forest Hills as your location to open?
Jane: We chose to settle in Forest Hills upon our arrival in the U.S, due to its beautiful old houses and excellent school district. I’ve noticed a growing community of Chinese middle-class immigrants, including painters, filmmakers, visiting scholars, and intellectuals.
How does working in the studio environment affect your creative process, and could you share a bit about your artistic journey, and how you developed your skills, including your choices of style?
Aman: The studio is a place where artists can be alone, think and create, and build a utopia in this small space. I have been self-taught in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy since I was a child, and I also love writing. These hobbies can help me get rid of the confusion in my growth. At the age of 22, I was admitted to the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the best Art University in China. When I was young, I always learned from all the masters: Their observation methods, perspectives, and styles, until I understood all the secrets of their artistic skills. I began to trace my own growth in terms of subject matter, such as the countryside of my childhood, to the capital of Beijing, and later I went to Japan and South Korea, before coming to the United States in 2019. During the pandemic, our family of five traveled around the United States in an RV for half a year, 25 states, and 18,000 miles. Along the way, my creative style became more diversified. I call it the style of “Polyphonic Narrative,” which combines expressionism, cubism, graffiti, pop, subconscious, word puns, calligraphy, etc. A painting is almost a personal art history.
What are the future plans for the studio space? What kinds of workshops will be offered? How about internships/apprenticeships?
Aman: I aim to recruit adult art enthusiasts to collaborate on creating and exhibiting art. Our studio will feature a small gallery for visitors to engage, communicate, and potentially purchase art, enhancing community life. We invite scholars, poets, filmmakers, and artists to hold cultural exchange lectures. Currently, our painting courses help children ages 11-18 pursue their artistic education, with successful outcomes. For younger kids (6-10), we focus on guidance and exploration through various materials like sketching, collage, and clay to foster creativity and skills. We also offer art self-study for high school students and adults, and are looking for interns, translators, and volunteers to join our team.
The bulk of your work is now being done on site. Aside from sharing your work at the studio, is there a goal for an upcoming art gallery exhibition, or can sales be negotiated online?
Aman: I recently completed my solo exhibition at the Great Neck Library in February, and am preparing for another at a church in Brooklyn. I’ve never sold my artwork online and have focused on creating. I also hope to find some open call exhibitions through the internet, so that some of my large scale works can have a chance to be displayed.
When I attended the studio space with a group of beginners on Saturday, I found it to be a pleasant supportive environment. We enjoyed focusing on the task of creating while having fun. Is there much difference in method, as far as workshops for novices compared to those with previous training?
Aman: Adults with a painting foundation may have a specific aesthetic to build on. Those without a foundation need guidance on basic principles like modeling techniques, color rules, and composition.
Currently, your website www.artfirst.studio, is in Chinese. Do you plan to upgrade the website soon, and make it bilingual in order to attract more clients from the general public?
Jane: Our website has been under construction since the studio opened. Since Aman mainly teaches in Chinese, our target customers are primarily Chinese families. We are excited to offer a bilingual art class for our Saturday painting Salon, welcoming both parents and children! Baoyi joins us as a translator and assistant for Aman. I can’t wait to build my confidence so I can help Aman with translations too, and welcome even more students into our creative community!
Jane, you have also embarked on writing poetry and personal narratives. Is there an interest in combining your creative impulse with language with other art forms and modalities?
Jane: Writing is an accessible way to create and entertain. I really enjoy my Creative Writing class on Fridays because it allows me to express myself. In the future, I may integrate writing into my visual creations, possibly through images, videos, or publications.
James is the Vice President of the Newtown Civic Association, the Elmhurst Memorial League, and Elmhurst History and Cemeteries Preservation Society.
