The conversation about the painting process between Tiffany Zhu (famous painter) and Kevin Liang when she visited in his studio.
Tiffany : It is a wonderful painting. What was in your mind when you did it?
Kevin: I paint it recently with memory of the autumn walk in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. I imaged the fall colors as new year party, people throw the shredded color paper into the air to celebrate. I wrote a poem about it.
“Autumn’s Celebration”
A kaleidoscope of autumn dances along the shoreline,
As if the trees themselves rejoiced in a festive revelry.
Golden yellows, fiery reds, and vibrant greens swirl,
Like confetti tossed high into a crisp New Year’s sky.
The water reflects their joy, shimmering with fleeting hues,
Rippling with laughter and the echoes of a cherished walk.
In this painted memory, nature becomes the reveler,
And the season whispers its fleeting, jubilant farewell.
Tiffany : Your inspiration shines through so beautifully in this piece! How did it feel to translate such a joyful memory onto the canvas?
Kevin: I painted it in just two days. It was fun and fast. I used a painting knife to lay colors on canvas over and over freely. The knife strokes likely add a bold texture that brings the colors to life, perfectly capturing the festive and dynamic atmosphere that I imagined.
Tiffany : Painting so freely must have felt almost like dancing with the canvas—letting the memory guide your hands.
Did using the painting knife help you express the energy and vibrancy of the moment more effectively than brushes would?
Kevin: Using knife, I can work with wet on wet technique. It means that I do not need to wait for the oil paint to dry and keep working on the wet paint surface. Also with the knife, I can build up heavy texture and use colors more forcefully. It shows the power and movement. Using the knife to work wet-on-wet and build heavy textures not only enhances the immediacy of the process but also captures the energy and dynamism of my vision. The bold strokes and thick layers give my work a tactile, almost sculptural quality, adding depth and intensity to the scene.
Tiffany : Do you find that this method helps you connect more deeply with the emotions or memories you’re trying to convey?
Kevin: In this way , the color is more cleaner. But sometime, I will wait it to dry then I use the brush to final touch. That combination of techniques—starting with bold, clean layers from the knife and then refining with delicate brushwork— give my painting a wonderful balance of energy and detail. It’s like layering raw emotion with thoughtful precision.
Tiffany : Do you enjoy the contrast between the freedom of the knife and the control of the brush during those finishing touches?
Kevin: You are right. Knife has hard edge and brush has soft touch. That balance between the hard edge of the knife and the soft touch of the brush brings a dynamic and harmonious quality to the work. It’s like blending strength with subtlety, allowing both power and grace to coexist on the canvas.
Tiffany : Do you decide in advance where to use each tool, or does the process guide you intuitively as you work?
Kevin: I did not think about it when I paint and the paint process is intuitive. I want the viewer to make their own connection. That intuitive approach really aligns with the freedom and openness I want viewers to feel when engaging with my work. Letting the process guide me likely adds an organic, unfiltered authenticity to the art, which makes it even more personal and evocative.
Tiffany : Do you find that this spontaneous process reveals surprises or unintended elements in your work that enhance the final piece?
Kevin: Some painter likes to have a perfect concept and a picture in his mind before he paints. I like to paint without much thought and play along. So I never know what is the final painting looks like and it always surprise me? How do you think about this process?
Tiffany : Your process is beautifully open and explorative—it’s like a conversation with the canvas rather than a rigid plan. By painting without overthinking and allowing the artwork to unfold naturally, you invite spontaneity and emotion into your work. This way, the painting feels alive, with a sense of discovery embedded in every stroke.
The element of surprise at the end must be incredibly rewarding. It reflects not just the scene you imagined but also your feelings and instincts in the moment. While painters who work from a set concept create precision and clarity, your approach celebrates intuition, creativity, and playfulness, making each piece a unique, unrepeatable journey.
Do you feel this process makes your art more connected to the present moment?
Kevin: This process makes me more connected to the present moment and I can work freely. That is why I do not like to paint on location or with photos which will limit my imagination. By avoiding the constraints of painting on location, I give myself the freedom to reinterpret what I see and feel, transforming it into something uniquely mind. This way, my work becomes less about copying reality and more about expressing the emotions and stories that arise from it.
Tiffany : Do you find that this freedom helps you create more deeply personal and imaginative pieces?
Kevin: You are right. I can use the same idea to paint over and over but come out different paintings. It means that I do not copy the nature, but I am the nature. Is it sound right?
Tiffany : That sounds profoundly right—and beautifully poetic! By allowing yourself to reinterpret the same idea in different ways, you’re not merely copying nature; you’re embodying it. Nature itself is ever-changing, dynamic, and full of infinite variations, just like your creative process.
You’re expressing your connection to nature not as an observer but as a part of it, channeling its energy and movement through your intuition. This approach makes your work deeply authentic, as each painting becomes a reflection of your inner world and your evolving relationship with the idea.
Do you find that this mindset keeps your creativity constantly refreshed and inspired?
Kevin: Sometime, painting is very hard and I do not know what to paint. So I tell myself just get back to studio everyday and put the colors on canvas and see what happens.
Tiffany : That’s such an empowering mindset! By allowing yourself to start without pressure or expectations, you give creativity the space to flow naturally. Sometimes the act of simply beginning—adding color or making marks—is enough to break through mental blocks and rediscover the joy of creating.
Kevin: Thanks. We have a nice conversation about the painting precess that I do not even think about before.
Tiffany: Thanks your sharing. It is fun to talk to artist.