Clement Lee Biography
After a successful career in engineering and marketing, Clement returned to his love of art in 2006 and immersed himself in art studies at Portland State University and PNCA. His diverse interest in modern art contributes to his varied style, ranging from abstract to realism, from painting to drawing to collage. He is currently focused on abstract art.
Having lived in three different continents, his painting style is influenced by the bold, gestural style of Chinese calligraphy, the vibrant colors of Brazil and the abstract expressionism and the realism of the Bay Area Figurative Movement.
Clement Lee Artist Statement
My art is a fusion of multiple cultures, the result of having lived on three continents, making my home in China, Brazil and the U.S. This cultural blend inspires my art and often reflects the inherent conflicts resulting from such diverse cultures.
The art that I create draws on this background as a way of connecting with and expressing my impressions of the world around me. Depending on mood, events, or an inner voice, the essence of one culture may dominate my work bringing out the gestural strokes of calligraphy, the heat and vibe of an afternoon in Rio, or the abstract reflection of simply looking up and looking down.
Acrylic is my primary medium, often enhanced by the use of charcoal, pastel, oil pastel, Conté crayon and frequently incorporating collage effects to tell a story or express a feeling. I use brushes, palate knives and any object within reach that will make the mark I seek on paper or canvas.
Painting for me is a process of putting down strokes, adding to, subtracting from, working toward an as yet unknown finish. It is pleasure, frustration, uplifting and pensive. My paintings capture a moment in time, past or present. They are revealing yet constrained, simple in their complexity, personal and honest.
After a successful career in engineering and marketing, Clement returned to his love of art in 2006 and immersed himself in art studies at Portland State University and PNCA. His diverse interest in modern art contributes to his varied style, ranging from abstract to realism, from painting to drawing to collage. His painting style is influenced primarily by the bold, gestural style of Chinese calligraphy and abstract expressionism and the realism of the Bay Area Figurative Movement.