"I am always in search of a new and original manner to express myself in art. I strive to find new forms of self-expression using both contemporary and classic techniques and combines them with my own style into my art works."
Born and raised in Shanghai, China, Xiaodong "Eric" Li started drawing and painting at an early age. He worked as an art director and illustrator for a newspaper when he was a high school student. Eric obtained art training in drawing and painting at Fudan University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in International Politics and a minor in Fine Art. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Master's degree in Information Science, Eric started his career in IT as a web designer and developer. He then incorporated his artistic talent in design work.
Eric's early works were influenced by expressionists and impressionists, such as Edvard Munch and Paul Cezanne, and were known for strong color and composition. Eric has traveled extensively around the world and his trips to over 30 countries have inspired many of his most memorable paintings. Mr. Li is always in search of a new and original manner to express himself in art. He strives to find new forms of self-expression using both contemporary and classic techniques and combines them with his extraordinary style into his works. A significant change in his style occurred in recent years when he started showing a great passion of the neo-classicist style and realistic genre paintings of artists such as William-Adolphe Bouguereau and John William Godward. Eric works very hard to learn practical painting techniques in order to stay up to date in today's changing art market. Currently resides in Houston, Mr. Li is a multi-award-winning artist and a member of the Portrait Society of America (PSA), Oil Painters of America (OPA) and the National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society (NOAPS). His works have participated in numerous art exhibitions both in the US and overseas and many of his works have been privately collected.