David Qiyi Liu Figurative Paintings

Artist Comments
A Tibetan woman holding a prayer wheel and beads radiates quiet devotion. Painted in a classical realist style, the layers of multi-step glazing and subtle tona...

Artist Comments
A young Tibetan girl on her way to school symbolizes the start of a new semester and a new life. The sun overhead casts shadows on her form, revealing the textu...

Artist Comments
Standing before a vast sunlit valley, an elder cradles a baby while holding a prayer wheel in his other hand. Layered glazes and textured brushwork render the man’s weathered face and the child’s soft skin in striking contrast. Beaded ornaments gleam against heavy garments, while warm light and an expansive sky evoke the quiet strength of faith, continuity, and tradition. Painted in oil with classical realism, the work unites cultural depth with timeless technique.

About the Artist
Artist David Qiyi Liu paints realist works in oil, blending traditions of naturalism, neoclassicism, and elements of photorealism and impressionism. “I create this work because I believe painting has the power to honor life with care and to reveal the quiet poetry of the world around us,” says David. His subjects range from portraiture and Tibetan life to landscapes and still lifes, all reflecting his reverence for both individuality and universality. Influenced by masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Velázquez, and Andrew Wyeth, he strives to unite technical precision with emotional resonance. After receiving a Fine Art degree in 1977 and a Master’s in Oil Painting in 1988, David taught for more than thirty years in China before moving to the United States in 2022. He now works from his Flushing, New York studio, where morning light fills his space with clarity and calm. Outside of painting, he enjoys studying original works in museums, exploring art books, and guiding students in their creative growth.

Words that describe this painting: elder, man, child, prayer wheel, Tibetan, culture, traditional clothing, faith, tradition, spiritual, Andrew Wyeth, Jules Bastien Lepage...

Artist Comments
This classical realist portrait presents a young woman wearing traditional clothing and a vivid red scarf. A golden glow surrounds her figure, echoing the warmt...

Artist Comments
A solitary man stands in a pale, windswept landscape, his weathered face and sheepskin coat conveying resilience and quiet dignity. Textured brushwork and delicate glazing bring out the tactile qualities of fur and skin, while muted gray tones reflect the stark plateau and enduring perseverance. This oil painting in classical realism fuses traditional techniques with a profound cultural narrative.

About the Artist
Artist David Qiyi Liu paints realist works in oil, blending traditions of naturalism, neoclassicism, and elements of photorealism and impressionism. “I create this work because I believe painting has the power to honor life with care and to reveal the quiet poetry of the world around us,” says David. His subjects range from portraiture and Tibetan life to landscapes and still lifes, all reflecting his reverence for both individuality and universality. Influenced by masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Velázquez, and Andrew Wyeth, he strives to unite technical precision with emotional resonance. After receiving a Fine Art degree in 1977 and a Master’s in Oil Painting in 1988, David taught for more than thirty years in China before moving to the United States in 2022. He now works from his Flushing, New York studio, where morning light fills his space with clarity and calm. Outside of painting, he enjoys studying original works in museums, exploring art books, and guiding students in their creative growth.

Words that describe this painting: man, sheepskin, coat, cultural, heritage, figure, Andrew Wyeth, Jules Bastien Lepage...