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His art speaks
for itself
Daniel Wang says his paintings
must be so lovely that they sell
themselves, because he can’t
do a spoken sales pitch
Daniel Wang's expression is animated as he welcomes guests to his home. Like a proud papa, he grins widely as he describes his art, his fingers rapidly moving in exaggerated motions. He gestures around the expanse of his living room, indicating his paintings, such as a watercolor of a family of monkeys in soft hues of red and orange on one wall, or a series of koi nestled among foliage on another panel.
Night of the ArtsA benefit for Oahu Arts CenterFeaturing: Food by restaurants such as Roy's Ko Olina and Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab; plus entertainment, silent auction, art activities When: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday Place: Mililani Golf Course Tickets: $50; $25 for children Call: 848-7632 or visit www.oahuartscenter.org Exhibit schedule: Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday Kaiser Permanente Honolulu Clinic: 1010 Pensacola St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 1 and 2 Sunset on the Beach Waikiki: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 3 and 4 Kaiser Permanente Waipio Clinic: 94-1480 Moaniani St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7 Artfest 2005: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16, Kapiolani Park Season's Best Craft Fair: Oct. 28 to 30, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall Sunset on the Beach Waikiki: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6 19th Annual Christmas Crafts & Food Expo: Nov. 25 to 27, Blaisdell Center
To reach the artist, fax 526-2007.
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Occasionally his fingers pause, and his interpreter relays his thoughts about the artwork he calls his "children."
These children have been on exhibit in both small- and large-scale shows in Hong Kong, San Francisco, Canada, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore, in addition to Hawaii.
"I have a lot of patience and create art from memory," he said through his friend and interpreter, Gail Odagiri. "I'm my own psychologist. I use art to express my feelings and observations from within."
The work propped up in his Honolulu living room, including a handful of T-shirt designs hand-painted in his signature bright, vivid colors, are among the pieces he will exhibit Saturday at the Second Annual Night of the Arts fund-raiser for the Oahu Arts Center.
The Oahu Arts Center, to be built in Mililani Mauka in 2010, will include a theater, classroom and studios for amateur and professional artists. Proceeds from Saturday's event -- a mix of cuisine, music, a silent auction and more -- will be used to develop programs at the future center.
WHILE WANG SMILES often, what he speaks of most is a sense of dissatisfaction that has less to do with painting itself and more to do with the trials of promoting his paintings as a deaf artist.
He has difficulty selling work to new stores, he says, and it is a struggle for him to explain his art to speaking customers through pantomiming.
"For hearing people, it's very easy to really talk and discuss their artwork with customers, so it's easier for them to earn money. So I try to be patient, but I pay the same rent, vendor fees (as hearing people)."
He has the occasional worry about making ends meet and is hoping that participating in events such as Night of the Arts will bring his work to a larger audience.
He can get frustrated because business can be up and down. "I used to sell a lot of paintings at Liberty House. A lot of people were fascinated with my work. But things changed when it became Macy's. It was just a different way of doing business."
Because it is difficult for him to explain his work, "it's important for me to create beautiful artwork so it will sell itself.
"(But art) is my passion," he said, shrugging. "It's not an easy life, but I try to be patient and sell artwork."
Wang, born in Shanghai in 1937, has been an artist for as long as he can remember, applying watercolor and pen and ink to rice paper in Lingnan fashion since he was a child.
The only deaf member of his family, Wang learned to read and write Chinese from his mother, who also saw his artistic gift. His parents hired tutors so he could properly learn Lingnan painting -- brushwork depicting romanticized interpretations of subjects such as birds, flowers and grass while including elements of realism.
Wang's first exhibition was at age 12, and by 18 he had studied with several well-known artists in China.
"I learned from my teachers' drawings for two years before going out on my own," he said, explaining his techniques such as rubbing paint onto rice paper and spreading it out for a three-dimensional effect, and his preference for painting koi.
His emphasis on composition and color reflects Lingnan traditions, he said, "but my style is my own."
Wang moved to the United States in 1977, settling in San Francisco with a brother. He taught himself English by studying a dictionary and, with the same streak of ingenuity, learned American Sign Language from a manual. His job as an aide at a mental institution wasn't fulfilling, though, and he moved to Hawaii.
These days, Wang works out of his Honolulu apartment, painting pictures of nature from memory -- 30 to 40 pieces a year. He still has a hard time parting with any of his creations.
He does not yet consider himself a "successful" artist. "I always look to the future to create new artwork. I want to make beautiful art people appreciate."
The walls of Daniel Wang's home are graced by his art work.
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