James Yeh-Jau Liu San Francisco Panoramic Watercolor Painting

Design Plus Gallery presents a diminutive watercolor by James Yeh-Jau James Liu “Tibuore” California (1910-2003). Professionally matted and framed to lovely effect, the moody view of The City, Golden Gate Bridge and Karl the Fog is enchanting.

“He was a master of Chinese watercolor, and his studio was a tourist curiosity that drew national and international acclaim. Every inch of surface was covered by either a brush painting by him, a testimonial letter about him, or a wall map with pushpins identifying the far flung homes of his customers. Mr. Liu would wave away inquiries by saying “I am not interesting” and then prove himself wrong by reluctantly telling his life story in a thick Hunan accent. Mr. Liu was born in 1910, and rose to the rank of colonel in the Chinese army during World War II. When the Japanese were in Hunan and moving west, Mr. Liu took to horseback, riding just ahead of the invaders, and leading a scorched earth campaign. Afterward, he was recruited by Chiang Kai-shek to join four generals in a tour of Europe and the United States, to help determine the best way to rebuild China. He became a government official in Hunan province, but in 1949 was forced to flee to Taiwan with the Nationalists when the Communists took over. In 1962, Mr. Liu was invited to teach Chinese watercolor painting at San Francisco State University. After his mandatory retirement at age 65, a benefactor set him up with studio space in Tiburon. He opened Han Syi Studio in 1967, fulfilled one 20-year lease and expected to fulfill a second one.”