Biography
Product Description
Jason Li is an award-winning watercolor artist based in Southern California. Known for his distinctive style and diverse range of subjects, his work has garnered widespread recognition within the art community and among collectors. His paintings have also reached millions of people through various consumer products.
Jason earned his Bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Guangzhou Institute of Fine Arts in China in 1989. He relocated to California in 1992 and went on to complete his Master’s degree at California State University, Fullerton, in 1997.
Upon graduating, Jason embarked on a lifelong pursuit of refining his artistic skills. Over the years, he has worked as a lead illustrator, art director, design company founder, and professional artist. Despite his success in the trend-driven giftware industry, Jason has always yearned for the freedom to create art that allows for spontaneous expression and deep personal exploration.
A classically trained portrait artist, Jason's portraiture is characterized by unmatched precision and a wistful, dreamlike quality. His love for landscape painting is equally strong, particularly the stunning California coastlines, sunny deserts, and awe-inspiring forests. Through his art, he delves into personal beliefs and emotional connections, capturing the magic of light, the fluidity of movement, and the richness of nature with refined details. His work not only creates dramatic visual impacts but also reflects his extraordinary technical skill and deep appreciation for beauty.
Jason is a Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and artist member of the California Art Club. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States and China, and is collected by art collectors and institutions worldwide. In addition to his gallery work, Jason has received commissions to create large-format watercolor for hospitals murals and main reception areas. His work has been featured in prominent art publications such as American Art Collector Magazine and Plein Air Magazine. He has also been invited to participate in high-profile Plein Air events, including the Laguna Plein Air Invitational and the Borrego Art Institute Plein Air Invitational. For Jason, the creative process is a source of immense joy, constantly driving him to evolve. He embraces challenges and steps outside his comfort zone, infusing his art with freshness and unexpected surprises.
Recent Projects and Awards:
● Commissioned to create a 4' x 12' watercolor painting for the main reception area at UC Irvine, 2024.
● Commissioned to create a 30-foot-long watercolor mural for a corridor at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, 2023.
● Laguna Art Museum Award, 26th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational, 2024
● Joe Hanks Van Cleave Foundation Award, 26th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational, 2024
● Featured in American Art Collector Magazine, June 2024 issue
● Featured in Plein Air Magazine, June–July 2023 issue
● Directors' Choice Award, 25th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational, 2023
● 1st Place, "Best of Plein Air" Award, LPAPA's 20th Annual "Best of Plein Air," 2024
● 1st Place, LPAPA 8th Annual "Waterworks," 2024
● 1st Place, 6th Annual LPAPA Squared, 2024
● 1st Place & Director’s Choice Award, San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, SoCal PAPA, 2024
● 1st Place, 2024 heART of Orange County All Media Competition, California
● 1st Place, 2023 heART of Orange County All Media Competition, California
● Judge, Old Town Tustin Art Walk Plein Air Contest, California, 2023
● 1st Place, LPAPA–Art & Nature Art Show, 2020
● Southern California Art Association Award, 51st Watercolor West International Exhibition, 2019
● Selected for the 13th Chinese National Art Exhibition, 2019 (one of the most prestigious fine art exhibitions in China, held every five years)
● 1st Place & People’s Choice Award, Old Town Tustin Art Walk Plein Air Contest, 2019
A classically trained portrait artist, Jason's portraiture is characterized by unmatched precision and a wistful, dreamlike quality. His love for landscape painting is equally strong, particularly the stunning California coastlines, sunny deserts, and awe-inspiring forests. Through his art, he delves into personal beliefs and emotional connections, capturing the magic of light, the fluidity of movement, and the richness of nature with refined details. His work not only creates dramatic visual impacts but also reflects his extraordinary technical skill and deep appreciation for beauty.
Jason is a Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and artist member of the California Art Club. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States and China, and is collected by art collectors and institutions worldwide. In addition to his gallery work, Jason has received commissions to create large-format watercolor for hospitals murals and main reception areas. His work has been featured in prominent art publications such as American Art Collector Magazine and Plein Air Magazine. He has also been invited to participate in high-profile Plein Air events, including the Laguna Plein Air Invitational and the Borrego Art Institute Plein Air Invitational. For Jason, the creative process is a source of immense joy, constantly driving him to evolve. He embraces challenges and steps outside his comfort zone, infusing his art with freshness and unexpected surprises.
Recent Projects and Awards:
● Commissioned to create a 4' x 12' watercolor painting for the main reception area at UC Irvine, 2024.
● Commissioned to create a 30-foot-long watercolor mural for a corridor at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, 2023.
● Laguna Art Museum Award, 26th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational, 2024
● Joe Hanks Van Cleave Foundation Award, 26th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational, 2024
● Featured in American Art Collector Magazine, June 2024 issue
● Featured in Plein Air Magazine, June–July 2023 issue
● Directors' Choice Award, 25th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational, 2023
● 1st Place, "Best of Plein Air" Award, LPAPA's 20th Annual "Best of Plein Air," 2024
● 1st Place, LPAPA 8th Annual "Waterworks," 2024
● 1st Place, 6th Annual LPAPA Squared, 2024
● 1st Place & Director’s Choice Award, San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, SoCal PAPA, 2024
● 1st Place, 2024 heART of Orange County All Media Competition, California
● 1st Place, 2023 heART of Orange County All Media Competition, California
● Judge, Old Town Tustin Art Walk Plein Air Contest, California, 2023
● 1st Place, LPAPA–Art & Nature Art Show, 2020
● Southern California Art Association Award, 51st Watercolor West International Exhibition, 2019
● Selected for the 13th Chinese National Art Exhibition, 2019 (one of the most prestigious fine art exhibitions in China, held every five years)
● 1st Place & People’s Choice Award, Old Town Tustin Art Walk Plein Air Contest, 2019