Lan Fang
Lan Fang is a contemporary Canadian watercolor artist known for realistic and figurative still lifes and landscapes. Trained in watercolor painting at Tsinghua University in China, where a Bachelor of Arts degree was earned, Lan Fang now resides and works in British Columbia, Canada. The practice reflects a deep technical command of watercolor alongside a sustained engagement with natural observation.
Lan Fang is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC), a distinction held by only a small number of artists. In March 2025, the work Orchids and Jade Pot on a Silk Scarf was selected for the CSPWC 100th Anniversary Elected Member Exhibition, one of just thirty-five works included internationally. Later that year, the same painting received the Most Outstanding Work Award at the IWS Canada United Through Watercolour 2025 exhibition.
Since 2019, Lan Fang has received numerous international recognitions. These include first place on paper at the McMichael Gallery’s En Plein Air Painting Competition in Ontario for two consecutive years, first place at the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society Spring International Watercolor Open in 2023, a Top 200 placement at the International Watercolor Masters in 2024, and a Top 50 Landscape Award for Autumn in Algonquin. Representation of Canada at the Fabriano Acquarello Watercolor Competition in both 2022 and 2024 further situates the work within an international watercolor context.
The subject matter of the work is closely tied to the natural landscapes of Ontario and British Columbia. Light, shadow, and surface are treated with careful attention, emphasizing quiet detail and balance. The practice is grounded in close observation of the environment and a sustained attentiveness to natural forms, textures, and atmospheres.
Underlying the work is a philosophy of reverence toward nature and the Earth. The paintings reflect a belief in the value and resilience of all life and advocate for care, protection, and coexistence. Engagement with nature is not only visual but also contemplative, shaping both the technical and spiritual dimensions of the work. Through watercolor, Lan Fang explores harmony between humanity and the natural world, emphasizing beauty as something to be observed, respected, and preserved.
