People : Spotlight on achievers

Steven Jian Chen

Artist, Cypress

Chinese-born artist Steven Jian Chen has long been able to “express his soul” by creating in the freehand style, or “Xie-Yi,” of traditional Chinese painting. He is now inspiring others in Orange County to use the ancient art form, which has a history of more than 2,000 years.

Chen, who teaches Chinese painting at Saddleback College, recently shared the art form with members of the Huntington Beach Art Associates.

What makes Chinese painting different from Western art forms, he said, is the tools used: Chinese brushes, special inks and paints and rice paper. He said the secret to the painting, which “comes from the mind,” is in the movement and control of the brush, using Chinese calligraphy strokes.

Chen, 35, moved to this country in 1992, and lives in Cypress with his wife, Diane, who also paints. Chen started painting as a boy and was inspired by his father, who was also an artist and teacher.

He eventually earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the prestigious Chinese National Academy of Fine Arts in Hangzhou, China, where he grew up.

Chen said he likes the freehand style--painting mostly flowers and birds--because it allows him to express his soul, incorporating Chinese tradition into the expression of modern feelings.

Huntington Beach Art Associates’ next demonstration will be Nov. 30 at the Central Library and Cultural Center and will feature pastel artist Barnard Fallon.

Nancy Palmer

Member, Fairview Regional Park committee, Costa Mesa

Nancy Palmer has spent years working and enjoying time with her family at Fairview Regional Park.

Now, as the most recently appointed member of the park committee, the 41-year-old landscape architectural consultant will play a new role in the life of the park and help decide the course of its much-debated future.

Palmer’s work with the park goes back almost a decade. In 1986, she was hired by the city to work on the master plan for the 210-acre park in Costa Mesa. She also worked on the construction of the entrance and the parking lot, the only parts of the park that are developed.

Palmer previously remained quiet about her own wishes for the park, creating a plan based on the advice of committee members and residents.

“This time I am the one who gets to share her slanted opinion,” Palmer said.

The creation of a new park plan promises to draw attention from two vocal factions of local residents who have competing visions for the park’s future.

One would like to see the park left the way it is. The other, citing a lack of recreational facilities in other city parks, would like to see some baseball diamonds and soccer fields.