PERSONAL CONNECTION: Most of the Chinese railroad workers and mining-town laborers who helped build the American West came from southern Chinas Siyi region, where artist Mian Situ was raised. (Myung J. Chun / LAT)
Mian Situ works on his painting as his daughter Lisa, 5, stands nearby. Situ is one of fifty impressionist painters from across the country competing in the second annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational Painting Competition. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
