Lian Zhen is an award winging artist and teacher in watercolor and Chinese painting nationwide and abroad. Also, he is one of the most popular authors for North Light Books in the US.

He started sketching and painting since he was ten-years old and continue as his hobby when he was a family physician in Canton Province, China. In 1985 he immigrated to the United States. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of California at Berkeley in 1992 and a Master of Architecture Degree from MIT in 1996. He has many shows in the US, Hong Kong and China and developed an international following.

His paintings hang in numerous institutional and private collections including the MIT Museum which has collected 14 of his paintings. Among awards he has received including both 1997 and 1998 awards from the International Animal in Arts Competitions.

His art teaching experience includes at the University of California at Berkeley where he taught watercolor outdoor sketching for 8 years; watercolor and Chinese painting workshops nationwide in the US and in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, China and South Africa (see his workshop schedules on the Workshops page). He has been an invited juror for California, Colorado, New Mexico and Kentucky Watercolor Societies' exhibitions and other local shows in the US. His paintings featured in Watercolor 94 Spring, Splash4, the Splendor of Light, Collectors (Hong Kong) and Landscape on Watercolor (UK), Painter's Quick Reference books published by North Light Books: " Flowers and Blooms", "Dogs and Cats", "Birds and Butterflies", "Landscapes" and "Drawing and Painting Animals - the Essential Guide".

His two books published by North Light Books are distributed internationally. The Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolor, published in October of 2000 and the Chinese Watercolor Techniques - Painting Animals, published in December of 2004, along with video and DVD demos made by Teaching Arts in UK. Both books were main selections for North Light Book Club members. His third book Chinese Watercolor Techniques For Exquisite Flowers will be published in Feb. or 2009. Also, Lian self-published his painting book named "Spirit of Life" that collected 56 of his paintings in 2003.

Chinese Watercolor Techniques For Exquisite Flowers publishing in Feb. 2009 by North Light Books. Through a number of step-by-step demonstrations, readers will learn how to paint flowers in a variety of techniques including Chinese Spontaneous style, Chinese Detail style and traditional Western watercolor style. In addition, the author provides creative twists to each style including printing with glass, wrinkling rice paper, using a glue resist, blowing color and painting on primed canvas. A concise chapter on composition will provide readers with everything they need to be successful by covering placement, balance, dynamic movement and focal points. The flowers portrayed in the book are favorites among watercolor painters and many are painted in two styles to provide a variety of options to readers.

Chinese Watercolor Painting Techniques - Painting Animals, published in December 2004 by North Light Books. Lian's powerful art illustrates the limitless creative possibilities of Chinese and watercolor paintings. He combines his inspirational art with clear, practical instruction in easy-to-follow demonstrations. You are sure to discover nature's beauty in new ways as you uncover the secrets of Lian's art.

This book is North Light's main selection book of February, 2005.

This book is North Light's main selection book of January, 2001.