NING YEH (Chinese 20th Century) A PAINTING, "Horses," ink on paper, signed and dated "Spring 1980" L/L. 40 1/4" x 26 1/4" Framed. Provenance: Purchased from the artist. Estimate: $2,000.00 - $4,000.00 NOTE: Ning Yeh was born in China into a family with a renowned artistic tradition for generations. His father, an army general, was renowned for horse painting. He was given the name Ning, meaning tranquility, to celebrate the end of the Second World War. Ning Yeh's art training started when he was seven, after the family moved to Taiwan in 1949. His daily practice included the Four Gentlemen (plum, orchid, bamboo and mum) and calligraphy. At the age of fifteen, the focus of his training turned to horse painting, his family tradition. He proceeded with floral and landscape paintings and gradually developed his own style. Ning was a good student in high school; he became the university draft choice in 1964 and enrolled in the school of diplomacy. In 1969, the State Department invited the young artist to come to California for an exhibition tour. Ning Yeh accepted scholarships and subsequently received his Ph.D. in Asian Studies and Government at Claremont Graduate School. Dr. Yeh began teaching both Social Sciences and Brush Painting in 1972. Nixon’s visit to China prompted Dr. Yeh to make the decision to focus on his art, and he left his aspirations of being a diplomat behind. He became a full-time art professor and in Orange County, California, where he developed one of the most extensive Chinese Brush Painting programs in the United States. He was three times the recipient of the National Teaching Excellence Award, among many other teaching honors. He started the American Artists of Chinese Brush Painting (AACBP), which grew to 500 members and began to lead tours of American Artists to Taiwan and continued to China when China began opening to the West. His extensive travel throughout China made him an adviser to the China Tourism Office. Dr. Yeh continues his work, deepening and broadening his role as an artist, teacher, author, filmmaker, traveler, and cultural ambassador. He lives and maintains his studio in Huntington Beach, California. He is a loving husband to his wife and business partner of nearly 40 years Ling Chi and is a dedicated father to his two children Evan and Ja-Shin. [biographical information from Dr. Yeh's website]