Tianya Zhou was born in 1973 in Jingzhou, China. He was awarded Bachelor’s Degree from Hubei Institute of Fine Art. He currently lives and paints in Shenzhen and works as a curator and Professional artist of Luohu Cultural Center, also as Founder and organizer of Shenzhen International Watercolor Biennial Exhibition.

Tianya is a traditional watercolor artist who mainly uses pure watercolors. His working method involves many thin layers of transparent paint, which gives a great sense of color and depth. He often applies up to 20 layers of paint before completing a work. When he travels, he often makes sketches in the place where he begins to conceive the idea of a painting and to think about the composition. He also takes photographs for reference. Back in his studio, he works to improve the composition of the sketch based on the photos. Typically, he crops and stitches reference images and adjust the colors using Photoshop.

MEMBERSHIP Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), China Artists Association (CAA), American Watercolor Society (AWS), National Watercolor Society of USA (NWS), Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC), Honorary Member of Australian Watercolour Institute(AWI).

MAJOR AWARDS / PRIZES Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI): The Debra Manifold Memorial Award(206th). The Ministry of Culture of the China and China Artists Association: Medal Award at the 10th National Arts Exhibition. Excellence Award, 7th National Watercolor and Pastel Exhibition. The American Watercolor Society International Annual Exhibition: Morris J.Shubin, AWS.Memorial Award(148th). Mary S.Litt Memorial Medal (149th). The National Watercolor Society International Annual Exhibition: Jack Richeson & Co. Purchase Award( 89th).Watercolor West Reciprocal Award(93rd). Jerry’s Artarama Award (94th). The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour: Dorothy J.Corson Award( 88th). Carl Schaefer Award(91st). Heinz Jordan Award(92nd). First Place at the Watercolor Art Society-Houston’s 32nd International Exhibition. Second Place at the VII Vina del Mar Watercolor International Biennial Exhibition, Chile.

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS The National Art Museum of China, Beijing,China; Zhengzhou Museum of Art, Zhengzhou City, Henan Prov.,China; Hubei Museum of Art, Wuhan City, Hubei Prov.,China; Guanlan Museum of Art, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Prov.,China Jack Richeson & Co., Kimberly WI ,USA, The Enjoy Casino & Resort, Viña del Mar, Chile; National Watercolour Museum “Alfredo Guati Rojo”, Mexico City, Mexico; Paper and Watermark Museum, Fabriano, Italy.

JUDGES Juror, American Watercolor Society’s 149th International Exhibition, 2016 Judge and Chairman of Jury,4th– 5th International Biennial Prize “Marche d’Acqua” Fabriano Watercolor, Italy,2016-2018. Juror, Shenzhen Biennial and National Watercolor Society’s “International Small Image Exchange Exhibition”,2016-2017. Judge, International Watercolour Salon, Greece, 2014 and 2018.

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