Li Zijian's portraits of grandmothers capture the details and kindness of ordinary people. Provided to China Daily

Ordinary people come alive under the brush of artist Li Zijian, whose oil paintings focus on love and humanity.

US-based artist Li Zijian has made it his life vocation to depict ordinary people and explore the humanity underneath in his works. His oil paintings have always focused on a single theme: love and humanity. People from all walks of life - gray-haired grandmothers, young children playing along rivers, pregnant mothers and vagrant Americans - come alive under his brush.

"All of my works form a well-organized body," says the 58-year-old artist. "It has various categories. Each category has its own voice, just like actors of a drama. Every actor has his role in the play. But when they play together, it becomes a fantastic drama."

Since 1993, Li has been touring the world with his works, stepping on the soil of more than 30 countries and regions. His paintings have been displayed in cities across the world, such as London, Paris, New York, Jakarta, Cape Town and Lima.

"I'm always on the road to explore new places. I enjoy painting while traveling," says Li.

Whenever Li arrives in a new city, he goes around taking pictures first. He usually stays in hotels for days, immersing himself into the arts scene of the city.

In the past three years of holding exhibitions in 23 cities in China, Li has also produced about 100 oil paintings. He displayed all 269 of his masterpieces at his recent exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing. It's the last stop of his homeland tour exhibition.

An artist's works reflect his inner mind, Li says. That's how it is with his works.

"I hope people can be touched by the goodness of my paintings. They can see it and feel it. Just like what Buddhism advocates, to serve people with kindness," says Li.

As a realism artist, Li's works excel in capturing details and dealing with light. New York art critic Dannis Wepman once praised him for his mastering of light and said the individual dignity in his works breaks nationality barriers.

In Li's words, it's the ordinary people in his works that attracts visitors to his shows, regardless of their nationalities.

"I believe in doing arts for life. I'm proud that everyone understands my paintings," he says.

Li was born in Shaoyang in Hunan province. He spent his childhood in the countryside. After middle school, he was forced to work in factories to earn a living. In 1977, he went to Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and moved to Los Angeles in 1988.

Many of his paintings are influenced by his childhood memory of living in the countryside, such as his series of Red Floral Quilt and Grandma.

"People in other countries know about the daily life of Chinese people through my paintings. They can also see the kindness of my people," says Li.

While most of his works show the kindness of ordinary people, one painting is filled with blood and violence: Nanjing Massacre. It's also the one that brought Li international fame in 1991.

"It's another way of expressing my theme - humanity and love. Although it's full of blood, it reminds people to love the world, not to kill," Li says.

After the recent show in Beijing, Li says he wants to free himself from the mundane world and spend time thinking about his life and arts. But he will never stop depicting ordinary people to show their inner love and humanity.

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