Artist: Shaoli Chen
Title: Suburban Scene
Date: 2012
Medium: Oil painting on cardboard
Dimensions: 50 x 60 cm
Signature: Signed lower right, Shaoli 2012

Shaoli Chen’s Suburban Scene captures a tranquil rural setting, where towering trees dominate the landscape, their slender trunks stretching skyward against a muted sky. The artist employs a naturalistic palette of deep greens and earthy browns, evoking a sense of serenity and nostalgia. A small wooden structure nestled among the foliage hints at a humble dwelling or rest stop, adding a human touch to the expansive greenery.

In the foreground, a small group of figures engages in leisurely conversation, their presence lending a narrative to the scene. A woman with a parasol and another figure in a sunhat suggest a leisurely outdoor excursion, contrasting with the grand scale of nature around them. The brushwork is delicate yet expressive, with soft edges that create an atmospheric depth, reinforcing the peaceful, almost dreamlike quality of the composition.

About the Artist:
Chen Shaoli, born in Penglai, Shandong Province, and raised in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, is a renowned Chinese oil painter. He earned a master’s degree in oil painting from the Nanjing Academy of Art in 1989. Currently serving as the deputy director of the Department of Southern Art and a master's supervisor, he is also a member of the China Artists Association and a director of the Jiangsu Oil Painting Society. His works often explore themes of nature and everyday life, characterized by a delicate balance between realism and poetic atmosphere.