Email: jiang678@126.com

Academic Title
Tenured Professor

Education

·Sep 1984 – Jul 1988: B.A. in Textile and Fashion Design, Central Academy of Crafts and Arts (now Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University)

·Sep 1996 – Feb 1997: Advanced Studies, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France

Professional Experience

·Jul 1988 – Sep 1994: Teaching Assistant, Central Academy of Crafts and Arts

·Sep 1994 – Aug 2002: Lecturer, Central Academy of Crafts and Arts

·Aug 2001 – Dec 2022: Associate Professor, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

·Dec 2022 – Present: Associate Professor, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

Professional Affiliations

·Committee Member & Deputy Secretary-General, Watercolor Art Committee, China Artists Association

·Editorial Board Member, Chinese Watercolor

·Deputy Director, Beijing Watercolor Art Committee

·Academic Secretary, Beijing Watercolor Art Committee

·Council Member, Beijing Watercolor Society

·Deputy Director, Beijing Watercolor Art Research Institute

Research Field
Contemporary Watercolor Expression: Expanding the language of watercolor through conceptual innovation, formal experimentation, aqueous material studies, and technical exploration.

Academic Philosophy
Artists must revere life, embrace love for humanity, and shoulder social responsibility. Authenticity in art arises from heartfelt engagement with lived experiences. My work centers on capturing light and shadow as metaphors for humanity’s bond with nature.

In watercolor practice, "adapting to the medium’s fluidity while embracing serendipity" transcends technique—it embodies an aesthetic philosophy. Intuition, not dogma, guides the dialogue between artist and medium, yielding dynamic, rhythmic compositions.

Academic Output
Publications

·Understanding Watercolor (People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, 2002)

·Case Studies of Tsinghua Academy Faculty: Jiang Zhinan (Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House, 2014)

·Watercolor Copying Models (Southwest China Normal University Press, 2015)

·Light Chaser: Jiang Zhinan’s Watercolor (Jilin Fine Arts Publishing House, Tsinghua Academy Tutorial Series)

·Insights: Jiang Zhinan’s Watercolor Works (2010)

·Faith in Light: Selected Watercolors by Jiang Zhinan (2018)

·Instructional DVD How to Paint Watercolor

Selected Papers

·Insights, My "Casual Observations" (core journals)

·On the Vitality of Illusory Art, Questioning the "Authenticity" of Pharmaceutical Ads (core journals)

Teaching Innovations
Developed an open-ended pedagogical framework for undergraduate and graduate courses, emphasizing progressive mastery of watercolor techniques. Mentored students to win dozens of awards, including:

·University-Level Outstanding Graduate (1 student)

·Outstanding Thesis Awards (3 students)

·Outstanding Graduation Project Awards (3 students)

Key Exhibitions & Collaborations

·2020: Youthful Colors, Heroic Figures (People’s Daily); National Watercolor Invitational Exhibitions (Weifang, Changzhou)

·2019: Mongolian Mother in Contemporary Chinese Watercolor Exhibition; Daily Life Sketches in The Everyday (China Watercolor Exhibition)

·2018: Xinjiang Portraits in National Ethnic Unity Art Exhibition; Faith in Light Solo Exhibition (Taipei Cultural Promotion Center)

·2017: Solo Exhibition & Lectures, SUNY Oswego (USA)

·2015: Sunlit Days in Centennial Chinese Watercolor Retrospective; Nepalese Elder in CAA Watercolor Nomination Exhibition

·2003: Taos Town – China Art Golden Color Award

·1996: Dialogue of Light and Shadow – Silver Award, 3rd National Watercolor Exhibition

Curatorial & Jury Roles

·2020: Juror, 12th National Watercolor Exhibition; 3rd National Small-Scale Watercolor Exhibition; Shenzhen International Watercolor Biennale

·2019: Juror, 13th National Art Exhibition; 2nd National Gouache Exhibition

·2016–2005: Juror for multiple National Watercolor/Gouache Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

·2018: Faith in Light (Taipei Cultural Promotion Center); Power of Love (Ann Felton Multicultural Center, USA)

·2017: SUNY Oswego (USA); Onondaga Community College (USA)

Teaching
Courses Taught

·Undergraduate: Color Studies, Watercolor Techniques, Meticulous Heavy-Color Painting, Line Drawing

·Graduate: Advanced Watercolor

Mentorship

·Supervised 14 MA students (13 graduated).

·Emphasized originality, discouraging mimicry of masters; encouraged explorations of personal visual language rooted in lived experiences.