Ping Irvin interviewed at Bayou City Art Festival

Article in the Montgomery County Courier

Left: Ping Irvin holds her Best of Show Ribbon for the 2007 Rockport Art Festival

Photo by Pamela Fulcher. Right: Irvin's "Emerald Day," oil on canvas, 48"x48"

Sunday, July 8th, 2007

2007 Rockport Art Festival Winners Announced

ROCKPORT, TEXAS -- While unpredictable weather washed away the plans of many visitors to visit Rockport over the Fourth of July holiday week, it certainly didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of exhibitors and attendees when it came to the annual Art Festival, sponsored by the Rockport Center for the Arts.
Now in its 38th year, the festival has grown to include a broad spectrum of mediums from more than 125 artists across the country.
In addition to showing and selling their artwork, exhibitors are also judged by a jury, comprised of Steve R. Maness, Sharon Forsythe and Rebecca Bridges-Rice, with ribbons and cash awards given to artists who are designated “Best of Category” in their respective medium and special recognition to one individual for “Best of Show”.
This year’s “Best of Show” was awarded to Ping Irvin of Sugar Land. Ping has painted all her life. She graduated from Yunnan Art College in 1982 and was given professorship in 2003. She is strongly influenced by Europe, echoing Paul Klee, Henri Rousseau, and Botticelli. Frida Kahlo is also referenced.
In China she is listed in “Who’s Who in Modern Chinese Art”.
She has sold work to collectors all over the world, including China, Thailand, Japan, Germany and the United States. In 2005 she came here to marry artist Craig Irvin.