"The Lion Tamer's Daughter" by Jennifer Li

Artist: Jennifer Li
Title: The Lion Tamer's Daughter
Media: Oil on panel
Dimensions: 9"x12"

Artist Biography: Jennifer Li is the product of New York City. She lived and studied art in New York for almost 20 years before deciding to move to the more relaxed and scenic woods of  northwest Montana. Li has been painting professionally since the year 1999, and has studied painting for 12 years at the
Art Students League in New York. Jennifer Li is a well known artist and has numerous works at galleries in Washington, Montana, New York, and California.

Statements: "Straightforwardly beautiful" "An element of weird" - New York Times.
http://www.jenniferli.info/biography%20page.html


Background Information: Jennifer Li is known for doing beautiful and weird work. She has many paintings dedicated to the circus scene. Many of her works are portraits. In almost all her paintings, there is only one focus. Li never bothers to distract her viewer by making them search for who the piece is about. She does this by always placing a wall as her backdrop. Even with the simplistic background she is able to convey a story. Among many of her circus works, the tightrope walker and lion make it into numerous pieces.

Analysis:  Li has this excellent ability to make all her human portraits look as though they could be porcelain dolls, in this, the viewer can clearly see that. In this painting the work is simplistic. The ballerina and lion being the only focus for the viewer. The ballerina's face is at ease and shows no fear as she sits atop the lion. The lion's face and stance makes him appear as he is of high importance. Though, his stance is strong and face is stern, the lion is relaxed as he let's his master's daughter ride him without fear. If you look closely at the intensity of he's eyes, you can infer that he is able to flip a switch if need be.

Theme Connection: This painting connects to the theme because circus elements are presented. Both the daughter and the lion are the main attraction at every circus. The audience comes to see the tightrope walker achieve the incredible and the Ring leader tame an unruly beast.

Why this piece was picked: The reason for choosing this work is because, it IS what the circus is; it's doing the unbelievable.

By: Lauren Larkins