Artist Statement:
My work explores the beauty of human emotion through non-living objects and forms. Using acrylic paint, bold outlines, and vibrant colors, I transform ordinary shapes into stories of independence, duality, and the search for peace. With a background in engineering and industrial design, I approach each piece with both careful planning and expressive spontaneity—balancing order and chaos.
Every painting begins with a spark of imagination, often drawn from personal experience or cultural influence. I develop the concept through sketches and 3D design software, refining the composition, perspective, and color harmony before it reaches the canvas. Once painting begins, I embrace energetic brushstrokes alongside precise lines and gradients, allowing technical control and creative freedom to coexist.
My goal is for the viewer to first be captivated by the visual beauty and energy of my work, then to dive deeper into the story within. Each piece is not only an aesthetic creation but also an invitation for reflection—whether on loneliness, independence, or the unspoken emotions we all share. I believe art has the power to connect us by expressing what words often cannot, and I create to share that connection.
Artist Mission Statement:
My mission as an artist is to create bold, energetic paintings that balance beauty with meaning. I paint because the process itself excites me—the planning, the spontaneity, and the physical satisfaction of paint on canvas—and because it allows me to express ideas and emotions that words cannot capture.
Through portraits of iconic figures and expressive compositions, I seek to inspire and comfort, reminding viewers that beauty and storytelling can spark both connection and reflection. While some works celebrate the extraordinary lives of others, my more personal pieces invite audiences to explore shared feelings that are often difficult to express openly, offering clarity and reassurance that they are not alone.
Ultimately, I strive to make art accessible—whether through original paintings or affordable prints and merchandise—so more people can live with beauty in their daily spaces. My work aims to inspire conversation, evoke positivity, and bring more color, energy, and humanity into the world.
Bio:
D.O. Cao is a lifelong artist whose journey began with a childlike fascination for sketching the expressive world of cartoons, capturing characters that sparked his imagination and love for visual storytelling. This early passion matured into a disciplined pursuit, refined through formal training in his teens and later through the precision of technical drawing during his engineering studies at the University of Waterloo. It was there that he discovered acrylic painting—a vibrant, forgiving medium that offered freedom and expression beyond the rigor of engineering.
Driven to merge creativity with analytical thinking, Cao pursued a Master of Fine Arts in Industrial Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). His time there expanded his artistic vision, sharpening dynamic sketching techniques essential to design while immersing him in the expressive world of fine art.
Today, Cao’s work seeks to breathe emotion into the inanimate. Through vibrant acrylics, bold outlines, and a balance of realism and abstraction, he transforms objects and forms into living stories. His paintings explore dualities—order and chaos, independence and loneliness, fragility and strength—inviting viewers to first be drawn in by their visual beauty, then reflect on the deeper human emotions within.