Laura Valoppi is a watercolorist from Sacramento, California who specializes in the xieyi style of Chinese brush painting, which is characterized by expressive, spontaneous brushwork. Her training as a wildlife biologist and her love of the outdoors combine in her watercolor paintings to offer an expressive interpretation of nature. In the words of Vincent Van Gogh, “It is necessary to one’s health to work in nature”. Although Laura has studied traditional watercolor techniques, she is captivated by the asian style of using the blank paper as active, empty, space in her work. Laura has studied Chinese brush painting with Lillian Seto since 1996. Prior to that she studied painting and drawing at Sacramento City College, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, and the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. She has shown her work at the Second Saturday artist reception in Sacramento, and has entered her watercolor works in local shows, receiving top awards in northern California.