Spilled coffee may actually be a good thing. Especially in the case of Anita Yan Wong, where the Asian-American Artist was inspired to use coffee for her portrait paintings.

Wong is a 4th generation Lingnan painter, which originated in southern China in the late 19th century, is a style known for the fusion of mastering modern Chinese, Japanese and Western painting approaches. To create her Coffee Portraits collection, Wong used just 3 materials: coffee, ink and a calligraphy brush.

Wong’s expressive brushstrokes and contemporary traditional paintings blend tradition and modernity. Simple, decisive strokes blend with delicate touches to create shadows and depth in the portraits. As with traditional Lingnan-style paintings, Wong pays attention to the use of white space in her paintings. Here, the white space defines the strong features of the women’s faces.

With just a few simple tools and brushstrokes, Wong has brought the canvas to life, depicting captivating facial expressions that make you wonder what the story is behind each of the women in the portraits.

Wong worked as an Art Professor for over 14 years at MICA, SVA, and Temple University before returning to a sole focus on her art in 2015. Her unique style has attracted the attention of numerous press and media groups internationally, including N.Y. Arts, ESPN, Disney Inc., Daily Arts Magazine, Flower Magazine, Art Dependence Magazine, My Modern Met, KTSF Channel 26 News Interview, and a cover story of Works & Conversations 2017.

Her finely honed craft of blending traditional techniques with modern inspirations has also gained recognition amongst educational institutions around the world, such as a collaboration with MAHB, Standford University, with the goal of preserving China’s Lingnan Guo Hua and the beauties in nature.

To view the videos showcasing how these coffee portraits come to life, visit Wong’s social media profile or her portfolio.