Xiaoshan Cao, "Stan" to his friends in America, was born in Beijing in 1954. Stan's journey as an artist began many years ago in a country with among the richest traditions of arts and crafts in the world…China. When he was but a young boy he chanced upon a rare edition of Dante's Inferno, with its magnificent, vibrant, illustrations by Gustave Doré. The beautiful book fired his imagination and inspired him to take up pen and brush in pursuit of a dream to become a great artist. Due to the cultural and political forces that swept the China of Stan’s youth his path was not an easy one. Nonetheless, he never gave up on his dream and sought every available opportunity to express himself through his art and elevate his craft to ever-higher-levels. Among Stan’s early teachers and mentors were Siliang Ji and Weili Wang. Both were artists of repute in China (and in the case of Mr. Wang, subsequently, in the US) and they recognized Stan’s love of art and encouraged and nurtured his talent in a variety of ways; for which Stan is eternally grateful.

Upon arriving in America in the late nineteen-nineties Stan's passion for art bloomed anew and he continued his studies with Jiashan Mu. Mr. Mu is a well known Chinese artist, and President of the Asian Pacific Art Institute of America ("APAIA") who accepted Stan for a three-month apprenticeship at his workshop in Rockville, Maryland. Under Mr. Mu's able tutelage Stan enhanced his technique for pencil sketches and, as a result, was able to participate in his first art exhibit in America at the 8th annual APAIA Teachers' & Students' Work Show. This represented yet another pivotal development in Stan’s career as artist, as his sketch "Girl with Braids" won top honors at the Show. In August, 2005, Stan continued his studies with Jacqueline Saunders of the Art League School, in Alexandria, Virginia. This represented a wonderful experience for Stan that enabled him to strengthen his skills in both pen and ink drawings and watercolors. Later the same year he continued to build upon the lessons of Mr. Mu and Ms. Saunders by studying figure painting with respected artist Robert O'Bryant in Gaithersburg, MD. Mr. O'Bryant introduced Stan to the challenging and fascinating world of "oils", which enabled Stan to increase his range-of-expression in portraiture.

More recently, Stan was honored to continue his studies with Robert Liberace, the contemporary classicist, in July of 2006. Under Mr. Liberace's watchful and encouraging eye Stan continued to hone his craft and expanded his knowledge of figure-drawing and portraiture a great deal. Stan's good fortune continued in August, 2006 when his pastel drawing "End of the Day" won the Genius Artist Prize at the 9th annual Teachers and Students Works Show of APAIA in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Last -but certainly not least- Stan would like to acknowledge the personal friendship and mentorship of Mr. Min Xu. Mr. Xu is a talented Ceramic Artist who currently resides in Maryland and his father was among the early directors of animated films in China. Mr. Xu's classical training and skill continue to serve as a beacon for Stan in his never-ending quest for masterful artistic expression.

Stan’s journey in pursuit of his love of art has been a fascinating one. A journey that continues to this day...

Stan hopes that you, your family and friends will share in and become part of his journey. Rays of inspirational light in his art…