CMFA
California Museum of Fine Art
About California Museum of Fine Art
The California Museum of Fine Art is a distinguished private museum renowned for the breadth, depth, and quality of its collection.
Its holdings encompass oil paintings, sculptures, antiques, and fine art crafts, spanning from European Classical traditions to contemporary art, and embracing works from Europe, Russia and Ukraine, Japan, China, and the United States.
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The museum’s collection traces a clear artistic lineage:
from the discipline and formality of European Classical and Neoclassical art, to the spiritual and humanistic depth of Russian and Ukrainian Realism from the Soviet era; from the poetic elegance of Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, to the luminous color and atmosphere of California Impressionism inspired by French Impressionist ideals; and onward to the vitality of Chinese Academic Contemporary art and the creative expansion of modern and contemporary American works.
Together, these collections reveal the evolution of human creativity across cultures and centuries, reflecting the museum’s commitment to historical scope and academic integrity.
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The museum was founded by artist Dali Higa, whose decades of painting and cross-cultural study established the museum’s unified aesthetic vision and spiritual foundation.
Her original oil paintings are also part of the museum’s permanent collection, serving as an integral cornerstone of its holdings and forming an organic link between creation, discernment, and collection—the academic structure that defines the museum’s independence and purity.
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The mission of the California Museum of Fine Art is to build a bridge across cultures and time—between the rationality of Europe, the humanity of Russia, the poetry of Japan, the spirit of China, and the light of California—
so that the sincere, free, and pure light of art may continue to illuminate the human soul.
Core Principles in Dali Higa's Painting
The foundation of my painting lies in three key elements: design, color, and form. Design is the primary focus, followed by the use of color, and finally, the shaping of form. These three components work together to create a balanced and cohesive artwork.
To achieve the desired design, I minimize the use of black, white, and gray. This control is crucial because excessive use of these tones can overwhelm the composition, making it difficult to maintain balance and clarity in the overall design.
In terms of color, I focus on the contrast between cool and warm tones, a personal approach that I find brings energy and life to my work. While overall color harmony is important, I sometimes like to introduce pure colors to make the painting feel more vivid and alive. This contrast adds depth and dynamism, while allowing different elements of the painting to flow together smoothly.
To make the composition more interesting, I focus on how form creates interest. By utilizing points, lines, and various indices, I introduce unique forms that provide structure and variation within the artwork. This interplay of shapes and lines brings a distinct rhythm and balance to the composition.
Ultimately, like all forms of art, painting is built on the foundation of contrast. By emphasizing and expanding these contrasts—whether through color, form, or brushstroke—the artwork gains tension and vitality, making the composition more powerful and compelling.
Additionally, painting requires a specific sense of rhythm, just like music or dance. The rhythm within the painting guides the viewer's gaze, creating a sense of continuity and harmony in the composition. This rhythm makes the artwork more vivid, enhancing its expressive power and depth.