Andrew Chinn, 80, Painter Of Nature, Art Teacher

Nature nourished Andrew Chinn in every way: emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

He spent much time on or near lakes, calmed by their stillness.

He took inspiration from lake scenes for his paintings, rendered in Chinese brushstrokes with Western color and design elements.

He fished for bass, sending copies of his wife's best bass recipes with their Christmas cards for years.

And he restored his happy attitude via outdoor sojourns. Even a morning on the tennis court, rain or shine, energized Mr. Chinn - a Boeing illustrator by trade until he retired in 1977, a painter by choice.

His passion was far from private: He exhibited art in major venues including the Frye Museum, and taught art classes for 50 years.

"He was very much an outdoor person," said his son Dennis Chinn, of Bellevue. "My mother is a bridge player and she tried to teach him bridge, but it was a frustrating experience. He wanted to be outdoors . . . celebrating the beauty of nature.

"He regarded his art as his lifetime achievement," said Dennis Chinn.

His son last year opened the Andrew Chinn Gallery so people always could access his work.

Mr. Chinn, 80, died of heart failure Tuesday, Jan. 9, while teaching art at Seattle Central Community College.

Artist Jess Cauthorn said Mr. Chinn was "very proud" to belong to the Puget Sound Group of the Northwest Painters group for 50 years.

"Andy was the last of the first vanguard of Asian-American artists," Cauthorn said. "He was able to keep a high level of Orientalism in his work, resisting the trend to too much Western influence."

Cauthorn said Mr. Chinn never had a bad word for anyone else - gallery owner or colleague. "And that's a trait I'm not sure many other artists have."

Mary Chinn, Mr. Chinn's wife of 55 years, said her husband painted directly within a scene, not from sketches or photos. His favorite lake was Big Lake, near Mount Vernon in Skagit County.

"He found it has the best scenery of any lake in the Western Hemisphere," she said. "He had traveled to lakes all over. He loved water. That's why it's in all his paintings."

Other survivors include his sister, Nellie Woo, and brothers Bill and Cal Chin, all of Seattle; sisters Ann Chen, Virginia, and Alice Wong, San Francisco; son, Terry Chinn, Bellevue; daughter, Maryann Ariizumi, Kenmore; and seven grandchildren.

Services have been held. Remembrances may go to Kin On Nursing Home, 1700 24th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144; or to Chinese Baptist Church, 5801 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98108.