Xiang Li Art of Storytelling through Creative Watercolor Portraits – BJ Miller MD and Dorie Clark
July 30, 2024 · Tripti Gore Chandorkar
This is my second blog post on Xiang Li’s creative portraits of notable American personalities who have been guests on her daughter Fei Wu’s podcast (Feisworld). If you are new to this topic, you can read my previous blog post here for more context on Xiang Li’s creative portraits and her process.
In this article, I’ll be focusing on two stunning portraits – one of Dr. BJ Miller and the other of Dorie Clark.
Portrait of BJ Miller MD
My First Reaction to the Portrait
I did not know about Dr. B.J. Miller when I saw this painting for the first time a few years ago. He came across as a much larger-than-life personality sitting amongst the spiritually symbolic animals and creatures. There was an air of divine magnificence to his character. Other adjectives that came to mind were – fearless, unique, erudite, angelic, loving, kind, and benevolent. This portrait was so stunning that it made a lasting impression on me, so much so that I wanted to write about it! I set out to find out more about Dr. B.J. Miller.
Below is a summary of Dr. B. J. Miller’s background and work that I gathered from online sources:
Dr. Miller is a renowned American physician and writer specializing in hospice and palliative care. He is widely recognized for his compassionate approach to end-of-life care and his efforts to transform how we perceive and handle death. His work is characterized by a deep empathy and a commitment to helping people live well until the end.
He gained significant attention for his 2015 TED Talk, “What Really Matters at the End of Life,” which has been viewed millions of times.
A life-altering accident in his sophomore year at Princeton University which resulted in the loss of both his legs and one arm profoundly influenced his career path, leading him to focus on palliative care and the alleviation of suffering.
He co-authored the book “A Beginner’s Guide to the End” with Shoshana Berger, offering practical advice on approaching the end of life. The book has touched the lives of countless individuals worldwide.
Coming back to the portrait, here is how Xiang Li describes the other key elements in it:
- The Lion and Tiger: Represent power and respect, these animals symbolize B.J. Miller’s formidable presence and ability to command admiration.
- The Unicorn: an embodiment of freedom and the capacity to influence both near and distant individuals.
- The Phoenix: Hovering above Miller, the phoenix symbolizes good fortune and health, promising a positive future.
- Mazie the dog: Miller’s devoted companion, included to highlight their bond.
- The Roses: Adorning the pages of Miller’s book, “The Beginner’s Guide to the End of Life,” symbolizing the book’s transformative impact.
As you can see, Xiang Li has created this portrait as an intricate fusion of real and mythical elements, each carrying profound symbolism that reflects Dr. B.J. Miller’s character, accomplishments and impact.
Also, very interestingly, she has given the portrait a title in Chinese that means ‘Bright Light’ which nicely rounds up everything I have said about him above (see the title in Chinese in the top left corner of the portrait).
If you are interested, you can explore more about this portrait here.
A little sneak peek into behind-the-scenes of BJ Miller’s portrait while it was in progress.
Portrait of Dorie Clark
My interpretation of the portrait
I knew about Dorie Clark mainly as the author of the book ‘Entrepreneurial You’ which I had read a few years ago. However, I saw this portrait only recently. I saw her as a knowledgeable, brave, and free-spirited woman in this painting going by the limited knowledge I had about Dorie Clark through that one book I had read.
When I decided to write about this portrait, I started doing more research online about her background and work. As I read more about her and watched videos of her talks on topics of entrepreneurship, innovation and self-reinvention, I started seeing much more of her brand and what she stands for in this painting.
About Dorie Clark (summarized from online sources)
Dorie Clark is a multifaceted professional known for her expertise in personal branding, self-reinvention, and strategic thinking. She completed her advanced studies from the Harvard Divinity School in 1999. Dorie started her career as a journalist and later became the press secretary for Robert Reich’s 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign and the New Hampshire Communication Director for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign.
She has guest lectured at Harvard University and is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review. She also teaches executive education at Columbia Business School and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. You can also find many short online courses on her website, dorieclark.com.
She has authored several influential books, including “Reinventing You,” “Stand Out,” “Entrepreneurial You,” and “The Long Game”.
Dorie has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. Clark has been described by the New York Times as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives” (from Wikipedia).
As you can tell from this background, Dorie Clark’s journey seems to be a testament to her ability to adapt and thrive in various fields and she has done it all on her own terms. She wants others to also succeed by sharing what she has learned through her courses, workshops, TED talks and other public speaking engagements.
Having read so much about her work and after seeing many of her talk videos, I now see Xiang Li’s portrait of hers in a new light. I see her as the enlightened one (not just knowledgeable), the brave and free-spirited woman of substance who is leading the way by helping others achieve their entrepreneurial breakthroughs through her extensive work.
Xiang Li’s title for the portrait
I asked Xiang Li about the meaning of the title which is written in Chinese. She told me that it means ‘the flying hawk in the sky’. More specifically, a heroic and strong hawk soaring through the sky, describing Dorie’s determination and talent as a writer, and entrepreneur and how she is going to continue to reach new heights.
I for one cannot wait to see the new heights achieved by Dorie Clark and how her work will continue to positively impact and transform people’s lives.
In Conclusion
For a person like me, there is so much power in visual storytelling through creative portraits. Had I not seen Xiang Li’s stunning portraits, I would not have had the opportunity to further understand the works of thought leaders like Dr. B.J. Miller and Dorie Clark, who are doing so much work based on their own experiences to bring about a positive impact to humanity.
About the author
Tripti Gore Chandorkar, the creator and writer behind “triptiji,” launched her blog to celebrate her passion for art, creative projects, and connections with family and friends. With a lifelong love for fine art and writing, Tripti has woven art into her daily life as an enthusiast and hobbyist. Seventeen years ago, her friend Fei Wu introduced her to the artwork of Xiang Li (Fei’s mom), a master artist showcased at xiangliart.com. Since then, Tripti has joined in contributing to Li’s blog, collaborating on designs, and participating in festivals, events, and gallery shows. Through “triptiji,” she shares her journey in the art world and her dedication to supporting other female artists.
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