Last week, renowned impressionist painter Jove Wang helped the Pacific NorthWest Art School set a new record.

Wang’s demonstration painting, A Coupeville Fisherman, sold for more than any other gallery or demonstration piece in the history of the art school. Wang then surprised the PNW Art School by donating a portion of the proceeds back to the not-for-profit school.

“We are honored to receive a donation from such a widely known and respected impressionistic painter as Mr. Wang,” said PNW Art School Director, Sue Symons, in a news release. “The fact that he supports our school speaks volumes. We are grateful that even in these tough economic times, people still value art, arts education, and specifically, our school.”

PNW Art School invited Wang, one of the United States’ preeminent impressionist painters, to teach a four-day class to a mixed group of professional and serious amateur artists. He lectured in the mornings, and then observed the class paint in the afternoons.

“During the demonstration, Jove painted intently for about two-and-a-half hours,” said professional Whidbey impressionist painter James Moore, who took the class. “Nobody said a word. But the student next to me was so moved by the watching the fisherman’s image take shape, she scribbled a note on her sketchpad, ‘How much do you think he wants for that painting?’ She bought it at the next break, before Wang had even finished it.”

The demonstration piece, one that’s done while the students watch the artist’s technique and brushwork, is a three-quarter portrait of a fisherman at work wearing traditional orange bib overalls. It measures 30 by 24-inches.

“For me, the purchase begins with a love story,” said Sharon Vaughn, the proud owner of Wang’s piece. “I met my husband for the first time on the Coupeville Wharf, which is in the background of the painting. Several years later, we’ve come full circle, and are now building a house in Coupeville. The painting symbolizes all that positive emotion, my deep affection for the community, plus the experience of watching Jove paint.”

Wang himself was so pleased with the painting that he plans to include it in his next book, due to publish shortly. He also plans to continue his relationship with the Pacific NorthWest Art School, and will return in 2010 to teach another workshop.

“We were delighted to host Mr. Wang on his first trip to the Pacific Northwest, and look forward to hosting other teaching artists of his caliber,” Symons said. “His visit proved good for PNW Art School, our students and Whidbey Island.”