"Heavy Metal"

This is the last painting of the year. It took me 3 days. I feel happy about this one. The abstract shapes in the lower left corner and the solid realistic presentation of the metal object have a good contrast and a smooth transition. My colors have be more on the light source colors instead of obvious object local colors. I want to submit this painting for the 2015 OPA National Show. So please wish me luck.

This year I have done 125 paintings, and taught 23 workshops. Recall the year that will pass in a few hours, I feel satisfied. 2014 has been a super busy and difficult year, full of challenges and frustrations. However, I did feel happy and rewarded, especially the support from all of you - my dear artist friends. At this special moment, I want to wish all of you a Very Happy New Year. I will see you in 2015.

"Brass Kettle" --- Sold

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Back home late at the Christmas night, I did this painting in the morning of 12/26.

Every time I came home from a trip, there always are overwhelmingly amount of chores waiting for me. (Sounds familiar?) I decided this time that painting is the absolute priority. I will paint without listening to phone messages, without open the mailbox, without checking emails, ..... even without any idea of what to paint, even without the desire of wanting to paint. Just throw any object in front and paint mechanically.

It sounds insane, but it is absolutely necessary. Our living environment has been deteriorating day by day. So many things have mercilessly hijacked our time, energy, and well being. We must take abnormal actions to make this short life meaningful.

You have got my message. Go to your studio and start to paint right now.

Merry Christmas from Zion

Merry Christmas to all of you. I want to thank you so much for giving me so much support. I wish you happy and joy at this holiday season.

Abstract Art by Nature

These a few days I have been wandering in multiple National Parks in Arizona and Utah. Besides in awe about the beauty of nature, I am pondering about art as well. As an representational artist, I have spent massive amount of time to achieve skills such that I can achieve the likeness of my subjects. As a matter of fact, the ability of achieving resemblance of the subject has been as a very small portion of skills of an developed artist. When I look at the giant mountains, interestingly shaped rocks, and fast moving waters, I was stunt by the extreme beauty which impact me so tremendously, it is not because this rocks resemble a face or an animal. It is simply the abstract beauty. 

This is a piece of rock formation at the Hidden Canyon in Zion National Park. I was so attracted by the patterns. As matter of fact, all I saw these several days are shapes, patterns, and textures. However, it is the beauty that really moved me. But why those patterns and shapes in those National Park moved me so much, but one piece of broken concrete in my back yard doesn’t. They are all patterns and shapes for sure, but what makes a pattern, a shape, a texture, a color beautiful is really the question we should ask. Abstract art can be beautiful, and can be ugly too. I believe that a good piece of art is not always necessarily need to resemble a real world subject, but it must be aesthetically appealing. 

Double Arches

Song is doing her usual yoga exercise in an unusual place.

"Demo at Sedona 2014 2" --- Sold

This is my 2nd demo painting at Sedona.

After the workshop, my family and I are taking a vocation. We have visited the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and we have just arrived at Moab, UT.

"Demo at Sedona 2014 1" --- Sold

Time goes by so fast. I came to Sedona teaching a workshop. Today the workshop is already over. I want to thank Sedona Arts Center of organizing another successful workshop for me, and thanks to all the attending artists from Arizona, California, Colorado, Columbia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan,  and Montana. I don't know I have missed anybody from other States. This is my first demo painting. Please enjoy.

"Pansies"

I did two paintings between my workshop teaching trips in December. This is one of them. When the time is fragmented, and too much going on. Very often painting will be the first event to be sacrificed. But now I must try all my might to paint, even though I don't have time to do it. So I did it.

I have arrived at Sedona. I will share with you my demos soon.

"Peony - Demo at San Antonio 3" --- Sold

I have not painted peony until this one. I confronted my challenge in front of a group of enthusiastic artists. These flowers were overwhelmingly complicated. I wasn't very confident I could do it. The result wasn't bad. I kept reminding myself: I am not painting flowers. I am painting shapes and forms, lights and shadows.

Now I have enough galleries willing to show my work. While I was feel happy, I feel more worried. I have promised too much more than I can possibly deliver. Oh! boy, what should I do now? Like an Ostrich, I bury my head in the sand.

"Demo at San Antonio 2014 2" --- Sold

This is my second demonstration at Coppini.

I have another news to share with all of you: the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio has accepted my art and wants to show my paintings. I am honored and feel very fortunate to be represented by three nationally very well known galleries: InSight Gallery, Trailside Galleries, and Greenhouse Gallery. At the meantime I am humbled. I know the status of my art. So many further developments are needed. I need to work even harder to learn, to progress, to paint better.

"Demo at San Antonio 2014 1"

This is my demo number one at my San Antonio workshop. I want to thank Coppini Academy of Fine Arts for organizing this workshop, and thanks to all the artists who are attending this workshop.

Pewter and Brass

The experiment keeps on going.
The journey is far, the time is running out, I am slow moving.
I know I shouldn't be so ambitious, because I know so well that greed causes suffering.
However as a human, I am not wise enough, like a moth, light craving.