"Xidi Doorway 1" --- Sold

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Due to the jet lag, I got up really early. I started painting this one at 5:00 AM. This is a good exercise of monochromatic painting. This approach is suitable of presenting old architectural structures. During our China painting trip, we spent quite a few days in an old village called Xidi. Most of the buildings there are more than two hundred years old. This place is the paradise for me. I have seen so many paintings I want to paint. I was so excited the first night I couldn't sleep. I am sure I will go back to this beautiful place and paint more plein air. Now I am painting from the photos I took. For this painting I used only three colors: black, white, and transparent oxide red. It is almost done completely with palette knifes.

"Lotus Garden at West Lake" --- Sold

I have come back to the States last night. When I was in China, the internet assessment was not great so I wasn't up to date what I was doing. But it was a superb trip. I did 8 paintings and took a ton of photos. After I process my photos I will share some of the high lights with you.

I did this painting as a plein air demo at Hangzhou by the Xi-hu (West lake). It was a beautiful garden. It was quiet place and the weather was ideal. As a matter of fact, it was my first time of painting lotus. It was a wonderful experience for me. Quite a few artists in our group painted along with me. They did wonderful job as well.

Demo at Xidi 1 --- Sold

I painted this window as the demo for my group. We have wonderful time. I saw so much, but I am too exhausted to writing any more. I am going to bed. zzzzzz.

The Yellow Mountain

We are on the Yellow Mountain. One picture worth more than ten thousand words.

Demo at Summer Palace

This is my demo at Summer Palace. It was a wonderful day. We painted at this lovely garden. It was very crowded. So many people surrounded us. I think we have inspired many local people and tourists. You never know. Maybe because this plein air event, some people will become future artists. That is my mission. I hope we will enjoy the beautiful world more this way.

We have ten artist in our "Painting in China" group. We have had great days in Beijing. Now we are in Xi-an, and will go to Huang-shan (the Yellow Mountain) this afternoon.

Beihai Park

I did this painting from a photo I took at the Beihai Park in Beijing. I gradually gained more momentum in painting. I started to see the grey colors in Beijing. There are more than 50 shades.

Yellow Rose Study 090315

I use this small floral painting as my warmup here in Beijing. I copied a part from one of Richard Schmid's paintings. I must admit that it was a struggle. I felt so many forces around me trying to stop me from painting. All of those forces are strong, full of charge and seem reasonable and legitimate. I felt I am fighting against my fate. This painting was not one of my best shots, but it is more significant because it is a proof that I am still moving forward. In front of my fate, I may lose eventually, but I will try all my might to go as far as I can. 

Beijing in the rain

I arrived at Beijing in the rain. This morning I walked on the street, everything is crispy clean. This erases my concern about the air quality in this giant city. I hope it can keep this way during our painting trip. My mother is doing greatly. She is in good health and practicing her recently accepted Catholic faith, which gives her peace in mind. I have pulled out my colors and set up my easel in my tiny bedroom. I will start painting very soon. I have adapted this super unstable life style. Time, locations, culture, and languages are so illusive. I feel I am living in a big dream. I must admit that this year is a more difficult in my art career. Being an artist, it needs not only talent, inspiration, and creativity, but also courage, patience, and tenacity. The latter is a way more important.