Life Manifestation

 

My obsession of painting flowers continues. I feel they really manifest the true meaning of Life. Beauty, freedom, egoless, and being at the present moment. They come and they go. They maybe short lived, but they exist forever.

Alive and Blooming

I named this painting: "Alive and Blooming". We are alive. We take this for granted until one day. Most people know it only theoretically, but some know it experientially. All those beautiful roses who modeled for me have passed away. They have demonstrated what "alive" means vividly in a very short period of time. However, we don't feel sad when those roses die, because we think flowers as entire species. Those individual roses have passed, but more will come. Similarly, if we don't emphasize too much our individuality, we will be a part of the eternity. 

Sunflowers for Mary Alice

 

This one is a commissioned work for my friend Mary Alice. There is no cadmium colors in the painting. I am happy my painting momentum has come back. Painting is therapeutic. I feel very fortunate I have something I can concentrate on and over-ride all the other mental chatters. Painting is a cosmos event, the individual who puts colors on a panel is merely a carrier of the universal energy.

Water Lilies for Helen

 

I did this relative large painting a few days ago. As a matter of fact, I was not feeling well that day. Partially it was because I had some reactions after my medical treatment, and the other part was my mood was unstable with all the challenges I have been facing lately. I started to paint without think about the results, I decided to surrender my self conscious mind to the flow of my body movement and what ever my heart leading me. During the painting time, I have bad body sensations and negative thoughts coming and going. I aware of them but tried not react to them. I was very surprised to find that my body is a way stronger than my mind. The best way to live is just let the body lead and do not think.

This painting was done for a friend of mine. I am so grateful that so many friends around me have helped me, and encourage me to come out this hard time, and became more mature as a human being.

Valentine's Day painting sale

 

You know I have painted a few small rose paintings recently. Now the Valentine's Day is approaching, I would like to sell those paintings. I will charge $300 for each plus $15 shipping. The size of the painting is 6" x 6" unframed. You may see the image of the paintings in detail and their titles on my blog: http://qiang-huang.blogspot.com/. I have 8 rose paintings available. If you are interested in purchasing, please email me as soon as possible. The availability will on first come first serve basis. I will send a PayPal invoice to collect the payments. I am sorry that I have announced this sale too late, so the painting may not reach you on the Valentine's Day. Although I am not a good business man, but I sincerely wish you all a happy Valentine's Day.

Solvent Toxicity

 

Do you use solvent (or medium) in painting? I did, but I want to go solvent free as much as I can. I have put more info on my "Painting Safety" webpage. 

People who took my workshop have known that I like to use paper towel to wipe out the lighter area with gamsol. I tried the same technique with my today's paining without gamsol, and found out the result is compromised badly. I could not get the sanding out high light anymore. I reluctantly keep gamsol near my palette, but I put it in a small eye-dropper bottle so I don't have an open solvent surface to air. I may try Gamblin solvent free medium later. I also tried the water mixable oil with this wipe-out technique. I have not get a satisfied result yet. 

Paint safety webpage

 I have just made a web page talking about the safety of oil painting. If you are interested to know how to identify the toxicity of pigments and the actions I have taken to be safer in painting, please visit: http://www.qh-art.com/painting-safety.html. Thanks

Water Lilies Study 020222

 I did this small water lilies study to investigate the non-toxic green color family. I want to get rid of cadmium green. It is not too hard this time. I used ultramarine blue, radiant lemon, radiant green, Azo yellow, transparent orange. The green colors in this painting are high value low chroma. So it is not too hard. I have enjoyed my today's painting.