Sunday, January 29, 2023

New video: Amelia Island (Part 2)

 


I am currently experiencing burnout with regards to painting. Since returning from Florida, I have not picked up a brush and instead focused on other pursuits. I have been experimenting with video editing and creating beginner level videos, although my goal is not to become a successful YouTuber. In addition to videos, I have been spending a lot of time at my off-the-grid property, enjoying the connection to nature and the divine. I have also been working on home improvement projects, preparing for tax season, and organizing my garage and studio. While these activities keep me busy, painting has taken a backseat for the time being. I am aware that if I let my artistic side cool down for too long, it may be difficult to regain the momentum for it. However, my resolution for the new year is to live authentically, so for now I am content to simply observe and enjoy the world around me. (Please be noted that the above paragraph was rewritten by the AI of ChatGPT from my original draft.)



Sunday, January 15, 2023

Amelia Island workshop

 





I have taught a "Landscape painting from photos" 3-day workshop at Amelia Island, Florida. I want to thank Nancy Bartmess for organizing this workshop, and thanks to all the workshop artists for attending. I did 3 demos. After the workshop, Nancy and her husband Richard took us on their boat and gave us a grand tour. We have enjoyed this trip very much.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Music of Colors

 



Waterlily is the most interesting thing I have ever painted. It offers vast amount of flexibility to represent this subject matter and gives the artist the utmost freedom for creativity. Waterlilies have relaxed the accuracy requirement on size, perspective, proportion, local color, and shapes, so I can fully concentrate on the geometrical composition, texture variation, and color design without worrying my painting going too abstract to leave the representational paradigm. The reflections in the water provide mainly the vertical rhythmic structures while the lily pads generate most the horizonal resonance. These two-dimensional periodic patterns interweave together and created endless opportunities for artists to compose astonishing spatial music. I got hooked immediately after I did my first waterlily painting, and it explains why Claude Monet did not touch any other subject matters after he started painting waterlilies.