"Freshly picked" --- Sold

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We have an apple tree and two peach trees in the back yard , but they didn't give us much this year. It maybe because it is too hot here. The temperature has been above 100 F every day and no rain at all for a long time. I really don't know what is going on in the world. Like everybody, I am concerned, but what can I do? Well, I just paint.

“Rose Without Flower" --- Sold

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As what I said yesterday, I painted a different kind of leaf. I have quite a few rose bushes in the back yard. There are no flowers at this moment. I decided painting some rose leaves.

It wasn't smooth. I had a few issues with this painting. You can tell I am lack of anatomic understanding about rose leaves. If I don't tell you those are rose leaves, can you tell? My value range is too limited. My grays are not clean. There were quite a few surprises during the painting process. I was out of my comfort zone. But I am glad the problems has led me into a new territory. After I get those problems solved, my art will get to next level. So, please wish me luck.

"Green Rhythm 3" --- Sold

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I got several new panel samples from Wind River Art Supplies. They are very fine linen with very smooth surfaces. This is my first time using this kind of panels and immediately like them.

My leaf study keeps going. I worked on my grays on the background more, and feel easier with leaves now. You may have noticed that I have been working on the same type of leaves. Very soon I will expand into different kinds of leaves. I hope you are not getting bored with my leaf study. You are witnessing my learning process. I must be tenacious to achieve progress. I think it is good method if you are learning by yourself. If you keep working on one thing for a long while. The improvement will be obvious.

"White Carnations" --- Sold

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I recently signed up "Facebook" and "Twitter". Be honest to you, I know nothing about them. I know many of you are experts of the social network thingys, so I need help from you. Could someone tell me how to synchronize blog, facebook, and twitter together? I googled, but have not found much help. Someone said using "Notes", well I don't see it on my facebook pages. I googled more and learned "Notes" is a type of "Application". Well I don't see any tab or link of "Applications" on mine. I googled for "facebook tutorials" and got tons of sites and videos, but their facebook seems different from mine. I finally learned there are something called the "NEW" facebook, and I haven't seen much help on the newface yet. ...... I looked at my watch, I gave up. I painted some flowers. Time was much better spent.

"On the Spot" --- Sold

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Painting light is my main motivation when I approach to a still life painting. This one is a good example. Vast amount of darkness enhances a small area of light. Subtle value change in shadow gives more dynamic range to the light. I didn’t use much of vibrant colors for this one, but I really enjoy the dances performed by the values.

During my China trip and the week after I came back. I have received massive amount of emails. I am really touched by all your warm words. I wish I could reply to each of you, but unfortunately I am not able to do that any more. I want you to know that I deeply appreciate your support and hope you to understand my lack of resources to manage all emails at one-to-one basis. I think the best way to feed back to you is to constantly improve my art and bring you some happiness visually. Thank you very very much.

"Green and Red Balance" --- Sold

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This painting didn't get a good start. I was almost collapsed in the middle of the painting and had to nap for a while. I thought I might not finish it, but it turned out OK. Life needs to be balanced. I am not good at that. I am learning.

"Hacked Ikebana" --- Sold

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Ikebana is the Japanese way of flower arrangement. It is very disciplined and sophisticated. My wife is pretty good at that. Hacking (not about breaking into computers) is the quick-n-dirty way of doing things emphasizing only on functioning and practicality. I am pretty good at that. Modern life makes us more and more become hackers, but I am long for the opposite.

"Mutual Support" --- Sold

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It took me a while to balance these two pears to get the setup I would like to have. This makes me to realize how important we are relying on each other to survive in the world. Cooperation rather than competition, this world is made for you and me.

"A Little Girl in Red"

When I started painting about ten years ago. Figures and portraits used to be my favorite subject. However, due to the practicality of my working and living style, still life has been a suitable replacement. Now, having painting still life for many years, painting humans starts once more ticking my mind. Last night, I was browsing the photos I took when I was camping about two weeks ago. An image of a little girl fishing by the lake triggered my human painting mode. Well, after I started this one, I realized how remotely I am in managing the human form and color. There are a lot of issues in this painting waiting for me to tackle in the future, but at least it get me started on this relative new territory. I am not going to put this painting on eBay, but if you like to have it, please email me an offer, and I will send it to the highest bidder in seven days.

"Strawberry"

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You probably have noticed that I had quite a few paintings lately with complete dark background. I think it will enhance the foreground and make the still life more standing out. I haven't changed my background design often and I love the diagonal casting shadows I use. But always painting the same way is boring. So I am testing and see if there is an alternative background design offering the effects I like.

"A Red Bottle" --- Sold

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The optical effects of a glass always amaze me. I work as an optical engineer as my day-time job and deal with all kinds of glass media. From vision correction to transmitting data, it is so remarkable that a piece of transparent substance can do when light has been manipulated. Some people think that physics and art are so far apart. However to me it is the opposite. I am work with optical effects in both fields.

"Fervent Romance" --- Sold

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Yesterday was the Chinese New Year -the year of the Ox. I wish all of you happy. My painting was very smooth as well. Everything was just right. No overwork. I like it.

"Fruit Pyramid" --- Sold

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It has been more than a week since my last post. The Olympics is so exciting to watch that it overwrites my painting time. Finally, I got a chance to paint yesterday, and here you go.

My main idea of this painting is the reflections of the light. The setup was on a glossy surface. I really enjoyed painting the red light surrounding the apple. Actually, this setup was done by my wife, Song. I don't think I could do this. I think the apple and pear are competing for being the center, and the vertical edge of the pyramid destroys the setup continuity. Well, She is the boss. I can't argue with her. Surprisingly, the painting turns out not bad. I think it demonstrates that rules are made to be broken.

"Ready for Work"

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It is good but not easy to do something new. Be honest with you, I have run out subjects I really want to paint. You know I like apples a lot, but I think I had painted too many of them. Last night, I was in my studio, looking at all my still life objects. None of them I really want to paint. This power drill was among the last things I wanted to look at. The reason I paint it was that I have never painted it before. But to my surprise, I kind of like it.

"Veggie Time" --- Sold

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Painting cabbage and peppers are new for me, but they are fun objects. I really enjoyed when I painted this one. The cabbage has provided opportunity for practising edges, and peppers offered interesting shapes.

I am going to San Jose, CA tomorrow for the Photonics West Conference. I may not able to post any paintings a week. It is a purely technical event. I have to wear a suit and talking technical gobbledegook for 4 days. On the surface, people sound sophisticated and look elegant there, but underneath I see the only universal driving power --- the MONEY. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), I am in the money game uncomfortably. Is there an alternative?

"Tropical Treat" --- Sold

This is my first time painting a pineapple. It is not great, so I am not going to put it on eBay. If you like to have it, please email me and make an offer. I have a feeling that I have entered a time of instability. There will be many new experiments I want to do. You might see my consistency is shaky. I may generate something good one day, and something bad in the next. However, I will keep my sanity checked all the time to make sure I will not turn into some kind of monster.

"Texas December" --- Sold

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This is another morning painting. It is so good I can paint when I am fresh and energetic. You can see I still practise using vignetted background. This abstract-vs-realistic contrast gives more dynamic range.

"Old Tech" --- Sold

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I painted this one this morning. I can't believe I did this painting at a morning of a working day. After Christmas, there are not many people in the company. So I decided taking a half day off and painting. It feels odd not doing my engineering work at the time, so I put this old camera into my setup to give some sort of "technical" background. This painting is a kind of my self-portrait: an engineer with a passion for art.

"Disintegration" --- Sold

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Today is the Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!

"Two Pots" --- Sold

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I am testing this new composition. It is dark and moody.