"On a Glossy Surface"

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Newton first law of motion says: Every body perseveres in its state of being at rest or of moving uniformly straight forward, except insofar as it is compelled to change its state by force impressed. For these two weeks. I have been in a slow motion mode and have not painted as frequent as I used to. According to this Newton guy, I have to apply a force to get my momentum back. Oh boy, that is not easy.
Well, Forgive my excuse in terms of classical physics. On this painting I am continuing working on reflections. This light effect has been trademarked by many landscape painters. I think it works well with still life as well. Don't you think so?

"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.

"Afternoon at the Mission"

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I spent last several days and did this gallery level painting. It feels so different doing landscapes than still lifes. It was fun. I thought I would take a break, but I just couldn't. I am so behind in satisfying my galleries requests. Oh, by this way I am going to show a painting at the OPA Western regional exhibition in September.

I am not going to paint tonight. I will watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. I was told that there were painting related performance in it.

"Mission San Jose 1" --- Sold

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Under the harsh Texas Sun, I have been burnt out. On my still-life stand, grapes have turned into raisins. I am not very productive lately. Maybe it is the time, I should consider take some days off for a vocation.

I have received many emails and comments on my last post. I greatly appreciate peoples giving me so many suggestions on how to re-fresh a painting. I really am grateful to this artist community.

I hope my post today give you a fresh feeling. I have not done much of landscape paintings for about two years. Recently, I received quite a few requests from galleries and individual as well about my landscapes. Even I am not experienced painting landscapes, but it does not hurt to give it try. So I did this small painting as a warm up.

I really like San Antonio Missions. So many great artists have painted them. I did some plein air at the location as well. But this one is from a photo I took two years ago.

"Dance of Light"

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This painting took me four day. The past week, my time was fragmented for everything. In this painting, I was attracted by the light transmitted through the brown bottle and then casting on the vase. I don't know I depicted the effect or not. Working on a painting in multiple sessions is problematic to me. Colors (especially darks) dried between my painting sessions and showing inconsistency. Does anybody know how to fix this problem?

"Go Green" --- Sold

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To change or not to change, that is the question. I really appreciate that so many friends writing to me about my style concerns. I think I will just let it go. Whatever will be will be.

My today's painting is about Green. I haven't done much to reduce my carbon foot print yet, but I did put more green color on this painting. Well, it doesn't count, does it? We all should do something to make the world more sustainable. Oh! I got an idea: I will telecommute tomorrow..... I wish. (sigh).

"Soup and Fruit" --- Sold

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Do you have this kind of experience: You like one artist's work and observed his/her development. At a certain point, you see the artist's style changes to a direction that you don't quite like. You feel the artist's work is getting worse instead of better. Eventually, you delete this artist from your favorites list. This kind of thing happened to me before and I didn't know why. Now I do. After having painted so many, I start to feel that I run out thing i really want to paint. I am in this bottle neck now. I keep remind me: Qiang, do not go crazy. So, I won't. My today's painting is my typical style. I will keep this style, if you don't feel too bored.

"Gold Melons"

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They are neither oranges nor lemons. They are beautiful small melons grown in our yard. I don't know their names. They don't taste good, but they surely have a vibrant color.

With this painting, I am experimenting again. I want my paintings look more modern. I really like one of my fellow daily painters Aaron Lifferth's work. He uses very simple designs, but gives very strong color impressions.

"Roses to Elaine" --- Sold

I am sorry I was a little blue yesterday. I really appreciate so many people emailing me and providing many constructive ideas. Life goes on, and I will keep working. Recently, I have received several galleries requesting my paintings. I think I need to paint more relative larger paintings. Whatever I do, I will keep you posted. My today's painting is another demo I did at my workshop last weekend. Please enjoy.

"Roadside Antiques"

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My mind was actually blank when I start to paint yesterday. Be honest with you, I am in a stage of fatigue now. Having painting still-life for so long, I start to feel tired. I bought quite a few junks the other day on my way home. I placed some of them and painted like zombie. In my workshop, I told everybody: you must have an idea when you start to paint. Well, I lied... Oops, I shouldn't say that. OK. that is enough. Am I serious? Your call.

"Demo at Magnolia 3" --- Sold

I have just returned from teaching a workshop in Magnolia, TX. I had a wonderful time there. I enjoyed meeting new friends and seeing old friends coming back. I hope all the attendees have found this workshop useful and enjoyable. I hope to see you again in the future. I'd like to thank Marty Hatcher for organizing this workshop. Today's post is one of my demo pieces there. Please enjoy.

"Round Rock Artist" --- Sold

Last night I went to the Art Center of Williamson County and did this portrait. This is my second human painting this year. I don't feel satisfied with this turning out, but it is fun to have a change. As matter of fact, I used to paint portrait and figure more than still-lifes. But I understand it will be very difficult to reach the level of professional quality with my current working conditions. I am not going to post this painting on eBay, but if you like to have it, please make me an offer.

"Fresh Nectarines" --- Sold

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My wife got these nectarines the other day. They are so juicy and sweet. More important to me, they make such a great still life subject as well. I am so grateful that we have so many wonderful fruit for our enjoyment. I remember many years ago I met a group of friends in a meditation retreat center. They were fruitarines. They belong to an extreme group of vegan vegetarians. They only eat fruit because they think eating vegetables are cruel, because we destroy the life of the plants for our consumption. But fruit is the gift from the mother earth. There is no killing involved. We can have them with a peace of mind. Well, I respect them whole heartily, but I don't think I can do that. In any rate, this tells us how special a nectarine really is.

"Schmid's Tomato" --- Sold

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This painting is my imitation of one of Richard Schmid's paintings. I believe studying the great master's work is one of the best ways of learning. With this painting I am practicing how to paint leaves. I really like Richard's colors and edges.

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New Workshop Announcement

I am going to teach a 3-day workshop in Mexico this September.
Time: September 26 - 28, 2008
Location: Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
Please contact: Isabel Goode-Deblanc at isadeblanc@gmail.com for detailed information.

My workshop at Bastrop, TX in September has been canceled.

"Three Plums" --- Sold

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I usually do not use dark objects as the center of focus, but the texture of these plums really enticed me. The smoothness of the surface, the coolness of the highlight, the richness of the translucent colors are parts of the characteristics. I hope the painting not only reveals the visual effects, but also let you feel the softness and taste the sweetness of these common but magnificent plums.

"Rose Solo 2" --- Sold

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Painting flowers is very different from painting a vase or an apple. I can never use a portrait approach, but flowers do have their own anatomy. If you really understand this anatomy, painting flowers actually is easier than a vase or other more defined objects. Unfortunately, I am still working to achieve the understanding. So painting flowers is still hard for me.

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New Workshop Announcement

I will teach a 3-day workshop at Round Rock, TX this fall.
Time: October 31 - November 2
Location: Art Center of Williamson County 601 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite B-300, Round Rock, TX 78681
Please contact: Denise Larue Mahlke at dlaruem@yahoo.com for detailed information. Denise is a very successful artist and a great teacher. She was featured in the current issues of the American Artist and Southwest Art magazines.

"Morning Rose 2" --- Sold

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I hope these roses bring you some happiness today.

"Orange on Blue Cloth"

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I am behind my schedule again. I need to paint quite a few gallery paintings for several shows. For this painting, I am experimenting my new way of composing. Hope this effort can provide you a fresh look of my work.

"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.

"Organic Onion" --- Sold

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Is it important that the onion has to be organic for a painting? I don't know. The real idea behind this painting is that I want to present two colors: green and purple. I may generate some disturbance here. Obviously, these are two very different colors. However, I consider these two have a similar color temperature. Generally speaking, it is hard to say which one is cooler or warmer. I have held this opinion for a long time, and I have openly spoken about this at my previous workshop. If you are a color theorist, I am very interested in your comment about this issue.

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New Workshop Announcement

I am planning to teach a 4-day workshop at Bastrop TX from September 12 to September 15. Martin House – Crafter’s Haven, will organize this workshop. It will be hosted in a beautiful old Victorian mansion, built in 1888. Please contact Theresa at theresanavan@aol.com for detailed information. Thanks.

"Facing the Sun" --- Sold

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I am back, finally. I tried to pick up my brush for a whole week, but I had no chance. Thank God today is the weekend. Now sunflowers are blooming, I see them every morning when I jog. The sunflower is strong. I am inspired by its vitality.

"Demo at Magnolia 2" --- Sold

This is another demo painting I did at my workshop last weekend. I have not started painting since the workshop. Recently, my load at my engineering job has increased. I have to admit that I have not been able to follow my daily painting discipline. In this fast pace and exceedingly complicated modern life, being able to paint is an extraordinary luxury. Please do not take it for granted, and treasure your painting time, my friends.

"Demo at Magnolia 1" --- Sold

Last Friday and Saturday, I went to Magnolia, TX and did my third workshop of the year. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Marty Hatcher for organizing this event at the beautiful ARLC. I really enjoyed meeting new friends and seeing old friends in these wonderful two days. The painting I posted today is one of the demos I did. It combines both my left and right hands strokes. I hope all the attendees of this workshop have learned one or two new things. I am going to go back to ARLC in July to give another workshop and looking forward to meet more new friends. If you are interested in attending my future workshops at ARLC, please contact Marty. We will update you new workshop plans soon.

Thanks very much to so many friends writing to me regarding my injured shoulder. It is getting a little better. The pain is less than before, and I started to stretch and hope it will be back to normal soon. In the mean time, I will keep practicing my left handed painting continuously.

"Vibrant" --- Sold

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After my previous post, I have received many emails and comments from you. I am really really touched when I read your messages. Many of you shared similar experiences, and providing helpful tips and information of remedies. Thank you all very very much. I have started stretching and other exercises. At this moment, the pain is still with me, but I feel it is much more bearable now.

Positively speaking, this painful experience did open up new avenues for art. I painted this painting 100% left-handed. I highly recommend that you give a try as well if you want to loose up. My clumsy left hand brought me some good surprises.

"Apples and Cherries"

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Now and then, we have to face some challenges. For about month, I had problems with my right shoulder. It gives me a lot of pain and gradually frozen up. So I have to practising painting with my left hand. This painting and the previous one contain many my left hand strokes. As matter of fact, It is not that hard to paint left handed if you have a loose style.

"Specular" --- Sold

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Metallic surfaces are intriguing to paint. They give design opportunities for gathering rich colors into a small area by means of reflections from the surroundings. I will explore more in this field.

"Dog Tag" --- Sold

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I wish we could spend more time on art.