self portrait

AAIE Feburay meeting features 'artist self portrait'. There were 48 pieces displayed in the meeting. This piece is won the first prize.
 In order to prepare for this show, I ask Hanna Adler, my instructor of her workshop to take photo of me. We went to her backyard and she took pictures of all her students. Among the twenty some pictures we choose one most represent me. This painting is the end product from that photo.






watercolor 8 1/2 x 11

Watchful eyes

  

May I introduce my cat 'Austin'. He weighs 12 lb.. He loves to eat and catch a bird.










watercolor 7 1/4 x 9 1/2

In Memory of

My uncle passed away last month after a long battle with Myeloma cancer, skin cancer  and diabetic. I have been very close to him since I was small. He is a kind man, full of life and enthusiasm. His nick name is ‘Tiger’ for his ‘can do’ and direct attitude. He has given me many encouragement and support for my art project. I really miss him.

Two weeks after the funeral, my brother-in-law passed away with a heart attack. Our family has mourned for the loss of these two dear family members. I dedicate this painting in memory of them.



watercolor 10" x 13"

Father and Son

watercolor 8 x 8

Lesson from Hanna Adler workshops

Paint two figure needs to have a consideration; put the focal point on one person. In this case, it is the son. I try to de-emphasize the father with grey out color and lost edges. I cannot remember how many pieces of paper I ruined before I came up with this.

Beach walk



watercolor 8 x 10

Lesson from Hanna Adler's workshop

Still practice on washes and darks. I'm quite happy with my figures, they are relaxed and loose. This is the second try after the class critics.

Landscape



watercolor 8 x 10

Lesson from Hanna Adler workshop

Hanna show us several of her landscape painting and point out the design elements of landscape. This is the home assignment.

One two three go



watercolor 8 x 10

lesson from Hanna Adler workshop

This is a lesson on washes using dark colors. I tried to paint the dark background to show the white shirt on the musician. My problem is not being patient enough to let the water and color pigment work its magic and force them to work my way. The result is overworked areas. I had a lot to learn. This is the third try of the same painting.

Nathan

Watercolor 12 x 16

I took a break from oil painting this summer and attended Hanna Adler's watercolor workshop. It has been several years since I last touched watercolor and I was excited to get back to it. After several lessons on wash and design elements, I finally get to paint a portrait from a photo of my grandson. Hanna's approach emphasis on building shapes with layers of transparent colors, reveal the light and shadow by color temperature. That's a lot to digest and apply the knowledge to real painting. This is my third try for the same painting.

Hidden Treasure of Balboa Island

Oil 8 x 10 on panel

Call It A Day

Oil 6 x 6 on panel

 

Window Shopping

                                                                                                                                                         

Oil 8 x 10 on panel
Main street at Leavenworth, WA, a very interesting German town.

 





Go for the candy

 

Oil 6x8 on panel

After lunch at Balboa Island, my friend Karen and I walked along the street looking for a shady area and interesting spot to paint. Karen had her eyes on this candy store and across the street is a for lease property; a shady spot and no people in and out, perfect! Within the two hours we been there, there were people, bikes and dogs in front of the store, I can choose whichever scene to paint. Here is what I did.

 

Sedona Light

Oil 8 x 10 on canvas paper

A Day Begins



6 x 6 Oil on   panel

The other side

Another plein air to Bobao Island are scheduled in August by AAIE. I painted this scene from last year picture.

Oil 6" x 6" on panel

Palm Desert Evening

I toned my panel with cadium red and let it dry before I start this scene.  After two hours into the painting I had to stop and enjoy the automatic redish glow it give out. A pleasent surprise.




Oil 8" x 10" on panel

An Old Tree

Oil 8" x 10" on panel

The Wizard and I

To celebrate our big birthdays (I won't reveal how old) my daughter invite us to New York city for four days, watch US Tennis Open during the day and broadway show at night. It was great.






Oil 8 " x 10" on panel

Vasquez Rock

I went with my hiking group on a day trip this spring. Our last destination  is Vasquez Rock Nature Park in the high dessert near Agua Dulce Spring, ca. It has spectacular rock and stone formation. I painted this from the picture I took.




oil 8" x 10" on panel

Pink Poppy

One summer we went to my friend's beach house in Sequim, WA to catch some Dungense crabs and digging clams. While others were hard working digging clams, I discovered this poppy at the back of her house. They are more like roses with multiple layers of pedal, pretty to look at but hard to paint.




Oil on panel 6" x 6"