Must I make something new for the new year?

Happily dived in Phuket and saw some most beautiful life in the sea. 

Will I continue to make them, or will I make something new? 

I was drawn to the various natural colors.  I was attracted to the fascinating shapes, and movements, and life ...  but I still want to have the same thing happen: spontaneity.

2012 was a very fulfilling year for me as though my voice was heard.  I will have to see what happens next ... with the same dosage of courage if not more.

Go go go ...

Completed on 12.12.12. Really happy to see that it was well received.  "Dive in #4" will be mounted on the sailing boat "Shahtoosh" in Phuket, Thailand.

I'm going to diving in Phuket too!  Gotta go deeper and see what is out there for the next one :)

... fearfully and wonderfully made

Such is the beauty of making abstract art - I plan as much on the picture plane as I can, sort of know what I am doing, but I can never expect the outcome. 

"Dive-in_4" came alive when paints and mediums were cleaned up, revealing a kind of raw and honest colors that coat the textured surface.  Nothing more, nothing less.  It was just perfect for the next step, hopefully a finishing one. 

I showed the client the work at a very early stage.  I knew she was concerned about the light tone, but I believed my eyes so I stubbornly assured her that all was good.  Mid-week I sent her a quick WIP image by phone, but there was no feedback.  Yesterday when she saw this, she smiled. 

Journey ended with thanksgiving

The exhibition fell into the week of Thanksgiving and my birthday. Really delighted to say "Journey" ended on a high note. Individual and groups of friends gave me surprise visits, emails, text messages, information exchange, flowers ... Patrons continued to visit, check my work out, appreciate our show, call to enquire about commissioned paintings. Even passers-by took their time to study my mixed-media pieces (not sure if they were tempted to touch them!) Had a big sale in the last hour on the closing evening, which was indeed a surprise birthday present - my abstract work earned a recognition. Happy Bubbling Away. "Hi-5 God!"

My heart's still overflowing with thanksgiving.

 

"Journey" Opening reception on Nov 12, 2012

It was indeed a remarkable evening.  Many invited turned up and we were all busy from the opening hour till the end.  I was certainly busy at my corner with friends, families and patrons, I had no time to rest. 

A year's work being put together. A very memorable journey for myself.

Really joyful evening, so many guests and visitors turning up which was beyond our expectation.

 

So happy to see many of my art-loving friends, buddies and families who give me unreserved support.

 

 

Meeting old friends, making new ones, sales of artwork, getting a commission work ... non-stop talking about art, but most fulfilling!

 
This gentleman was so interested in the technical details of my art. Love this "artist talk" - absolutely gratifying!

A special buyer, who always remembers me and my art, came up for me, examine my works ... that was super cool!  Wish I could take a photo with him!  May be I'll request it when he comes to collect the painting at the closing.

Eliza's exhibition with Artists Abroad

Artists Abroad 18th Annual Exhibition - "Journey" 2012

In "Journey" - the theme of this Annual Exhibition, my exhibits (mostly sculpted paintings on canvas blocks) are technical experimentation and narrative exploration using various mediums - putting 3D bubbles (an extension of the “Otherworldly” series) into the context of an existing contemporary realism series.

from duty to delight ...

After all preparation is done, it may be a normal path to seek opportunities to exhibit as an independent artist.  Such thinking, if prolonged, can easily lead me to feel that it is a ritual to keep.  But today, a new revelation came upon me in my quiet sitting at a corner of the gallery.  I was just well pleased to see my works in such context, being shown to the public.  I was at ease, ready to listen to comments, spoken or unspoken, from even visitors I don't know. 

I am ready to move on, to face more challenges - to play and experiment the unknown, to wait for my heart to tell me what next, and to guide my hands to bring about the ideas into presence.  I will not paint for the sake of painting.  Painting simply cannot stop.  I know a new collection will have to be birthed.  Making art and exhibiting are no longer dutiful, but a delight.

... explaining to Ivy about this painting "Joy".  Joy, unlike "happiness", does not depend on what happens.  Joy is stable.  It fills up the deep well of confidence from within.  In times of trials, even seemingly dark, hope and light is ever-present.  Like keeping a balance in tonal distribution on a picture plane, it is important we keep a balance in life too, be joyful knowing we have once overcome, and never let any dark hours push us back.  When breakthrough comes, brilliance simply leaps forth at staccato speed to tell of a triumphant moment. 

Solo Exhibition: 3 Sep - 20 Oct 2012

Some shots at the exhibition gallery.

Solo Exhibition at SR Gallery 2012

Anxiety ceased as my solo exhibition has started, finally! I'm showing 43 pieces/series of art altogether. It will run for 7 weeks. Sep 3 - Oct 20. Please visit and view my work, write to me too. It was great to meet some lovely friends there yesterday, and I made a new friend who is very resourceful :) Simply makes me smile all the more!

Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo New York

Really worth driving a few hours up to visit Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo New York to view some beautiful original works of master painters and contemporary artists.

Now that I have seen with my very eyes Clyfford Still's huge body of works (his pieces of art have to be viewed as a collection I was informed), and Frank Stella's real paints, am I content with the facts about abstracts - its presence, worth and influence, and continue to passionately develop my own abstract art?  #noturningback

Happily Bubbling Away - solo show

"Happily Bubbling Away" my solo show - 27 pieces/series covering two major bodies of work will be shown at SR Gallery at 3/F Cubus, the chic area in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, for the whole month of September 2012. Will post details when ready. Stay tuned :)

Community Project - mural paintings

It's a lapse of few months from January this year that our community project at Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital was finally completed.  It ended in a high note with a meaningful opening ceremony of the Radiology Center in which the Hospital has revamped the facilities to offer advanced services to the public.  We artists at Artists Abroad were greatly honored.

A few of our designs were chosen; a small party to meet up with the Hospital people behind this project.

A quick start on the mural painting in the first X-ray room.  I just loved the free painting and art jamming!  It only took us a few days to complete.

Second X-ray room, with a totally different painting style - masking and sponging, then drawings of birds and bugs.  Also a quick work, but the finishing was not as easy as expected.

After almost two months, the renovation of this reception area was finally ready for painting.  It was precision wall painting, which wasn't quite my thing, plus I had an accident of having a nail go right into my foot through my flip-flop ... bleeding ... bleeding ... but our other artists efficiently brought the work to completion also within a few days.

Big day of celebration, great opening ceremony in which various speeches informed me how much the public, the very needy children, would benefit from these new facilities.  Even our mural paintings are a source of comfort and motivation to them.  We all felt very honored to be able to be a part of their project and mission.

Small blocks filled with textured bubbles

 

These canvas blocks have been wanting my attention, I know, but what next?   Marks and textures look quite full, but they certainly are not done.   Why the same old anxiety and puzzle when I should know once paints are put out, digital gadgets put away, solution will appear?!

Schedule for second half of 2012 is packed; I can't afford to hesitate.  Now that the exhibition was over, travel was done (oh how lovely holiday with so beautiful people!) I'd better hurry before the long trip, and another exhibition, and now may be one more, take place.

Travel ... the Shunde trip made me want to paint something Chinese, but, one thing at a time!

Art Exhibition

I thought I would be very relaxed, settling in my new home, making a new studio in my roof garden (still no plant yet but plenty of lovely fresh air and greens at the surrounding mountains) ... suddenly time flies, and I have to rush again. 

Discipline!  Discipline!  I have to put my new experiments on abstracts aside and concentrate on ... tomorrow!  Exhibition with my dear artist friends tomorrow May 11 Friday at Yacht Club. 

My contemporary realism series which always sings to me!  I finally get things ready and I look forward to a fun day coming up.

Bubbles in a context

Still playing, but I managed to make some constructed play with the 3D bubbles.  Really happy with the outcome so far.  Next step is to put together a meaningful body of work, fingers crossed, so bubbles are not mere effects but elements of painting.

Is it still unsightly?  If someone wants to touch it, I guess it's not too bad.

3D bubbles

After some experiments on mediums and procedures, I'm finally getting somewhere.  Not easy, but good investment of time.  Now I'll have something really fun to play with during the Easter holiday, and in my new open air studio :)

very exciting to see these appear!

"unslightly", but they're not meant to be pretty anyway.

not the right palette that I was hoping to get, but I love the marks!

New bubbles coming - hope I can catch them

Thought this bubble series of work was over, but ideas kept coming back - fluorescent yellow and green, very 3D ... can't wait to go back to HK, get back to studio, and play with the paints and solvents. Hate it when inspirations flood in but I have nothing to work on!

Otherworldly #8_1-5

Inspiration from AHAF12

Went to Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair @Mandarin Oriental and was quite amazed to see many new, fresh and friendly art people and art pieces.  Amazing, in the early hour, the fair was already quite packed at the VIP Preview.  The format was fun - three floors of rooms taken by galleries from Asia to showcase their represented artists works, big and small.  Some really innovative works!  My heart was hurrying myself to look, trying to sweep as much as I could into the eyes, yet the feet took the time to walk near each piece to study, examine, enjoy and appreciate the workmanship, while meeting and talking to new people, exchanging name cards.  Irene and I spent one hour on each floor.  At the lounge for coffee, I suddenly was motivated to do something new again. 

Is it time my contemporary realism work returns again?

What is my art saying

"What do you want your art to say or do?" A gallery owner asked me.

A quick soul searching followed.  Do I want to paint something to express my thought figuratively?  I guess I have already shown my preference since I switched from realism to abstract art.  Abstract art gives lots of room for interpretation.  If the palette of a piece of my work stirs up some kind of emotions of a viewer, or if the imagery triggers a thought, or if the composition provokes a question, and if such gestures lead a viewer to dialogue with me - exchange of information, viewpoints and values, then I am getting what I want.  I want people to come to my work, look, stop, and converse with me, and see how I can influence their ideas more than my art does.

A beginning.  I'm just starting something to happen.  The outcome will speak to the audience itself, but I will happily narrate.

Marks to meet the public

So this painting "Otherworldly #1", the first work of the series, made its way to a juried competition and exhibition organized by HK Oil Painting Research Society.  Congrats Eliza! I had to say to myself.

I don't think I expect anything from the exhibition except that I so hope the marks can be seen by the public.  I'll be ready for critiques.  Perhaps I'm just thrilled to know that works of big boys in the local art scene are there.

The Otherworldly gave me much confidence to commence a new journey.  It's almost like walking on water!  I still recall the moments when frustrations clouded me and my studio.  Not easy, but a courage to follow solely my instinct, running back to studio after a quick lunch to have the picture plane totally revamped ...  The crossover resulted in tremendous courage, love and passion to make and create, solving problems along the way.  Had I entertain any doubt then, I wouldn't have gone on and finished the series with "Happily bubbling away".  The experience made a direct impact onto my attitude in living out my life too.

2012 new beginning of many things

Since I blogged last time at Christmas, I thought I would write down a to-do list, then slow down to welcome 2012.  But I was restless again.  Typical me - waiting was always a difficult task.  With an itchy hand, a few hours here and there between duties in the last few days of 2011, I managed to start, and finish, one or two items.   

So I started the new year feeling and doing great.  My to-do list is being cleared, with new things added in.  Tasks have been accomplished at a most satisfactory pace.  I'm glad I had the wisdom to drop off an art project too.  Like painting, there is time to construct, time to deconstruct.  A different picture comes about.  If it is not better, painting goes on.

I thought I would blog on the first day of 2012, but it's already 21st of the month - Chinese New Year is here!