Working Late

22"x29", charcoal on paper




This is a continuous work from March. I would like to call it as Final version for now. It is so close to Thumbnail study now. I might like to do oil studies with this.



Thumbnail Sketch

Adversity

11"x14", oil on panel

This is my weekly "Alla Prima" painting at Art Center. This setting was reminding me of Last Emperor who is going through the perils of of his country in modern history.
I chose the strong contrast of color in hue, saturation and value. Jagged shadow of bamboo leaves accentuating the conflicts and drama.

A State of Abstraction

11"x14", oil on panel

This an oil study done at Art Center. I felt the color harmony of different shades of orange in this setting had priority over the depiction of the details in the figure. In this painting, he is lost in study to the acquisition of knowledge.

Wearing Korean Costume

11"x14", oil on panel

She is a young Japanese descendant wearing Korean costume for this Friday painting session at Art Center. I could see her personality and attitude showing through this portrait, making me chuckle.

Mermaid

14"x18", oil on panel



I did this this oil painting one afternoon in December/2006 at ACCD painting workshop. This model was just like walked out of the painting of John William Waterhouse, one of my favorite artist. She just looked like a mermaid in the legend. I only had one session with her for this pose.
I am very happy with this painting. Misty background suggesting the forest and lagoon I created, the light hitting the front of figure......Every thing looks just right in this painting. It has fresh, sketch-like quality.
The spontaneity is one of the quality I pursuit all the time in my work. She was going back home to New York that weekend. I wish that she lives in LA, so I could paint her often.




John William Waterhouse
A Mermaid



John William Waterhouse
The Nymphs Study

Wisteria Lane

9"x12" oil on panel



Happy Spring!
On last Wed. morning, went to Wisteria Lane, a private residence in Sierra Madre (Guinness Book of World Records) with my weekly Plein Air painting group. How humongous area wisteria is covering!! The air was filled with fragrance. Dappled light on the wisteria covered ground was so beautiful. I had to dash off quickly as I could to catch the moment. It took only 45 min to do this painting.








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Geisha (芸者)

16"x20", oil on panel

I went Art Center last Friday afternoon to paint. The model was Sarah. I used to paint her quite often in the past. She is an extra ordinary beauty, also very creative.
This time, she was Japanese Geisha holding the sword in the silk robe with the embroidery.
I am surprised at this painting a week later. I have realized that my approach to the way of the painting is quite different every time even with the same model. With this painting, there is a drama and energy through the stroke I created in this painting. It shows the strong characteristics of Geisha (芸者) who is a professional entertainer as an artist, musician, dancer, and communicator. 芸 (gei) meaning "art" and 者 (sha) meaning "person" or "doer."