The year of the dragon

I had been hard at work for this painting to celebration the Chinese New Year, the year of the dragon. Though often called Chinese New Year it also called the lunar New Year is celebrated by many Asian countries; it falls on a different day every year. This year the New Year is falls on the 23rd of January. This painting is combined with watercolor painting and paper cut out. The dragon on the background is cut out right on to the painting.
The dragon is the most powerful and suspicious Chinese zodiac sign, sign of authority and ambition, symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power. The Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. In Chinese cultures peony is symbolizes wealth. In Chinese the word vase (ping) sounds similar to peace. The gold fish on the vase symbolizes wealth and good fortune and because the word fish (yu) in Chinese sounds like abundance.
All together, this painting means wishing you abundance of wealth, health, plenty of power, peace and full of energy for the year of the dragon.
Happy New Year and may prosperity be with you all!

Watercolor and cutout 28”x20”, 2012

my life is in boxes

“My life is in boxes, said Vivian Maier-and the boxes held 100,000 images of New York and Chicago and many of them brilliant.
Vivian Maier (1926-2009) worked as a nanny and died on April 2009. When she was interviewed for a job she said, “ I came with my life and my life is in boxes.” When she showed up to begin for work she brought 200 boxes. Many of them held her photographic equipment and negatives.
She died on April 2009 and her rented lockers had gone unpaid and the contents were up for sale. A young real estate agent John Maloof brought some of the boxes and since then Vivian Maier’s talent is recognized.
Early last year, there was a exhibition of her work at the Chicago Cultural Centre.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204879004577110884090494826.html

First day of the year

Even today is the New Year day a holiday which also Sunday but nevertheless I went to my studio and work on my paintings. The TTC is on the holiday schedule which means the subways would not start until 9am. My plan was to take the bus on a longer route and arrive at the subway exacting at 9am when it opens.
Luckily, the weather been rather mild last night and the street were not as icy as the last couple of days. Almost as soon as I got to the bus stop and I see my bus was coming. A good sign of a good beginning of the year 2012!
My short walk from the subway to my building was rather enjoyable. The normally busy downtown has so few cars or people around.
I was not surprise I was the only one in the whole building. Even my next door neighbor whom almost came in way earlier than me every morning was nowhere in sight.
I actually turned off the CBC radio (all those boring holiday fillers) and put on a Chinese music CD. The afternoon rain kept me indoor all day and by 4pm I finally finished the orchid painting I been working off and off during the Christmas holiday.
Watercolor and cutout 20”x16” on 140lb Arches rough paper.

Take the nest bus

Another bitterly cold winter day it was a long wait for the bus this morning. There was a small group gather by the bus shelter already. Finally the long awaited bus arrived but was packed with morning riders. I took one look and decided not to bother with the extra stress. Another woman seemed agreed with me and stayed for the next bus. I told her, I think the next one would be plenty of seats and should arrive shortly.
Within minutes, the next bus showed up at our stop and there were many empty seats. Both of us went to seats at the end of the bus and I started to read my newspapers. A few stops later, when I look up from my reading and noticed our bus has catch up to the first bus. I smile and went back to my reading.
Ten minutes later, the same woman called out to me and tells me to look out the window. Our bus has just passed the first bus and look at each other and both started to laugh.

chinese new year painting

A few years ago, I brought a Chinese orchid (a miniature cymbidium orchid) from the Chinese New Year flower market in Chinatown. It has many delicate blooms on it however I couldn’t make it bloom for me since. Later, I learn in order to make it produce flowers, it needs a cold period. During the summer and fall I left it in our backyard hoping it might help it to produce flowers. Still for two years, no blooms from it.
This fall I left it out longer than the last two years, I was worry the frost might had done some damage to it.
Last month, all of sudden, I discovered it produced a flower stem and by late January it was in bloom! It just in time for this year’s Chinese New Year.


SAVECANCEL

lost and found

Last week I discovered one of my programs in my computer was not working. After a trip to the computer guy and he proclaimed my computer has virus!
After a costly cleaning and my computer are back working again however I was rather discouraged with this sudden and unexpected expense.
Yesterday, a friend came by my studio and brought a small painting. This morning, when I checked on my email, one was from FAA about another sale.
Amazingly, the two sales add up to the same amount as my computer repair bill!

Chinese New Year 2011

Today is the Chinese New Year, the year of the rabbit. I spent the whole morning making this bunny for this special day. My bunny is made with the Starbucks holiday coffee cups.Happy Chinese New Year everyone!