Class Trip

During our visit to Musee d'Orsay in Paris a few years ago, a group of school children gathered around the Little Dancer sculpture by Edgar Degas. The ballerina sculpture was meant to be a 14 years old child, similar age to the school children. The stillness of sculpture versus the restlessness of children also form interesting contrasts.

Oil on 12x12 canvas board.

Three Monks

When we went to Nepal a few years ago, we visited the Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu. The religious monument was in the middle of an open space, surrounded by souvenir shops and restaurants. People from all walks of life, such as locals, monks, and tourists were walking around the stupa in circles. Three older monks were among the crowd walking in line with almost equal distance between them, forming a strong perspective element. The red robes also strongly contrasted with the grayish surroundings.

Oil on 12x12 canvas board.

Laguna de Santa Isabel Boat Ride

This is for Virtual Paintout June 2017 Guatemala challenge. It's oil on 8x10 canvas panel.

I started the painting shortly after the previous months, to use up the left over blue paint after finding the Googla map guy being on a boat in the middle of the lake.  (ref)  With all the traveling, I finally managed to put in the last touches after arriving in Canada. 

Jeju Jeolmul Koi Pond

This is for May 2017 Virtual Paintout South Korea challenge. It's oil on SM size canvas board (15.8x22.7cm).

I've never been to Korea, but have heard that the Jeju Island is beautiful. So I started my virtual visit on that island and came upon a koi pond in the Jeolmul Recreational Forest. (ref) For this quick little study, I combined elements from the several nearby Google street view photos.

Nashville Forest Sunset

This is for Virtual Paintout Feb 2017 Nashville challenge. It's water color on F4 Waterford paper.

It was a bit difficult trying to find something to paint this month. This view of sun peeping through the trees with some fall foliage was a good exercise in water color trying to capture the sun without actually painting the sun. (ref)

Playa Puerto Nuevo Bikini Lady

This is for Virtual Paintout January 2017 Puerto Rico challenge. It's oil on F0 canvas panel.

Along the same stretch of the beach where I did the sea foam painting at Playa Puerto Nuevo, I saw this woman walking on the beach. (ref) The ocean and her body in the sun make good contrast and composition. So I had to do this little study as well for the challenge.

Sea Foam Lace

This is for Virtual Paintout January 2017 Puerto Rico challenge. It's water color on F4 Waterford Paper.

When I saw this sea foam view at Playa Puerto Nuevo, (ref), it reminded me a piece of lace. I thought water color with masking ink would work great for depicting the lacy quality of the sea foam.