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.

Birds of Paradise

This is for Virtual Paintout November 2016, Tijuana. It's oil on A4 canvas board. Google link is (ref).

Riverview Rd

This is for Virtual Paintout November 2016 challenge, New Foundland. It's oil on F4 canvas panel. I chose this scene (ref) trying to capture the blue of the river in Reidville in New Foundland.

Girl at Dutch Wonderland

This is for Virtual Paintout September 2016 Lancaster County PA challenge. It's oil on 8x10 canvas panel.

 At Dutch Wonderland there were many interesting people scenes. I chose this little girl because because of the good lighting, and the face is not blurred out. (ref)  I tried to use cool light with warm shadows.

Nordland Reflection

This is for Virtual Paintout August 2016, Norway challenge. It's oil on 8x10 canvas board.

After taking a few months off preparing for the Cliburn, I finally got back to picking up my paint brushes again. Norway has many wonderful scenes, and I always like water reflections, so this view was an easy choice for me. (ref) First I painted the canvas panel reddish brown. Snow is combination of yellow white for light and purplish and bluish grey for shadow. Sky reflection is combination of warm to cold blue and greys.

High Street Bag Piper

This is for Virtual Paintout January 2016 Scotland chanllenge. It's oil on 8x10 canvas panel.

I started out my virtual travel in Edienburg around the High Street area, soon i saw this bag piper. (Ref) It makes an imteresting character study.

Parakeets

This is for virtual paintout December 2015, Educador challenge. Its oil on 10x12 canvas panel.

Link (ref)

Jumping In

This is for Virtual Paintout Nov 2015 Istanbul challenge. It's oil on 10x8 canvas panel.

In Google Maps I came upon a few kids jumping into the ocean on Kennedy Ave in Istanbul. (ref) It looks like something my kids would also do too, so much fun. The kids in the street view were of different built as well so it made a nice quick study on human body.

Drinking Water

This is for Virtual Paintout October 2015 Philippines challenge. It's oil on 10x10 canvas panel.

This scene with the girl in a slump getting drinking water and walking back home next to the ocean struck a chord with me. (ref)  While the background scenery is beautiful, it is sad that children growing up there do not even the basics, such as drinking water, readily available in their home. The bright color of the girl's skirt is a good contrast to the greyish elements everywhere else.

On Top of the World

This is for Virtual Paintout, September 2015, Utah challenge. It's oil on 10x14 canvas board.

After taking a few months break from VP due to summer traveling etc, it's time to get back to VP challenges. The closest I have ever came close to the Grand Canyon was from the Arizona side taking a quick helicopter ride around Scottsdale. So it was fun to virtually visit the canyons from the Utah side on Google street map. I was checking out Canyonlands National Park in Utah, and saw this great view of the canyon and a guy trying to take a picture, or perhaps a selfie, on what looks like a smart phone. (ref) I took elements from this Google street view, and rearrange them. I also turn up the color of the canyon while trying to keep a sense of space and openness of the canyon view.

Cesky Krumlov Canel View

This is for Virtual Paintout May 2015, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic challenge. It's oil on 10x12 canvas panel.

The center of Cesky Krumlov is quite a beautiful town, and many artist at VP found many wonderful views to paint. With every corner one turns, there is another beautiful view. I came upon this side street, with beautiful blue sky and water reflection, contrasting the bright house with the terra cotta color roof. (ref) Starting with a black ground, I kept the brush strokes relatively loose, and stopped when I felt the light / shadow and color contrasts were achieved.

Bhutan Rice Field

This is for Virtual Paintout April 2015 Bhutan challenge. It's oil on 11x14 canvas.

This rice field scene has an interesting reflection of the cloud with setting sun. (ref)   In light of the recent earthquake in the neighboring country Nepal, may people in that region heal and recover.

Greenland Sunrise

This is for Virtual Paintout March 2015, Greenland challenge. It's oil with palette knives on 10x12 canvas board.

There were many interesting snow scenes to paint in Iceland with Google Maps. I choose this ome (ref) because of the cold morning sun and the roughness of the snowy terraine. It was perfect for a palette knife exercise.

Recycling Break

This is for Virtual Paintout February 2015 Bangladesh challenge. It's oil on 8x10 canvans panel.

The region of Bamgladesh that I virtually visited was littered with garbage and water bottles everywheere. I stumbled upon this girl who was the only person trying to clean and appeared exhausted and resting on the grass. I wanted to capture the sense of exhaustion and frustration, while everyone else was oblivious to the garbage. (Ref)