Klimt Revisited

I’m so excited to be painting again – the long hiatus has temporarily ended. This week I was able to finish two! Last year my goal was to finish one painting a week. I’m not going to stop painting until I paint all the animals in the world (if that’s possible)!

I felt a little adventurous this week. I tried experimenting with colors and patterns. I also attempted mixing watercolor and acrylic. I went a little crazy with the painting and perhaps a little overboard but I really enjoyed it.




This painting was inspired by Gustav Klimt’s “Der Kuss’’ or “The Kiss.” I really love the colors he used. I cannot wait to post my other painting.

But before I sign off, here are some interesting facts about elephants:

Did you know?

• Elephants cry, play, have incredible memories, and laugh!
• Elephants are sensitive fellow animals where if a baby complains, the entire family will rumble and go over to touch and caress it.
• Elephants have greeting ceremonies when a friend that has been away for some time returns to the group.
• Elephants grieve at a loss of a stillborn baby, a family member, and in many cases other elephants.

Source: http://elephant.elehost.com/About_Elephants/about_elephants.htm

Whether sad, angry, distressed, eager, or playful, elephants are this in a big way

– Joyce Poole

Weekend In Philly

I went to Philadelphia this weekend and visited Magic Gardens. It was the first time I’ve seen a building covered in mosaic out of broken mirrors, ceramics, bicycle spokes and among other things – it was pretty amazing. I couldn’t imagine covering my room in broken bottles or ceramic shards – it would take me months before I could finish one wall but Isaiah Zagar covered an entire building! He began tiling South Street in the 1960’s and made it into a “labyrinth mosaic museum.” Below are some of the photos I’ve taken inside and outside the Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens:

The museum is not free, you have to pay $3 to get in. Magic Gardens is nonprofit organization formed by artists and community members to promote and preserve the legacy of Isaiah Zagar.

A very late Christmas

Nine-tailed Fox by Dang, Age 10

One of the best things in going to Kung Fu class is seeing all my classmates - we have a very diverse class. Going to class is like going to a second home - everyone is just so nice.

The illustration above is a very late Christmas present from one of my classmates who loves Naruto. He talks about Naruto all the time. I watched a few episodes with my little brother back then so I knew the synopsis. I did not have the chance to thank him personally since I missed a few classes. It was my brother who gave me the drawings. When I came home, they were on my bed. I think I'm going to paint him Naruto.

More drawings from Dang.

And I decided to change the umbrella in my previous painting. I think it looks more interesting.

Butterfly Paradise

I can’t believe I finally finished painting! I wanted to finish soon but I just didn’t have enough time. I had to miss 2 kung fu classes – I hate not being able to go to school.

I am so excited to post my pictures online. It has been a long arduous week and I’m glad it’s over. I was browsing online a while ago and I saw this little girl holding a white umbrella. I really like the picture so I did a sketch but never gone back to it until now. It has been 3 months since I worked on it. Here’s my sketch:


I don’t have a studio – I do pretty much everything in my room. I placed all my supplies next to my bookcase. So this is what I’ve been doing in the past few days.


I really enjoy gardens and everything about it – I think it’s magical. I added transparent butterflies in the background. Perhaps when butterflies die they’re still in the garden. Here’s a more close-up look.

Rat loves cat!

This is the sweetest video ever. I wish our cats were like this.

Portrait by Ayame

Aunt Cat by Ayame, Age 4

I miss painting. I haven’t done any watercolor painting lately. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to finish my painting that I started several months ago. I have not touched it since I began using watercolor. I really want to finish it before the end of this month, hopefully this week. I already started coloring the face but it still lacks something...I am going to work on it this weekend. I’ll post it once it’s done.

I do have this really nice drawing from my godchild, Ayame – she came over for New Year’s eve. She loves to draw so I gave her some paper and colored pencils. This is one of her drawings. I hope to see her again so I can give her some seeds to plant for her butterflies (she told me they need some food.) I’ll post some more of her drawings next time.

LOOK SACHAN...

My first book! I couldn’t believe I completed a book in two nights. Of course I already had the pictures but writing it was very challenging. I haven’t written a book before and I only had a couple days to do it. I wanted to have the book by the 24th so I could give it to my boyfriend on Christmas day but the book arrived four days later. I was pretty disappointed with FEDEX but I was happy with the book.

Note: This book is not available anywhere. Although you can make your own book and publish it in Blurb.

Sachan, pre-Goma - 8 years ago

I couldn’t have done it without Sachan bugging me to write a book. She even gave me the link and “forced” me to blog (Thanks this is actually fun!). Seriously, I do want to thank Sachan for always egging me on to do things; even though, she’s a hundred miles away. I hope you’re enjoying your stay in Japan and I hope you like the book. See you soon! XOXO

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My last painting for 2008. I hope you all enjoyed your New Year!

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!

William Arthur Ward