Drawing drawing

Hello beautiful people,

I haven't posted the progress of my painting lately and to be honest it's been a bit slowly than usual. Nothing to do with feeling unproductive, on the contrary I'm feeling experimental. I have this feeling that if I don't do this now that I'll never have time to do it. Basically, I feel now is the right moment. That's why I haven't posted the progress shots of my oil painting as frequent:)
I've been experimenting with some mixed media stuff. Below is only some of them.  Pardon me for the messy desk appearance:)

Bold Hype "Things to Come", Alex Gross "Discrepancies", and Esao Andrews "Solid Void"

We went to the city last Thursday and Saturday. Bold Hype had the opening after closed for summer. Lots and lots of cool artworks at their group exhibition from artists that you maybe already familiar with. Aron Wiesenfield, Allison Sommers, Chris Buzzeli, Dan May, and Nathan Spoor are just to name a few.

Travis seemed to have an interesting story going on while Eric and James were looking attentively:)

Allison next to her highly detailed painting.

Our favorite painting by Joe Scarano

Chris Buzelli

 Dan May

We like this one too from Aron Wiesenfeld

All in all, it was a great night. There were several openings going on around there. RARE gallery, Bold Hype's neighbor, had an opening that night and wow it was just cramped. The gallery was a bit small and there were way too many people there. I really wanted to see the artwork since they all looked pretty cool and scifi looking, but I just couldn't handle to stay there longer. I felt a bit claustrophobic and it was hard to see the artwork up close since people tend to hang out around the painting (I mean socializing but looking away from the painting...weird). DH managed to snap this one.

Jean-Pierre Roy

We swung by at Joshua Liner Gallery before leaving to check out Dave Kinsey's works

Dave Kinsey

We headed back to the city on Saturday a bit early so we could have lunch at Koreatown for some Korean foods and bakery. First stop was Gahm Mi Oak for a filling lunch, then walked around for a bit before had another round at Koryodong for yummy treats, iced green tea latte and squishy breads.

Kimchee. This one is sooo good

Happy boy with his tasty lunch

Cappucino mousse and iced green tea latte at Koryodong

We went to Jonathan Levine Gallery with happy tummy:) Jonathan Levine had two solo shows of Alex Gross and Esao Andrews. I've been a fan of Alex Gross' artwork for a while and I found Esao Andrews' works not too long ago and was completely in awe. I was lucky to meet Esao and Alex right after I stepped in the gallery. They both were standing next to the front desk, so it was very easy to spot. I sort of knew Alex (I said sort of because we were both connected through facebook hehe), but have never talked to Esao at all. I always feel nervous when it comes to meeting new people and that happened during that night but of course I tried to brush it off...pheww. Fortunately, they both were super nice and friendly. Esao was awesome and it was funny of how shy he looked when I basically told him that his paintings blew me away. Alex was really busy that night talking to a lot of people but we got a chance to talk to him for a bit. I ran into Allison at the gallery...what a surprise! She's always so much fun to talk to. Overall, it was a great night full of good foods and artworks...what more can you ask?

Alex Gross

Esao Andrews

Esao's

Esao's

Alex Gross'

Alex Gross'

The lovely Allison Sommers

Hello September and Random Bits Around Here

Whew time flies and it's already September. I feel like this year just goes by so fast while I still have a lot of things that I wanna do. I've been experimenting painting on paper. I have this acrylics set that I got from Christmas present 2 years ago. I've been wanting to try it for a while but didn't really have time to do it. My main focus was (and still is) oil painting. Now I feel like it's the right time and it's also something refreshing while still working on oil painting.
I tried some papers from drawing paper to watercolor paper. I just recently bought hot press paper and it seems to handle the kind of effect I want to achieve.

I just signed up to Sketchbook Project. It'll be my next priority after I completely finish my Poltergeist inspired painting and some stuff for my upcoming show in November in CT. The project is a bit challenging for me since I don't always sketch my ideas. Sometimes I would sketch into my moleskine, draw it and transfer it, but mostly I just draw it and transfer it into canvas. The main reason is that I like to maintain the excitement of exploring my fresh ideas...if that even makes sense:)
We'll see how my sketchbook will turn out, but for now it's still a mystery:)

Random bits around the studio

Run Pablo Run

Latest progress of the painting

There are two more paintings in progress. One of them still need more love and the other is still in underpainting (first stage) I will post more when I get a chance.

Just More Paintings in Progress

I got invited to an Art Show. The theme is 80's Horror Movies. Yup, it'll be held around Halloween. When I got the invitation, my immediate thought was...hmmm I haven't watched Horror movies in ages. Perhaps when I was in high school? I remember it was The Omen and it wasn't really that scary but left an unpleasant feeling and of course gave me a bad dream. It wasn't cool at all since I had to get up at 4.15am the next morning.
I did some reading of the movies listed for the show and decided to pick Poltergeist. I've never seen it, so we rented it and watched it in the morning (bad dream avoidance strategy). After playing around with some ideas in my head for two days, I came up with something. I sketched it, drew it, did a bit of adjustment, transferred it, and am now painting it.
Like any other paintings I did, I have no idea how this one will turn out. Every layer is always a journey.

I was actually working on this when I got the invitation. This one will have to wait for a bit. One love at a time

Last Weekend Story

We went to NYC last Saturday to attend Last Rites Gallery "New Breed II" exhibition opening. My friend, Mark Elliott, got three paintings there and I had been looking forward to seeing his wonderful artwork for a while. DH thought that we should go to Cafe Zaiya at Kinokuniya bookstore before heading out to the gallery...great idea! Their green tea frappe is to die for...yumm. DH found a parking a spot 3 blocks from the gallery and we took a cab to Kinokuniya. We got two green tea frappes, two chocolate cakes, one beef bowl for sharing, plus a bag of butter bread, vanilla cream bread, peanut butter cream bread and green tea rolls to go. Can't you tell that I love cake and buttery yummy bread?
Having all of those treats with a great view facing Bryant Park....ooh so good!
We had a quick browse of the bookstore before taking a cab back to our car. So we were in happy mood walking to our car, until we saw that the  passenger window was broken! A jerk had broken into our car thought there was a camera inside DH camera bag. Luckily, DH brought his camera with him. Nothing else was missing, and I was so glad that jerk didn't even take the camera bag. I would be sad to see it gone (and the lens in it) since DH did a lot of research before finding a comfy bag.
DH dropped me off at the gallery and I did see Mark for a bit. His paintings are awesome. They're all acrylics but you wouldn't have known that if you didn't see the description. The luminosity is amazing. You may have seen his works in Spectrum books, but you need to see it in person.
I took some quick snap of some paintings in the gallery before leaving. What a day!

Delicious goodness green tea frappes and chocolate cakes....slurrpirific

Sniff

Another Sniff

Mark Elliott

Mark Elliott

Natalie Shau

Mark Elliott

Angie Mason

Some photos from Last Rites Gallery

Hidden Feelings

I posted two progress shots of my newest painting before. So here's the final result.

Title: Hidden Emotionsoil on linen. 16"x20". 2010

I'm currently having some projects in the studio. I started a small painting on wood panel, got an initial sketch for painting on linen, and some drawings. I'm loving the process of painting on wood panel so far. I can see how some artists prefer to paint on wood instead on canvas or linen. Laying colors on wood is just effortless, everything glides like butter..haha...if that even makes sense, but you know what I meant.
I will post the photo as soon as I'm done and perhaps scan some of the drawings as well.

Here is Pablo

Pablo is a mini skeleton figurine that we found at Group W Bench in downtown New Haven. The store has a big collection of small skeleton figurines aside from other little vintage toys, ethnic accessories, jewelries, and clothing. I learned that day that those skeletons were related to Day of The Dead decoration. We thought it was a perfect place to find a gift for my sis-in-law since she loved skeleton. We found something for her but we also saw this little painter skeleton. DH insisted that I should get it since I'm an artist. I think I remembered feeling awkward of being called an artist because that year was the year that I decided that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. There weren't too many people really knew what I was doing (this was before I created this blog, had facebook account, and so on).
Anyway, DH just picked that painter skeleton and bought it for me since I was so indecisive..hehe. I put him on my desk and decided to name him Pablo. I feel like Pablo has been with me throughout this time. It's like if I see him, he will proudly encourage me "You can do it...let's paint with me". I wish I could elaborate more that at least now you can understand a little bit when you see him in my next paintings.

Other random pics around the studio

Drawings, and small painting

My previous Munny preparation

Doodling thing when I'm bored

Current painting (underpainting stage)

Almost done

Travis Louie "Curious Myths", Sylvia Ji "Las Adelitas" and Group Show at Last Rites

We Went to NY to attend the opening of two great artists at Joshua Liner Gallery. You've probably read and saw some of the photos for the opening preview on Hi Fructose magazine, Arrested Motion blog, or any other art blogs. We arrived there a bit earlier, something that we'd like to do whenever we go to an opening, to be able to look at each painting without struggling to find our way among the crowd. I got a chance to talk to Travis Louie and Sylvia Ji when the gallery was still a bit empty (and you still could feel the cool breeze). The crowd started to fill the whole gallery around 7PM and people just kept coming. We had to get out in the middle of it to get some fresh air  and coffee (plus 2 slices of yummy pizza). Travis Louie's works are incredible, super fine rendering skill and high detailed drawing. Each character in his painting looks very alive and as if they are frozen in time and packed inside the glass frame by Mr. Louie. One of my favorites is The Hypno Doll, and I'm not the only one since that painting was one of the first paintings sold that night.
Sylvia Ji show contains 15 acrylic paintings, with most of them using her popular style approach of Dia de los Muertos imagery. The vibrant colors of predominantly red and gold leaf will catch your eyes as soon as you enter the gallery.
Before we headed home, we stopped by at Last Rites for the group show. The gallery was packed as well and it was pretty difficult for me to move around and look at each of the artwork. The show was curated by Jason D'Aquino. He teamed up with Last Rites to present Lead Poisoning, a show of gray-scale drawings by some of the most talented artists working today. You will find drawings by Jason himself, Greg 'Craola' Simkins, Chet Zar, Tara McPherson, Chris Mars, Robert Williams, Xiaoqing Ding, David Stoupakis, and many more.
All in all, it was a great night and I always feel like there are so many cool things to see in the city but so little time. Until next time:)

Some photos taken by DH

With Sylvia and Travis

Some of Sylvia Ji's paintings

The Hypno Doll is sooo adorable

         

Mark Garro, Mark Elliott and I

Some of Travis Louie's paintings

Meeting Travis and his beautiful family

Xiaoqing Ding's drawing at Last Rites

Tara McPherson's drawing at Last Rites