Two Studies

Tuesday was a painting day.

 

Gisele, 14 x 11

 

Figure Study, 20 x 16

When I paint figures, I tend to elongate the form and the figures end up looking like super tall models in fashion illustrations (blame it on years of doodling fashion models on the margins of my notebooks in school). So this time I tried to correct that and went a bit too far in the other direction. The model looks short and stumpy. Oh well. Maybe next time I'll get the proportions right. 

Kuniko

 

Kuniko, 16 x 12

The model is a kimono consultant. She makes kimonos and teaches people how to wear them. She is also a Shinto priestess. I watched a video of her doing a beautiful Japanese dance with a fan. She has a powerful presence and carries herself with quiet dignity.

The Painting That Went Nowhere

The new year brings new hopes and resolutions. I remembered I have this blog and start to contemplate how this blog can sustain itself with my snail-like speed of posting three or four times a year.

I mean, do people still read blogs? It seems like everybody is on Facebook or Instagram now. But Facebook is not conducive to longer posts. So here's a long post about a painting of mine.

 

The title for the painting is "She Will Rule," 24 x 16 inches. Yes, you guessed it. I did it last year to support Hillary Clinton. Why can't we have a female president?

The idea came to me when I was taking a nap. I wasn't really asleep, just lying there. I saw a vision of the painting rose in my mind's eye and I had to bring it to life. 

Then I was like a possessed woman. I had to have everything ready. I searched for all the props. Found the crown and the scepter on eBay, and they came from China. I ordered two scepters, one silver, one gold. I liked the gold one better. Plus, I stepped on the silver one when it was on the floor in my messy studio and broke it. 

 

I found the chair (the "throne") in a second hand furniture store. It took me a long while to search for the throne but I finally saw this one. It was expensive, but when I'm possessed I don't care how much I spend.

I designed and made the costume myself. It's really all pinned together and tied by ribbons, although I did sew the skirt by hand.

 

I had to buy the fabric twice because I miscalculated the first time and the dress turned out to be too short.

I asked my friend Joanne to model for me. She is such a sweet girl and wouldn't let me pay her. I treated her to some Chinese food. She worked and studied in China for three or four years. 

But she didn't want to be a queen. I wanted her to give me a regal and authoritative look. She just giggled. But she did a good job in the end and I got some nice photos. 

I did two quick sketches from life and then started on the big painting with photo references. I was still trying to get back into figure painting at the time and I can't say I'm very satisfied with the result. 

In the end, I can only say this painting did not turn out the way I wanted it to, just like this election. 

Now my paintings like this one seem to require much longer time to finish, from the idea to completion. But if it has to be this way, then so be it. Also a figure painting is a collaboration between the artist and the model.

Still Life Setup 2

This is another still life setup I did.

I found the table, the vase, the painting and the wooden screen from second-hand furniture stores. I love the antique vibe and character these old things have. When you paint still lifes, it's important to have unique objects to play with. I look for different heights, shapes, and harmonious or contrasting colors. 

I put the painting of the cat in there for more interest -- not sure if it's the right move, but I liked how these things looked together.

Here is the painting. 

The block-in stage.

The finished painting.

I think it looks okay. The background may be a little dark. At first I didn't paint the cat distinctly and my husband didn't know what it was. So I added more details and made the cat more recognizable.

Sometimes your viewers don't get the idea you want to get across. Then you have to fine-tune it.

This painting looks more somber. Maybe it's the cool lilac colors against the dark brownish background. It's not as cheerful as the pink roses painting. Maybe I just like a cheerful painting better. Or maybe it's the straight lines of the vase versus the straight lines of the picture frame. It's all a learning process. 

Still Life Setup

I thought it might be interesting to post how I set up my still life. Here is a photo of the setup.

I use a spare bedroom as my studio. Everybody knows the most important thing in an art studio is a north-facing window. But life is not always perfect and you need to adapt. There is a large window in my studio, but it's facing north-east. Actually, more to the north than the east, so it's good enough. I do get a little bit sun early in the morning before 10 am, but after that it's a pretty stable and cool light coming in the window. I do notice some fluctuations of the light throughout the day, but I think even the true north light changes during the day. So that's just something we as artists have to deal with.

I found the wooden screen with a floral theme in a second hand store. I love to go to second hand furniture stores to see what I can find. It's like a treasure hunt. The screen costed around $150, I think? I found the vase in a goodwill store nearby and it was only $5. It was dirty and hiding on a low shelf. I brought it home and washed it clean. Now can anybody tell that's a $5 vase? 

The little green desk was free. Our neighbor across the street from our old house put it by the sidewalk for anyone to take before she moved, so I carried it into my garage. I like it. It reminds me of a student desk in China when I was growing up.

I picked up the dozen pink roses from a grocery store (about $12?). Now when arranging flowers, one thing to remember is to not have all the flowers at the same height and same angles. I also look at the flowers in groups because you don't want to paint the flowers one by one. Make sure you have one big group--the main character, and some small groups--the supporting actors. And I strewed a few rose pedals and leaves on the table to break up the flat green surface and to repeat color notes. 

This is a pretty simple still life setup. Just the roses and the vase, and what's around it. Truth be told, I had very limited time to set up and paint this picture before I had to run to pick up my son. I practically threw the flowers in the vase and started painting feverishly. But sometimes this is for the better because I had to stop before I ruin the painting and there was no time to dwell on details. I can say I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Here is the painting.

20 x 16, oil on linen board

When I paint, I don't feel obligated to paint exactly like how things are. You are the artist and are free to use your artistic license. Because, in the end, it's the painting remains, not the setup. Your painting has to stand on its own. The screen behind the flowers is black, so do I paint it black? No. I chose a muted purple color because I think light green goes well with purple, and they look harmonious with pink. You can also strategically move things around. I used a big pink pedal to break up the bottom of the vase. We as artists can choose what to put in and what to leave out. 

The Victorian Room

This is the painting I did at the Johns Hopkins Evergreen Museum last December. It was auctioned off at their holiday show. 

A group of artists were invited by the Hopkins Art Center and the Evergreen Museum. It was a rare treat to be able to paint the interior of the Evergreen Museum and attend the Holiday Party at the museum. I have to say we all cleaned up nice -- changed out of our paint-splashed garbs and dressed up in holiday appropriate outfits.

10 x 8, oil on canvas

OPA National Show 2016

My painting "Lady in White" has been accepted into Oil Painters of America's national show this year in Dallas, Texas. Yay!

24 x 18, oil on linen board

The model is again my friend Joanne. The antique settee is from a second-hand furniture store.