American Impressionist Society Show

I was juried into the American Impressionist Society 11th National Exhibition this year. The show will be held at Richland Fine Art in Nashville, Tennessee. It runs from October 7th to November 3rd. Just shipped off my painting today. Excited!

This is the painting:

Old Train Station, 11 x 14 (SOLD)

You can preview the AIS national show online here:
http://www.americanimpressionistsociety.org/2010/RFA_catalog/index.html
Many beautiful paintings!

2nd Place! -- HDG painting Competition

It's been a long time but here I am again...

I participated in the 4th annual Havre de Grace plein air painting competition last week and won second place! It was a surprising win and I feel very happy and grateful. Talked to the judge Ken Backhaus. He is such a nice guy and gave me a lot of good advice. Cindy did a great job organizing the event--thank you!

The winning piece:


Havre de Grace morning, 12x16

Other ones:

Pink house, 9x12


At rest, 12x9


Afternoon alley, 16x12

On the easel

I'm working on this big painting (not really that big but...) of 40x30. It's from a photo I took in Hong Kong last year. I'm still trying to figure out how to do larger paintings. And I don't want to make the painting look too realistic. This is where a field study will be so helpful--unfortunately it wasn't possible to do one there then.

Opera Garnier interior (SOLD)

Oil on linen, 24x18

This one took me a week to do--I worked on it a little bit everyday. I decided to paint on my porch for better light and ventilation, but then it was hot.

I took the photo for this painting on the tour in Opera Garnier. I was fascinated by its rich interior, especially this sculpture holding the lights. It just makes you want to sing--I guess that's the point, isn't it?

Two watercolors

Montmartre street, 10x7


Montmartre music, 10x7

Somehow the most paintable photos are mostly from Montmartre. No wonder painters all flocked to there in the past.

Opera Garnier sculptures

18x24


18x24

These are more like drawings. They are the group sculptures on the facade of the Opera Garnier. I love sculptures, and was so impressed by the French architecture. There is nothing like this in the US! So grand. So rich in details and beauty. Everywhere you look, the Paris streets greet you with visual treats. My camera could hardly stay in my bag.

We tried to get tickets for a show in Garnier that day, but got there too late. The only two tickets left were 200 euros each. Well we didn't want to see the show that bad to pay that much! And really, it was because--we spent too much time across the street in the Galerie Lafayette.


Afternoon snack in Galerie Lafayette. With a cup of coffee, it's a perfect pick-me-up. So delicious.


Cute salt and pepper shakers in the Lafayette Gourmet store.


French girls in front of the Opera Garnier. Love the flower in her hair.

If there is one thing I can complain about Paris, it's--too many smokers! They are everywhere!

Montmartre at sunset

Oil on canvas, 18x24

It's in front of the lovely "La Maison Rose". We had dinner there. Montmartre is overrun by tourists now of course, but turn away from the crowds, and walk downhill a couple blocks, you enter a relatively quiet neighborhood. Sitting on the corner is la Maison Rose, a pink house (restaurant) with outdoor seating. Parisians love to sit outside!

Snails, anyone?

I love snails. Ah, only remembered to snap a shot after they were gone...


Duck confit with pasta. Yummy!


Nice evening. The sun sets so late! Like 10:30 pm!

Everyone who has been to Paris has felt her magic. I cannot begin to describe her beauty. Just trying to capture something on canvas, one by one. I came back only a couple of days ago, and I want to go back there already.