My two black labs

In Kiev now, and I miss my doggies. I sketched them using black Derwent water soluble pencils. They look more like two big puppies in this drawing, just the way I'd like them to be forever...

Kiev is a charming city with the blend of Russian and European touch. The city landscape is decorated with enormous and ornated buildings - some are historical - while the wide sidewalks serve as the runway of the Ukrainian fashion concious women. Subways are deep inside the underground tunnels with thousands of steps. Can't imagine if the escalator does not work.

Had dinner at Hydropark last night - a big Soviet style amusement park establishment. It was a windy and cold evening. Lonely planet recommended 'shashlik', borshch, vodka, and deruny (potato pancakes), and they were all good. Like usual, we ordered one too many.

Summer Program

Now open for registration.

New project - Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov is one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever visited. The rolling hills, red-brownish rooftops and the winding rivers with dark green trees on the side are just a perfect combination for a painting. This drawing took me a few weeks to finish, and from now it is time to put the colors.
As much as we like the city, we also had a slight unpleasant experience there where we got stood up by a Czech man who lived in Latin America. We happened to become 'friends' because my knife flew off my hand while we're dining... (It was definitely the wine.) Unfortunately, it did not hit him but landed on his lap; and to make the story short, we started talking, and at the end, agreed to take a canoe ride together in the morning. My husband and I woke up really early and went to the meeting place - the bridge where there's Jesus on the cross. He and his Latino's wife never showed up.... We searched his caravan in the park, and found nothing. We theorized that he might be kicked out by police in the middle as it was illegal to park there. Anyhow.....  I had the best canoe ride with my husband, which we would not have done if the guy did not come up with the idea. The scenery was stunning, the cold breeze with the tranquility of the wilderness were incomparable. Happy 10th year Anniversary, Baby!