Venice - acrylic exercise

The trip to Venice is only left in the memory. All photos we took from the trip was 'eaten' by virus in my computer, and eventually crashed my computer. That was the time I underestimated the power of viruses and when I had the 'it-won't-happen-to-me' attitude.

I ask the acrylic painting members in my class to do this painting after we learned a little bit about perspective. And, for this assignment, I asked them to mix the acrylic paints with water and have the watercolor effect on the painting. It was started last week, so I am looking forward to seeing others' pieces tomorrow at the class.

PS: I agree with Fabienne that the water in Venice is not all that clean, but I believe we could see some blue sky and that's why I picked blue for the water. It is a reflection of the blue sky.

Taos pueblo, New Mexico

Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. It is the longest continuously inhabited place in the entire country.

 I found this painting on the attic of my parents-in-law's house exactly 10 years from the date of the painting. I have no memory when the painting was actually done, but I remember I painted this because the scene of the pueblo was impressive, and I'd never seen anything like that before. We stolled around the hill to see some of the houses, and felt that time has stood still. People live almost like how their ancentors lived 1000 years ago.

Another thing that I like about this pueblo is the earthy orange color, one of my favorites. It was a watercolor painting, so I must have painted this before I even knew about silk painting. I feel like I have found a treasure in the attic..

Silk painting group get together

Anita, Suresh' wife, Hanin, Fabienne, Veronique, Helena & Nelima

(Front: Suresh' daughter, Sachi)

Egg painting and coffee

Landscape-2

Couldn't sleep and finished another landscape painting. There's always an 'incident' when I take my doggies for a walk. This time Zorro ran after a tiny white furry dog, seized him and flipped him upside down. Scary but funny. The dog was perfectly fine, but the neighbour came out with a shovel and almost hit Zorro if I did not stop him. OMG! The adrenalin kept me awake at night.

I love the scene of rolling hills and mountain in the background. This painting was made on alcohol-treated silk, and using a combination of wet to wet and dry brush techniques. Inspired by Robin Purcell, watercolor artist. Will do more Asian landscape soon.

An evidence of obedient dogs

These doggies love food very much and it is amazing to see them sitting there without trying to get those meat chunks. Of course they were drooling profusely, but they waited for me to pick up my camera, took their picture, put the camera back in the drawer, and finally I took the meat chunks and let them eat from my hand. ^_^

Not a good week

Many things happening this week, and not all good. My "security/parking/cleaning/coffee" guy resigned yesterday, and I am not sure whether he had too much to do or nothing much to do.  He came to do the school last year from a country side by bicycle with his father without anything, and could not understand a word of English. I turned him down but instantly reversed my decision because I could not stand his father's teary eyes. Now he is a student in a university majoring in accounting and speaks and writes English. Sad that he left, but I do wish him the best and hopefully he has a better job now.

When I feel blue, I paint with a lot colors, and it helps. A combination of bright yellow, green and a little touch of orange surely lifted up my mood. This is a landscape painting on the cover of the Artist magazine. The original painting was a watercolor painting on paper, but I try it out on alcohol-treated silk.