In sync with nature

Nature and Landscape

A mixed offering of nature and landscape marks my painting efforts today, several being patterned after the paintings contained in the guidebook shown to the left, published in 1989 and on loan from Jenny, unless stated otherwise below. Jenny had originally bought the book for his son during his younger days. And I only chanced upon the book while visiting Jenny one day. As the chinese saying goes, the happiest person is not one who has the best thing; but rather one who cherishes everything one meets along the way. Thanks, Jenny.







This has appeared in an earlier blog but I repainted it, perhaps with some unintentional differences, since I have given it away to CE's friend, Olivia.

This is patterned after the front box cover of The Chinese Brush Painting Studio by Pauline Cherrett (Barnes and Noble Publishing, 2005).

This is a two-parter: the landscape painting is patterned after the painting entitled Waterway Near the Hanshan (meaning cold mountain) Temple appearing on pg. 172 of Chinese Painting Techniques: A Complete Course by Jean Long (Studio Vista, 1994) while the chinese couplets lining up the left and right sides are taken from pg. 169 of Chinese Landscapes Made Easy by Rebecca Yue (Batsford, 2007) that contrast (or rhyme) the merging of the sky and the water at the horizon (left panel) and the snow glow from the shining moon (right panel).

The Century Milestone

Today marks a sort of milestone in my painting blog: I hit the century mark. Usually, this is an occasion for reflection, for taking stock, and for affirming what is in store. And I see no reason to deviate.

I certainly have progressed, from being tentative to being more confident, more at ease at letting my brushes do the magic, pictorially. I have also ventured into areas that I have not imagined myself capable of, enhancing my range of repertoire (more like the simple ability to paint).

For reaching where I'm now, I have to thank Mrs. Fan, my Arts teacher, for her patience, her attention to details, and most of all, her friendship; my partners in paintings, for kindred spirit and many hours of shared joy in putting mind to painted form; and last but not the least, for the many visitors to my blog for their encouragement. And it goes without saying, my family for the unconditional support.

And I humbly offer the followings for the occasion. Let's continue the sharing.

Nature in Simplicity

Words are superfluous when Nature is concerned as the harmony, the serenity, and the teeming life itself is beyond description. The next best thing to personally experiencing the sight, the sound, and the scent is through photography, its vividness seemingly jumping out of the picture.

But as far as personal satisfaction goes, nothing seems to be comparable to creating pictures out of a blank page. While this sentiment is held by the creator, the same may extend to the beholder as well. But as the saying goes, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. I shall then leave it as that, except to say that I derive great pleasure in completing the following pieces, nature in simplicity.

The flowers and their many insect friends: a world of co-dependency.

Delicious black currants (blue?) drooping in numbers.

The Lotus and the unflappable leaves.

The willows, doing an impression of the pyrotechnic display during the day.

The Mei and the bamboo striking a harmonious pose.

The Mei striking out on its own.


Sprouting in unison, Nature's symphony.