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Repetitio Est Mater Studiorum

8/19/2018 4:50:18 PM

Repetitio est mater studiorum" (Repetition is the mother of learning). I work hard when I'm serious about learning something new but I don't know if learning by repetition is the best way for me. I'm a kind of person who doesn't like reading manuals so I just start playing with a newly purchased product and figure out how to make it work (well, sometimes, never). I like to just dive in and learn by doing instead of reading or taking notes or even seeing how things are done beforehand. It may be natural for a person like me to get bored with the [...]

London Calling - Making Art is Therapeutic -

11/25/2015 1:31:56 PM

After generations, London Calling (1979), a hit song by the UK punk rock band Clash, is still iconic of London. We still enjoy this song maybe without thinking too much of what the words really mean. I was a bit surprised to find out, however, when I read its lyrics because they actually portray a pretty gloomy state of their troubled times back then, and speak about their anxiety of the world going to pieces. When people stop and think about the words, it still sends us a message after decades. Perhaps that is what the songwriter intended. We often hear creative [...]

Portugal - Quiet Beauty

6/29/2015 9:09:50 PM

Back roads in the region of Mafra meander through rolling hills and valleys that are dotted with lovely rural villages and forests. Landscape in this region is so beautiful and the overall atmosphere so peaceful and quiet. Less than an hour from Lisbon, Portugal's largest city, it doesn't feel like a big city is so close. But I have found people in Portugal to be very gentle and mild-mannered and even in Lisbon, a more relaxed mood prevails compared to other big cities I know. I was very fortunate to be invited to do a workshop there last month. In just 4 days we had opportunities to paint a farm, a seaside resort, [...]

Les Printemps de L'aquarelle 2015 in Belgium

5/10/2015 3:50:12 AM

Celebrating the 24th year in 2015, Les Printemps de L'aquarelle will open on May 14 in Libramont, Belgium. I am deeply honored to be present for the opening ceremony as this year's guest of honor. It will be a great pleasure to be participating in this international watercolor exhibition together with the artists whose works were selected from among many submissions. I will present 7 new paintings that I created this year, including "Evening, near Grand Place, Brussels." These new paintings are landscapes and an interior scene both of Belgium and of China, which I have chosen in light of this year's [...]

Dinard, French Landscape Paintings

11/17/2014 3:30:21 AM

Years ago when I visited Dinard in the height of summer, I gave up going to this beach simply because it was so crowded with holiday makers and I couldn't find a parking spot. But last month when my workshop students and I went there, there was no one except a few locals enjoying a quiet stroll by the water. I thought I came to a different beach. In front of us was a vast stretch of sandy beach, the calm blue ocean, the town of Dinard on the left, the skyline of Saint-Malo in the far right. It was almost too [...]

Il fait toujours beau en Bretagne! no.II

11/9/2014 1:18:50 PM

This painting is one of the demonstrations I did in my recent workshop in Brittany. Pointe du Chevet is at the tip of the peninsula near Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer on the Emerald Coast of Brittany, France. As seen in the photo (below), the view we had from there was stunningly beautiful, and the weather couldn't have been better, either. Both my students and I were so eager to take advantage of this one fine day to paint outdoors. When we arrived there, the tide was low, exposing much of the mud flat in front of us. Damp mud glistening in the sunlight, instead of [...]

Il fait toujours beau en Bretagne! no. I

11/2/2014 8:13:45 AM

Il fait toujours beau en Bretagne: I was in Brittany last month and my Breton host taught me this expression. When people say "il fait toujours beau" (the weather is always fine), it may be true in certain parts of the world. But "en Bretagne" (in Brittany) in northwest of France? The area is known for variable weather patterns even in a day. Recently I taught a plein-air workshop near the small town of Ploubalay of Brittany for 5 days. Each morning around the dining table where we all ate, our conversation started with "what's the weather like today?" and ended at [...]

Exhibition and Workshop in Milan, Italy

10/9/2014 10:00:55 PM

Milan has been one of my favorite cities in the world ever since I first made a visit a long time ago as a student. Little did I know then that I might be back for a wonderful exhibition/workshop opportunity one day. Immagini dell'Acqua, the 40th anniversary international watercolor exhibition organized by the Associazione Italiana Aquarellisti (AIA), opened its doors to the public on October 2. It was a huge honor that I was able to be present there on the opening day, which was a full house, as an invited guest artist of the AIA. The exhibition demonstrates excellency and brilliance [...]

International Watercolor Exhibition - Thessaloniki, Greece

9/29/2014 11:42:39 PM

I am honored to have my work included in the Second International Watercolor Exhibition, which opened on September 15 in Thessaloniki, Greece. This show was organized by George Politis, a wonderful Greek watercolor artist and a dedicated teacher, and will run until October 7. I have "Afternoon, Venice, Italy IV" and the other piece of Venice in this exhibition. Showcasing small- to medium-sized watermedia gems from both Greek and international artists, who were selected by a panel of international jurors, the exhibition is worth visiting if you are near the Gallery of Society of Macedonian Studies in Thessaloniki, the second-largest Greek city. Thessaloniki [...]

Immagini dell'Acqua, Milano, Italy

9/8/2014 4:08:02 AM

It is with a great honor that I am participating, as an invited guest artist, in the 40th anniversary exhibition of the Associazione Italiana Acquerellisti (AIA). Mr. Fernando Cavalieri, the AIA's President, together with Ms. Cristina Bracaloni, the AIA's Vice President, very kindly extended the invitation to me earlier this year to take part in the events including the opening of this special exhibition and live demonstrations. The theme of the exhibition is Immagini dell'Acqua (Images of Water), and it will take place at the Acquario Civico in Milan, Italy from the 2nd to the 26th of October. An international watercolor exhibition, the [...]

Watercolor Artist October 2014

8/28/2014 7:52:43 PM

To a painter, a brush is just like a good knife to a chef. One of my essential tools is a mop brush. And I am happy to say that an article of me talking about it appears in the October issue of Watercolor Artist magazine. I used "Central Park II," one of my recent paintings of New York City, to demonstrate how I used a mop brush in this painting. In this issue, I am also honored to be among some of today's finest artists working in watermedia, such as Direk Kingnok (cover artist), George James, Carol Evans, Chizuru Morii Kaplan, [...]

Have Fun with Your Imagination

8/27/2014 8:20:30 PM

When it comes to choosing a subject of plein-air painting, I think I'm fairly easy. What it means is that I am pretty relaxed about what I can find to paint in most situations, even in a new place in a foreign country. In a plein-air workshop situation, it is usually a person who organizes this that is more worried than me if I like a particular view or if I see anything that is paintable for my group. As a realistic painter, I find it somewhat important to be situated in an ideal spot where there is good light and [...]

Announcing A New Workshop in California

7/10/2014 3:20:25 AM

"California has been my home for nearly half of my life, and I have spent the majority of the time in San Diego. California's southernmost city holds a special place in my heart, for it was here that I made a life-giving career change and became a full-time painter. The abundant beauty of my 'adopted' home has been the inspiration for many watercolor scenes since I started painting in 2005. Thanks to San Diego's mild climate, I have become an avid plein-air painter and quite often I can be found traipsing its nooks and crannies on a quest for [...]

NEW BOOK: Painting San Diego, 100 Plein-Air Watercolors of San Diego Landscapes

6/2/2014 12:53:21 AM

I am very pleased to announce that my new art book is now available online. PAINTING SAN DIEGO: 100 Plein-Air Watercolors of San Diego Landscapes is a result of my recent 6-month-long outdoor painting journey through San Diego County, California, my adopted home of 20 years. The book contains 100 images of never-before-seen watercolors of mine, all painted en plein air between November 2013 and May 2014, photos and descriptions of most locations, plenty of practical tips and several step-by-step demonstrations. 120 pages. Foreword was written by Michael Campos of Campos Photography, a fine art photographer and a dear friend whom I have [...]

Plein-Air Painting in Long Island, New York (4) - American Landscape Painting

5/14/2014 3:26:43 AM

The weather was gorgeous. I really liked the area around East Hampton so I decided to stick around a little to make more paintings that portray beautiful architecture in the area. Painting Miss Amelia's Cottage, Amagansett Amagansett I (14"x20") Amagansett II (12"x16") The Palm, East Hampton, Long Island, New York I Click for an enlarged view. Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 13 x 19 inches (33 x 48 cm) Frame/Mat: No Purchase: Please send me an email for details. - Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs. - Follow me on Google+.- Follow me on Twitter.- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who [...]

Plein-Air Painting in Long Island, New York (3) - American Landscape Painting

5/12/2014 3:28:53 AM

After completing two waterscapes, I decided to move a bit inland to avoid the chilly wind from the south shore. I drove past several quaint small towns and some really luxurious houses but other than that, the landscape was mostly rural. This simple country scene that I painted was nothing extraordinary but there was something quite appealing about it. When I decided to set up to paint there, I had a choice of doing it on this side of the road or on the other. You can see what I chose and why in the finished painting. I have had people who told [...]

Plein-Air Painting in Long Island, New York (1) - American Landscape Painting

5/5/2014 2:23:15 AM

On my recent trip to Long Island, NY to teach a workshop, I had an opportunity to paint around the island. This is the first one I attempted near the town of Center Moriches. Looking at these photos reminds me that I was painting and crying here on the edge of a river mouth, constantly buffeted by the strong wind. The snow was falling just a week before but on the morning I painted, luckily, the sun was shining with no clouds in sight. I didn't realize, however, how relentlessly the wind would blow, especially by the ocean. While painting, I grew [...]

Central Park, New York City II, American Landscape Painting

5/1/2014 2:14:47 AM

One of the things I repeatedly tell my students is, before painting, have a plan for your creative process and picture your final picture. Easier said than done, but isn't it true that this is so easy to forget? Maybe we are too eager to paint. Maybe we don't think it's that important. Or we think a painting has to be done intuitively - we are artists after all, right? Please read this: Seasoned athletes use vivid, highly detailed internal images and run-throughs of the entire performance, engaging all their senses in their mental rehearsal, and they [...]

Painting in New York City, American Landscape Paintings

4/27/2014 4:32:58 AM

If you had a day in New York City to do anything you want, what would you choose? A tough call, I'm sure - the city has too many temptations! Recently I found myself to be in that situation between two of my workshops. It was a glorious weekend day, and I couldn't believe my luck. Here I am posting photos of what I decided to do. Painting in Central Park, NYC City Hall, NYC I (20"x14") Battery Park, NYC I (14"x20") Central Park, NYC I Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 13 x 19 inches (33 x 48 cm) - Join me on Facebook and [...]

Mexico City Paintings

3/25/2014 3:46:13 PM

I heard that Mexico City is huge. But it is really convincing when your airplane flies over this densely-populated city for what it seemed like an eternity and you see just houses upon houses as far as your eyes could see all the way to the horizon. You have to see it to believe it. During my workshop week in Mexico City recently, my host and her family showed me many corners of this megalopolis that 20+ million people call home. No matter where you go, chances are that you spend a considerable amount of time in a car in this city, [...]

From Plein-Air Sketch to Studio Painting

3/2/2014 10:16:52 PM

About nine years ago, I started out both as a plein-air painter and as a studio artist. As a watercolorist who paints in both environments, I have come to realize that there are unique qualities in each type of work. A painting done on location is my direct response to the landscape. I attempt to capture the whole experience of being there. For that purpose, I need to concentrate intensely to work fast. I so enjoy getting absorbed in the environment when the inspiration cannot be any fresher. As a result, the painting may look looser, more simplified or sketchy, and perhaps [...]

Recent Magazine Features

1/29/2014 3:13:21 AM

I am deeply honored to have my work featured in the 2014 March issue of Artists & Illustrators (published by Chelsea Magazine Co., Ltd., United Kingdom). Ms. Jenny White gave me an interview for my article. She asked me a lot of great questions about my thoughts on painting watercolor as well as teaching it. I hope you will enjoy reading it if you have a chance. Thanks to the article, one of my street scene paintings included in it "Bucharest, Romania I (2012)" saw the light of day. This work reminds me of my visit to this delightful city where I [...]

Chasing the Light in Palm Desert, California Landscape Painting

1/28/2014 12:17:43 PM

I often find myself heading out to paint during the golden hour to capture soft, warm sunlight. The quality of light is what I'm after and it is just fantastic especially for a lovely atmospheric painting. But, if you have ever attempted doing this, you know how rapidly the golden-hour light changes it can make the whole landscape look totally diferent within a matter of minutes. If only we could keep the beautiful light as long as we need to finish our painting! To deal with that elusiveness, I try to remember the first impression and work with it throughout the end. [...]

Plein-Air Demo at the Bernardo Winery, California Landscape Painting

1/25/2014 11:16:47 PM

For plein-air painters, especially those who work in watercolor, the weather is the most crucial factor for a pleasant experience. Too often, it is too hot, too cold, too windy, too dry, too wet, etc... well, we had none of those complaints on the day of the Saturday paint-out because the weather was perfect in every sense. I was happy to be invited as a demonstrator for a plein-air painters' group from the San Diego Watercolor Society. The location chosen for their January get-together was Bernardo Winery. I really liked the rustic feel of the [...]

Away From Home - Daily Paintworks Weekly Challenge

12/21/2013 4:43:49 AM

As a host for the Daily Paintworks (DPW) Weekly Challenge, I have chosen the theme "Away from Home" (please read a brief description below). I thought this topic is a timely one as many of us have a chance to spend some time away from home around this time of the year. Daily painters out there, or occasional painters or anyone who loves to give this challenge a try, let's have fun with it. To participate, please visit DPW website for more information. The challenge starts on Saturday, December 21. "Away from Home" Challenge: Many people travel at this time of the year. Some [...]

Shenzhen Watercolour Biennial

12/19/2013 9:15:45 PM

In response to the call to the artists worldwide, 2,825 entries had poured in from 54 different countries from all corners of the globe for the First International Watercolour Biennial. After the final round of judging by an international panel of renowned jurors, about 200 pieces of watermedia works were selected to be on display at the Shenzhen Art Museum in Guangdong Province in southern China. December the 10th, 2013 marked the official opening of the exhibition, and I was deeply honored to attend the opening ceremony together with some of the exhibiting artists who traveled there. I am pleased that "Sunset, [...]

On the Road (6) - China, Chinese Landscape Paintings

12/16/2013 7:54:06 PM

Traveling somewhere with plein-air painting as a primary purpose requires an itinerary definitely different from a typical sightseeing trip. For one thing, in a totally new environment in a foreign country, it normally takes a day or two just to know the ropes. So something as simple as finding a good place to paint that's safe and convenient to get to can be a big task. After spending some time scouting for such a place and managing a painting or two, chances are that a good part of a day is already gone and perhaps you're too tired to go sightseeing [...]

Dim Sum, Hong Kong III, Interior Painting

12/11/2013 8:31:06 AM

Eating with a family or friends means sharing some time together over a meal but in some cultures it is literally sharing the same dishes among those present. In Chinese culture, people normally sit at a round table and put several dishes in the center. In each dish there is a different kind of food - stir-fried meat and vegetables, steamed fish, roasted chicken, dumplings, soup, for example. There may be a pair of communal chopsticks for serving but it's quite common that they use their own chopsticks to take whatever they want. This way everyone sees each other and both [...]

Li River, Chinese Landscape Paintings

12/9/2013 8:59:10 AM

Stunning, dramatic, surreal... I don't know if any words can describe the amazing landscapes of karst terrains near Guilin. Some of the peaks look like animals while others look like giant cacti or jagged teeth. And these towering mountains are evreywhere - some stand alone right in the middle of a town and others out in the countryside. Between Guilin and Yangshuo, boats take visitors on a cruise on the Li River which meanders through these mountains. To see this very unique landscape, people come here not just from all over China but from all over the world as well. Yangshuo receives [...]

On the Road (5) - China, Chinese Landscape Painting

12/7/2013 7:05:13 AM

Painting en plein air is a great way to learn how to capture the sense of place and its atmosphere quickly. It is also a great way to take a quick look at life of the people who live there. I don't know about other plein-air painters but to me, personally, similarities or differences in people's lives that I observe and find in a foreign place are quite intriguing. In China, one thing that I noticed is that more people than in other places I've been to are quite interested in watching me paint. Some even want to take a photo together [...]

Aberdeen I, Hong Kong Landscape Painting

12/3/2013 9:56:09 PM

After enjoying a beautiful day painting at Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island, I traveled to the New Territories to visit my artist friend and respected teacher Harvey Chan. His students gathered that night in Harvey's studio to watch my demonstration he organized for me. I also had the pleasure of having some of my former workshop students and my art collector friend join us. I had a wonderful time sharing my work and talking about watercolor and more. I would like to thank everyone who was there for me! painting en plein air in Aberdeen, HK With Harvey Chan and his students, Hong [...]

Sam Mun Tsai I, Hong Kong Landscape Painting

12/2/2013 7:03:18 AM

In Sam Mun Tsai Fishing Village, local fishermen breed fish in cages. There are several stations floating on the calm water inside the bay, and I loved the serenity and timeless beauty of the scene as I watched fishing boats come and go. But the number of such floating stations is dwindling. I even heard (and I hope I was wrong) that the remaining ones may be removed eventually - just like old houses and shops tucked in between high-rises of Hong Kong. I looked up toward one end of the bay to find an enormous luxurious housing development, named the Beverly Hills. That in and of [...]

On the Road (4) - France, Interior Paintings

11/28/2013 5:26:21 PM

Recently I wrote a blog post about my workshop experience in southern Spain - how a lunchtime is taken rather seriously over there. Another country where lunch is enjoyed with vigor is France. I have taught quite a number of workshops in this country. I have found the time they take for lunch may not as long as in Spain but on many occasions lunch is a sit-down ritual, starting with a serious look at the menu and ending with a plate of various kinds of cheeses and/or incredible sweets. Bottles of wine are also a common sight on the table. Even if we don't [...]

On the Road (3) - Spain, Interior Paintings

11/27/2013 3:31:13 AM

It is interesting to note how we spend a lunchtime differs from culture to culture. In the workshops I do in the U.S. and Japan, for instance, we take a fairly quick lunch. And it is not unusual to see some students painting, while nibbling a sandwich, throughout a lunch break, which lasts one hour or less. I went to Seville in southern Spain earlier this year to teach 2 workshops for local watercolor artists. Over there a lunchtime seemed to be taken a bit more seriously. In the morning, we worked from 10am to 1pm. Then, we had lunch. For one hour? No. [...]

On the Road (2) - the South, American Landscape Paintings

11/25/2013 6:18:24 PM

To me, traveling for a workshop often means arriving there just in time, getting the job done, and packing up to go home. Especially in the U.S., I rarely have extra time to do anything else. However, my workshop organizers and participants alike sometimes go out of their way to show me around their neighborhoods. In the region called the American South, I have done several workshops in the past few years. And in each place I was a happy recipient of the Southern Hospitality from people I worked with. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, the gallery staff took me straight to the Philbrook [...]

Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

11/21/2013 3:56:53 AM

One of my favorite paintings is John Singer Sargent's piece that depicted the façade of the Salute. Rather, this painting is much more than just "favorite." Early on in my career as a watercolor painter, I was simply in awe when I saw it for the first time. I would even call that a life-changing experience. Almost anything my eyes see in Venice can be a painting. At least that's how I feel. But scenes involving Santa Maria della Salute are especially magnificent... "Santa Maria della Salute, Venice III" (10"x29") - available "Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy IV" (19"x13") - sold "Venetian Sunset VII" [...]

Painting Figures

11/16/2013 1:13:31 AM

Being primarily a landscape painter, I have treated figures mostly as a small element in a landscape or a cityscape. Figures not only add more interest but also create a certain appeal that tells a story in a scene. I love putting them in my work and thinking about the role they can play in a painting. In the last year or so, I have been practicing figures as a main painting subject rather seriously. As a subject matter, it seemed so different from landcapes and I was a bit lost in the beginning, but I immediately found myself really enjoying doing [...]

Working Out a Composition

11/14/2013 10:23:04 PM

One of the key factors to make a painting that has an impact is a good composition. Whether I work outdoors in the nature or in my studio using a photo reference, it is very rare to see a perfect arrangement of all shapes in a scene that I'm painting. So a composition needs to be worked out to be a strong one. Of course it is essential to work out a composition before you start painting. I have found it helpful to do several small studies on a big sheet of paper divided with a masking tape to see which composition [...]

Painting En Plein Air in Michigan

11/11/2013 11:55:29 AM

Last week I spent a gorgeous autumn day painting en plein air in Michigan. The weather was just perfect and the day was one of the most productive I ever had. I did 3 paintings and several studies while traveling across the southern part of the state. I've been told by my workshop students and my painter friends that I paint quite fast. Looking back, I think this is how it has been with me almost from the beginning of my painting career. Some have asked me how and why I do it. I can say that the kind of style I work [...]

Barns of Michigan, American Landscape Paintings

11/9/2013 4:03:07 PM

I teach both indoors and outdoors when I do a workshop. Obviously, both have certain advantages and challenges, and I may focus on slightly different aspects of painting, depending on where we work. During my recent workshop in Michigan, we were all painting inside, warm and cozy, in downtown Ann Arbor. The chilly November wind and occasional rain was a bit too much even for the courageous plein-air painter. So one day, I gave everyone one of my photos of a typical Michigan farm with a barn. What the photo showed was a no-brainer to paint, in fact, but we took it [...]