We are surrounded by so many ugly horrific things now. But we can find wonder and beauty in all things. It is up to you. Beautiful quote by Becca Lee.

Trying to paint a looser more abstract style. Watercolor. 

#inktober day3. Shading with ink is not easy indeed. She ended up looking intense and harsh. Need to learn to create softness with inking. Watercolor and micron pens.

Always seen and admired the #inktober posts by people creating art with only ink. Decided to give it a try. Using watercolor inks and micron pen for the face. It was interesting and not as easy shading the face with the pen. But it was kind of therapeutic too. Will practice more. #inktober2017

We seem to be surrounded by calamities more and more frequently these days. It’s overwhelming.. numbing. And worst of all, it’s the feeling of helplessness and lack of control. Then I came across the quote “Be like water” by Bruce Lee and it really spoke to me. Water is fluid. It flows through stones and cracks. It finds a way. It is fluid and takes the form of whatever vessel it is in. Be like water, my friend. Be like water. We will get through this. 

Watercolor painting. Using my favorite color, blue. 

“Wanderlust consumed her, foreign hearts and exotic minds compelled her. She had a gypsy soul and a vibrant hope for the unknown.” My little Ms Wanderlust. watercolor painting

She appeared on my art table today. Love her funky braids but unsure why she seems so down. Tried to make her smile but just can’t seem to do it. Guess I just have to let her be. Sometimes a painting just takes on a certain path, I just have to let it be. Hope she will lighten up soon and take off with her beautiful wings and fly. Watercolor painting. 

In a peaceful kind of mood… watercolor painting. She made me think of the sky and the earth, water and soil. Trying something different for the background. I kinda like it. 

Decided to paint one of my favorite Asian actor Jerry Yan. Can I admit it was heavenly staring at his reference photo while I painted this? 

Good opportunity to practice a male face and fabric. Watercolor painting. I love how the layers of color bring him to life bit by bit.. the joy of painting…

There is something magical about stars. I can stare at them all night long. They make me dream… make me think of the universe and how small I really am. 

I will never forget lying on the dock by the lake with some girl friends recently and staring at the sky full of stars… I was telling them that I have never seen a shooting star and they offered to lie down and wait for it with me.  And my dream came true! I will never forget that feeling. It was magical. I felt like a kid again. 

Love this quote by Vincent Van Gogh. Watercolor painting. 

Make today magical. No ifs or buts. Just make the most of everyday. Treat each day like a gift. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Or if there will even be a tomorrow. I know this sounds morbid, but there is truth in it. I know of people who pass away unexpectedly, people who lose something precious to them in a blink of an eye… our time on earth is temporary. Don’t take things for granted. Make everyday count.

This page was inspired by a picture of a garden setting in a catalogue. I love everything about it. I can look at that image and just go to my happy place.

Mixed media page with collage, modeling paste and stencil, acrylic paint, doodle with markers and gel pens.