My favourites from 2010

Before heading off to a new mission for 2011, here are my 12 favourites from 2010. 
I'm glad and proud to say that 9 out of these 12 are original works!  No more painting from guidebook!

Greeting cards DIY

Direction and Plan

I recently read an article in a magazine about “direction and plan”. The columnist was quoting the famous singer Faye Wong answer a question posted to her by a journalist about her plan. Faye’s reply was “I’m a person with no plan but only direction”. The columnist went to express her viewpoint about direction and plan which I somewhat felt deeply about. Direction is an ultimate goal, a place or a situation one wants to be whereas a plan defines the steps needed to be taken in order to get to the ultimate goal, place, situation or wherever it is. This reminds me of the business plan we do every quarterly and yearly. This doesn’t sound very interesting, does it? But this also reminds me of what the Legco member, Audrey Yu, once said in the “century debate” with the CEO Donald Tsang last year. “If we deviate from the plan / steps, we will then forget what the direction is, and we will never gonna to get there”, said Audrey Yu. I find this very true as well. Still a boring topic, right? Well, I was about to start my 2011 painting mission and plan. And only had I done that, did I realize I went off the tract in 2009!


At the beginning of last year, I set myself a mission “to paint at least once a month and have 12 satisfying painting by the end of 2009”. I also listed out a set of painting objects or items and techniques which I asked myself to do in 2009. Well, a year has gone by, I have 13 paintings which I am really happy with. But I had not tried out all the techniques which I said I would nor had I completed the list of objects to be painted. I had not painting once a month either, one every now and then, and in pulses in terms of production!

Painting is my hobby, a pass time. So, I will not go too serious about failing it or as such. But it does bring out an interesting point for debate (as least for myself) and that is can a direction be reached even if a plan is not completed. Oh well, I am now starting to get a bit confused. If I had to do it absolutely right (from a correct principle perspective), may be the mission should had been “to have 12 satisfying paintings of particular objects and techniques by the end of 2009” and the plan would then had been a list of items or technique to be tried according to month so that it is progress and “achievement” can be tracked”.

By the time if you are still reading this article, you must think I must be think nuts! Why so serious? Why make a personal life so business alike? Maybe you are right. I should forget all about this.

Hmm……but then, I really want to grow myself in watercolor painting and be a spouting artist (at least in my own little world”. This will make me happy and felt contented. So …… here is a second thought, I will think and plan more carefully about my 2011 mission and plan. Stay tuned, I hope you will.

On the way to Christmas!

Here are some of the dozen or so Christmas cards I prepared this year.  A new challenge set for myself!  The thought came about in Oct, and I went crazy browsing the internet for reference photos, cramp-painting on Friday nights and Saturday nights (the only nights that I'd have freedom!!!)
Next year, I shall make a bigger variety and bigger volume for all my friends and relatives!

Oct 2010

@ 11 x 16 cm

Winsor & Newton watercolor

Arches Bloc Aquarelle CP 140lb

SHARP TOOLS MAKE GOOD WORK

While all water color know-how books which I have, talked about how worthy sable brushes are, I had been using synthetic brushes all along.  I thought paint brushes are just paint brushes.  And money would probably better spent on getting good quality watercolor papers instead.  But, I finally came to investing in premium paint brushes.   And the moment I dabbed the brush into the well of paint, I could feel the difference!  It's so soft and controllable. It really is magic!
I first started off with buying just two brushes, a no. 8. and a no. 10, and I thought that would be it.  The no. 10 was expensive! (PS: the shop keeper said same no. but the other brand would cost double)
But within two weeks after the first use, I rushed back to the store and got another 3, no. 4, 6, and 12.  And the no. 12 is real expensive!  All these together cost over HKD1,000.   Yet, I think they are worth it (as what all the books say!)
Why do those real fur cosmetic brushes cost much less even though they are bigger in size?
Anyway, let me show you works that were done with these brushes later on and see if you can tell the difference!

工欲善其事,必先利其器. It's really true!

Summer Delights

Although it's officially autumn, I couldn't resist to do these paintings when I bought the guidebook "Wonderful Watercolors with Paul Brent".  (The dragon flies and bees posted some time ago also came from this book) 

It's a good step-by-step book with templates to use too!  It meant to guide me to "watch painting skills: Blossom like never before"!  What do you think of these blossoms?

I was so tempted to re-do the strawberries as the seeds don't look good.  I should jave used a smaller brush with the masking fluid.  Anyway ......

When framed, I think these paintings will fit nicely in a kitchen (of course, I'm thinking of a big kitchen, big enough to set a working bench in the middle, and have lots of windows through which you can see a big backyard garden, and not the tiny kitchen which I have at home!)

Both 17cm x 17cm, W&N watercolor papers, 140lb CP paper (W&N cotman or were they Canson?)
Sep 2010

10 mins paintings - a break away

After being disappointed with the serious paintings done on Oct 2, I decided to try doing quick paintings.  This also allows me to keep painting during weekdays.  Afterall, it's not all that possible to paint seriously even during weekends anyway! 
Here are some of the works.  Although not sophisticating, I am rather happy with them because they are not too bad considering they are quick paintings, and not a bad start either!  Also, they allowed me to enjoy the moments even during week days. 

this one actually took more than 10 mins,around 1 hr.

                                          all W&N watercolor, 140lb CP paper, associated sizes.

BTW, all were painted freehand without sketches except the birds.