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The Grasshopper, my trade mark piece of work

This painting was done as a companion to the Cicada painting. I so enjoyed the form and the subject matter of the Cicada, that I wanted to create another one but with the leaf in a different orientation. Again the grasshopper was done with a elaborate brush, paying attention to minute details and the banana leaf in the Xieyi style.

I submitted this painting along with others to the Portland Open Studios and was accepted to be one the exhibiting artist. In fact this painting was also shown in the Asian Reporter and was used in one of the POS ads.

Now, when I look at this painting, I could find quite a few faults with it. Lets look at some of them. The picture on the bottom helps to illustrate my point. First, the hind legs are crooked. I've drawn a straight line out along the axis of the legs and somehow the rear portions bend and deviates from the line.The antennae should not have bulbs at the tips; these look like butterfly antennae! Then the leaf was not done with the same determination and forcefulness as the Cicada painting. I've circled the portion of the leaf to show as an example. The strokes were tentative and segmented.

Nonetheless, perhaps of all these imperfections, especially the weird angle of the hind legs, this painting seems to possess energy and a certain liveliness. The subject matter is no longer static.

an old master

This is an emulation of a painting by the old master Qi Baishi. The cicada is done in a very realistic, defining style. One can appreciate the veins on the translucent wings. The lone cicada

is hugging a stylistic banana leaf. This simplistic arrangement creates motion and serenity at the same time. I enjoyed painting the life like insect, and the deliberate, forceful side tip brushing of the banana leaf.

This painting actually evoked a lively discussion between one of my teachers and I. My teacher does not condone the mixing of styles, i.e. the insect borders on the Gonbi style of exact lines and forms, and the leaf is a definite Xieyi style, which emphasizes on free, impressionistic brush strokes.

I especially enjoyed the Zen like quality of this painting. I often times find myself in the room with just this painting in the light, and do my day dreaming.

Picture in Picture( second attempt)

http://www.portlandopenstudios.comThis is a view of the Li river in Guiling, China. This is the improved version, or the second attempt at creating this painting. I loved the premise of the painting. In this piece of work, I emphasized on the stalactite in the cavern. The presence of the stalactite gives the cavern depth. I really worked on the light values, such that one can see the light on the walls and at the tip of the stalactite. The rock shelves on the left are also highlighted to add to the 3 dimensional feel of the painting. I especially liked the reflections inside the cavern all; they are not just black blotches, but actually show the reflections of the cavern walls. I've brightened up the scenery outside the cavern to give it more of a visual impact. This painting is done with Chinese water color and brush on Xuan paper (rice paper)

First Attempt At Picture IN Picture

This is my first attempt at Picture in Picture. The premise of the painting was to capture the view of the famous Li River in Guiling, China through the opening of a cavern. After the painting was completed, I found quite a few things that I did not like. The layout is too symmetrical, the vegetation emerging from outside the cavern walls is too frivolous and the lighting is too dim. There was no Punch to the painting. That's what motivated me to try painting Picture in Picture again. To see the second attempt, please scroll to the next post(s)

This is my first painting, my defining moment. I've been harboring a love for the visual arts. I've been known to buy books on works of great painters. I think this seed was planted in me when I see a couple of prints hanging on the apartment walls of where I grew up. At the time I just thought they were "nice" and was the right thing to do by my Dad. Who knows sixty years later, I would be writing about this. For all you parents out there, be mindful of what you say and what you do. You have an influence on your kids in more ways than you will ever understand !

Anyways, the year was 2003. I remembered that I was so pumped up one day and I went out and bought myself paper and color and decided it was time to find out if I was just a bystander or if I could be a participant. I was going to do a painting and let the painting make that decision for me. I can see that it is crude, but full of words. Every time I look at this painting I feel something, an attachment that I cannot describe, and I think it goes beyond the familiarity that this is my work. Hence I pursued my interest in earnest

My Job

Andy, Tim and Kirk look at Dave's prescriptions!