pottery

I have not been painting for a long time, always wanted to do pottery one day.
Finally, I went for pottery night class April last year (2018) at LaSalle with a few girl-friends. 
I made several pieces.
 

Hula-worshippers

From left to right back row:  Mary Chan (HI), Luna, Bessie (HI),  Rosalind, Pat (me), Tina (HI);
front row from left: Mary Lee (HI) and Namiko (our hula teacher).We were practising for 2012 Christmas to perform at the Deaf Christmas celebration (Dec 15), and at Orchard Road Tong Building (Dec 21)...thank God for the opportunity to be able to worship Him this Christmas in hula-worship...thank God for providing us a wonderful teacher, Namiko.  It was a great experience for all of us....we enjoyed it although a bit stress because we had less than 1 month to practice 2 songs ('O Holy Night' and 'Shout to the Lord').

Niagara Falls

I just completed this piece (24"x30") in time for my sister Judith to bring it home with her to Seattle (USA) on Sept 13, 2011. "Phew! I literally 'marathon' through it within 2 months compare to my previous piece (Niagara Falls) that took me 4+months to complete."

I do not like to paint the same thing again but this is exceptional because Judith wanted a "Niagara Falls", so, I did it. The two paintings (although from the same photo) did not turn out exactly the same because this is art and is not a print or a photocopy.

Now, I will go back to paint the two pelicans (entitled "Loving couples") which I stopped because I need to finish this one. The "loving couples" will be a wedding gift for my beloved niece Kathy & husband-to-be. Lately, I seem to be painting gifts for people who are special to me. To me, such gift is invaluable and meaningful...it carries my very personal touch.

Reflection

I started this piece (oil-painting) on 13 Dec 2010 and then stopped after 1&half month because of Chinese New Year and other matters I need to handle at home. So, it just sat there for a while....until 21 June, 2011 when I resumed my painting. Alas! "Reflection" (also known as "Serenity") was completed on 28 June 2011.

The reflection here is not like a mirror. This reflection can be a bit distorted because of the constant movement of the water that is alive. This gives life to Reflection with its beauty and serenity.

This picture of red Swiss chalets sitting at the lake with a back-drop of mountain is taken from none other than scenic Switzerland.

I am going to enjoy "Reflection" as much as I can now because soon in October it will be migrating to Melbourne....as a gift to my cousin who lives in Australia.

Please tune in for my next painting.....while you enjoy my "Reflection".

Patience

I just finsihed this piece entitled "Patience", showing the blue heron waiting patiently for her food (fish).....Hopefully, some day, I'll write a poem attach to "patience".

This piece took me about two months to complete - Feb 1 to 5 April, 2010. I find the bird's feathers and the water ripples quite challenging to paint....hope you like it.

Cherry blossoms

This is my latest piece of oil painting, entitled "cherry blossoms". It took me 3 months (Nov 2, 2009- Feb 1, 2010) to complete, just in time for the Lunar New Year, adding colors to my flat and cheer to visitors.

This piece was painted for my long-time good girl-friend (Sharon Gan) who recently bought her new flat at Ponggol. This is my special gift for her house-blessing. This picture was selected by her, the canvas
measured 36"x18", quite a big piece.

I added sand to the path, to give it a real texture. I enjoyed the process of this painting. This would be my second piece of painting to give away, for a special reason. Hope you like this piece as much as I do.

"My Beloved Jerusalem"

Finally, I've completed painting this long-awaited piece, "My beloved Jerusalem" that took me 6+ months to paint. It is a very challenging piece of 24"x48" and lots of detailed work (as you can see). I'm glad it is now ready to be presented as my first-fruit unto the Lord to the House of Prayers.

May I quote the lyrics of "Shalom Jerusalem" as a prayer to God's and our beloved Jerusalem:

"Shalom shalom Jerusalem
Peace be to you
When Messiah comes to take us home
May His praise be found in you."

I'll be stopping my painting for a while until my mum recovers from her fractures (she fell on Jan 2, 2009) and surgery wound healed (she had a major intestines operation on Jan 10, 2009).

Before I pen off, let's "Pray for Jerusalem's peace! Prosperity to all you Jerusalem-lovers." (Psalm 122:6).

Shalom, shalom.....be unto you.

"I'm a special pearl"

This is the smallest piece I've ever painted. A girl-friend gave me a very small canvas (8"x6") for one of my birthdays...I kept it for some time, didn't really know what to do with it. Then.....

I wanted to try on something new....monochrome, to paint a picture with one-family color (basically blue), and I selected to paint a pearl.

I have always wanted to paint a pearl to express that everyone is special and unique in God's eyes...we are all very precious. This is indeed a very special pearl full of lustre, showing its splendour resting at the sea-bed....reflecting the glory of God to its surroundings. We can all shine like this small pearl if we allow God to use us wherever we are....even in the deep ocean.

I took almost 1&half months to paint this small piece, entitled "I'm special" on 22 July 2008. My next piece will be a large one (48"x24"). Lastly, I want to say to you (my reader), "you're special"! Thanks for 'tuning' into my blog of paintings.....hope you're enjoying them so far.

Mother's Love

Mother's Love

I always paint landscape and find it a great challenge to paint people because it is difficult to translate the person's feelings and expression into the picture.

This is a bold attempt and it took me about 5 months to complete (just finished on 9 June 2008). I'm trying to capture the bonding expression between the mother and her baby...showing the nature of a mother's tender love for her young.

This woman is probably from the minority ethnic group in China, based on her colorful head-scarf. She may be a farmer's wife who also works in the field because she is rather tanned.

I hope you'll like this piece, entitled, "Mother's Love", especially dedicated to all the wonderful mothers!

The Wilderness

This oil painting is entitled "The Wilderness". I took about 4 months to complete it on 21st Dec. 2007.

Used combination techniques:
glued sand and brush for the lower land; the upper land and 'concave' mountain range is done by knife; the distant mountain range and sky are done by brush.

This is quite a challenging piece to me, in the sense that I need to express the dryness of the land in the wilderness and yet the life of the small oasis that provided streams of water to create little brooks which run into the parched soil. And, the sheep were wandering in the wilderness in search of water, and they finally found an oasis!

This reminds me at one point of my life, I too went through a journey of wilderness in search of the oasis of living water to quench my thirst, and when I found it, I'm so blessed (happy)!

May you be blessed too!!

China Village Alley

I completed this painting, entitled "China village alley" on 1st October 2007. It took me almost 4 months to paint this piece, there were many details to it. I tried something new...observe the alley....didn't it looked real? I glued sand on it to make the real effect. Painting different subjects in different ways is quite a challenge, patience is one of it.

This piece reminded me of my home-village in China where my root came from. I like this piece and hope you'll enjoy it too...I've already started on my next piece, stay tune in a few months time.

Niagara Falls

I've finally completed painting the "Niagara Falls" on 25th June, 2007. This piece took me about 4+months to finish, the largest piece I've so far attempted.

The good thing about painting is: every time when I completed a piece, I look at it and I like it better than the previous one. I like this piece and I hope you do too.

I don't know which side of the Falls this is located, at Canada or USA side, probably Canada, not sure....it is a beautiful Fall. It is so refreshing and magnificent!

My missionary friend from Ipoh (Pearl) and I visited the Singapore River Hong Bao 2007 on the night of Feb 28, 2007 (10th day of Chinese (Lunar) New Year. It was a wet night but we braved through the rain with umbrellas and went.....it was worth it!


 

Grand Canyon

"Grand Canyon" was completed on Feb 4th 2007. It took me almost 3 months to complete this piece of oil-painting. I used the knife-technique. Of course, my painting didn't do justice to the beauty of the real Canyon but I hope you'll like it.

I am now painting the Niagara Falls. It's the largest piece I've ever attempted so far....let's see how it turns out later. 

"Spring in Scotland"

I just completed this "Spring in Scotland" on 30th October, 2006. I've finally completed painting the four seasons. Somehow, I like this piece very much, probably because I like castles and flowers, spring is beautiful. I hope you'll enjoy this piece too.....my next attempt will be painting the "Grand Canyons" using the knife-technique. 

Unforgettable Autumn

Title: Unforgettable Autumn

I've just completed this oil painting "Unforgettable Autumn" on 10 July, 2006. It was done by the knife technique.

This picture was taken in beautiful Jiuzhaigou, China, I would love to visit one day. Autumn is absolutely gorgeous in Jiuzhaigou, I am sure, my painting cannot portray a fraction of its real beauty.

I am now painting "Spring in Scotland", with this, I will complete the four seasons of the year. Stay tune....for Spring to come.

Painting is something to enjoy and not to rush through. So, I hope you'll enjoy seeing my paintings as much as I enjoy painting them....

Aurora (Northern Light) in Alaska

I've just completed this piece on 12 June 2006. It is entitled "Aurora (Northern Light) in Alaska". I feel that this painting is far from doing justice to the real northern light. The aurora is so beautiful when the light dances and moves in different colours in the Alaskan's dark winter sky. It is really one of the world's wonders and a breath-taking sight! I hope I'll be able to witness the aurora one day......still dreaming.....

The glow from the cabin's windows is an inspiration from the famous artist Thomas Kinkade's style. Of course, this is of no comparison to his beautiful art-pieces!! 

Singapore by night

I completed this painting on 24 April 2006, entitled "Singapore by night". This was my first attempt to paint a night scene and also on my own nation (Singapore).

This photo was taken during last year's (2005) National Day about 7:30 pm. You can see part of Singapore River, Benjamin's Bridge, Fullerton Hotel and the tall skyscapers behind the hotel along Shenton Way.

I kind of like this piece....hope you'll like it too.

In the Beginning

I've just completed this piece of oil-painting, entitled "In the Beginning" on 13th Feb. 2006.

This piece is adopted from Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth...."

Then God said, "Let there be light!" And light began to shine. God saw the light, and He knew it was good....
Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered together so the dry land will appear." And it happened. God named the dry land "earth". And God named the water that was gathered together "seas". God saw this was good.

We all know creation does not come in a BIG BANG by accident....there is a CREATOR and He is God. Everything was created in order and it was good in the beginning. Can you 'see' God speaking through the clouds? This is how it all begins......God spoke and created the heavens and the earth.