NEW NEW Artist SKetchbooks!

Been having a busy week with work and holiday, so didn't get to draw much. But, there is a super exciting news. Imaginism Studios have a new Artist Sketchbook Site - they have a wide range of awesome art books in digital format for your phone and ipad! My watercolor collection Acquerello is available for both iPad and iPhone now!! Please check out the site!!

Quicky watercolor sketch during work break; Below are Halloween apples I make for friends. Miss the Halloween IF theme from last week ... BUT better late then never ... HE! HE!! Happy Halloween everyone!

Last but not least, I would love to invite you all to the Purrcasso Art and Craft Gala on Saturday, November 6th and Sunday, November 7th, 2010.

Saturday night is the silent auction and art sale, complete with live music, entertainment, and mingling with artists. My paintings will be available for silent auction that night. On Sunday, they are offering lots of fabulous handmade crafts for pets and pet lovers in addition to beautiful art featuring cats and dogs.

2865 Seventh Street (at Heinz)
Berkeley, CA

Watercolor on Raw Wood

This piece is for Art Blocks for Ghana.

Below are photos of the finial version with little crystals added.

Below is the work-in-progress photos of this piece. The painting is painted with watercolor. I use acrylic, and silver Designer Gouache to create the bumpy thick snow texture.

The Lovers (AKA Anakin and Padme)

"The Lovers" aren't the most creative title ... but ... I can't come up with other title ... I have been calling this painting - "Anakin and Padme" in my head ... OK Confession time ... This is a Star Wars Fan Art for an up-coming holiday show at work. HE! HE!! If you look closely ... that's Anakin's lightsaber on his belt.

Decorate Padme's hair with little crystals
Sprinkle of gold and silver paint

Sketchcrawl and more ...

Top two are drawings from yesterday's Sketchcrawl.
Below are more work-in-progress of the painting. Right now I putting on the final decorative touch. I also take a picture of my painting materials and tools for this painting. A few friends have been asking about the materials and tools set I used, so here is a picture of my color palette and brushes.

This piece is painted with watercolor and silver & gold gouaches for the decorative element. In the next posting, I will post more images of the silver and gold paint effect.

PS. I just updated my exhibition schedule in my web-site, there may be a few more up-dated soon, please check back for latest up-date.

Work-In-Progress

This is a work-in-progress of a big painting ... it's not exactly "HUGE", but it's a larger scale then my usual painting. It's 16.8" x 28" I am also trying a different style. It may take me a little more time before I can finish this piece ... wish me luck!!

Brainstorming ...

Sketches from the previous posting, and I add a little clover on the side of the frame.

NEW TOY - Aquabord!

This paining is watercolor on Ampersand Aquabord Wood Panel. This is the first time I try watercolor on an Aquabord. It's an interesting experience, while I can't say the result is bad, but somehow, it doesn't quite feel like watercolor on paper either. Color seems to appear more intense with stronger contrast ... in a way, it's harder to achieve subtlety. Also the clay surface absorb water a bit differently from paper, it's harder to achieve the spontaneous watermark on it then paper. The edge is a bit harsher then on paper ... The end result feel more like gouache then watercolor.

This is a final scanned version after gloss. Below are work-in-progress.
Does anyone of you paint with Aquabord before? I am kind of curious how you feel about it compare to paper. I still can't quite make up my mind, whether I like it or not. It seems to me, this would work well with more stylized or cartoony watercolor style. I don't think a classic traditional watercolor painting style would work too well on it. I would give this medium a few more try ... it is kind of cool to display watercolor on wood.