The sentiment of the Hometown Water painting series

One customer recently bought two of my Hometown Water painting series.  She traveled in China during the 90s, and my paintings brought back some good memories for her.  I am just glad that my sentiment behind creating this painting series is not just unique to me, but it can also vibrate on someone else's emotional string.  Here is the poem which shows the emotional impulse behind my Hometown water painting series  

 

                                   Hometown Water by JJ

                                                   I drank it

It is my mother’s milk

Nourishing and vital

 

I bathed in it

It is my lover’s tear

Bitter yet sweet

 

I painted with it

It is my blood

Vibrant and luminous

 

I sang of it

The lyric was nostalgic

The melody melancholy

 

I dreamed of it

In it I saw a face of a child

Transparent and pure

I reach to embrace it

 So close, but too far…

 

Pick up the ink brush again

Last year I gave a presentation to the Cary Fine Art League on traditional Chinese Art. Ever since then, I have become more conscious about integrating the traditional Chinese art techniques and its inspirations into my current work. I have started to use the ink brush a lot more. It is very difficult to control an ink brush. But if one uses it well, the results are often very rewarding.

These two paintings were merely done for our Holiday Art Spectacular opening reception at the Village Art Circle last night. The canvases were still wet and they could still use a few touch ups here and there. I titled them "Dreaming of a ...white Christmas". Some of you may recognize these two paintings depict the Ashworth Drug Store and the church crossing the street from the store. The snow is used to blank out all the non essential details from the street and cars are purposely omitted. I tried to create a timeless small American village feel. One of the paintings was sold at the opening!See More

The drawing is titled "New Woman," though it is not meant to associate with the idea of Feminism in any way.  I was intrigued by the model's appearance from the onset as it seemed to transcend race and ethnicity.  I posed her in such a way not very typical in the sense of emphasizing traditional feminine features such as curves and a slightly reserved nature.  Instead the model in this drawing projects confidence and an assertive outlook.

My Wind Song watercolor painting from my THIS WATER series has just been sold. Here I would like to share with my friends the poem behind the series:
Follow me….
Where there is a clear and open sky,
To a sacred place full of wonder,
If the...re is magic on this planet, it is in This Water.
Where Blackbeard stored his treasures;
Sails billow in the salt wind;
Clouds play with light and shape
On a horizon without end.

Follow me....
Where there are no highways and World Wide Web,
To a place of solitude and peace,
If there is healing on this planet, it is in This Water.
Where mullet, leaping, shimmer in the sun;
Sea turtles come home to nest;
Pelicans soar high;
Fishermen work and rest.

Follow me....
to This Water.
----JJSee More

Village Art Circle Gallery/Studio Grand Opening

The Grand Opening is just around the corner! Please reserve the date: June 28 from 6 to 9 pm. Come for an evening of art, live music, art demos, food, conversations with artists and friends.

Envisioned by artist JJ Jiang, the Village Art Circle came into being April 1, 2013, in Ashworth Village on Academy Street in the heart of downtown Cary, NC.
The Village Art Circle currently invites artists with quality art work to apply for membership, as we strive to foster an energetic and creative environment for members, students and the general public. The Circle has a non-biased perspective toward arts of different media, subjects and styles. For more information on the Village Art Circle or on applying for membership, please go to our website: www.villageartcircle.com.

It seems we are free from the threat of frost in the Piedmont area now. I finally put away all the covers for my backyard garden beds. My plants including swiss chard, spinach, Chinese kale, chives, cilantro, lettuce, all have survived well through the winter. May I say it is a successful experiment of winter gardening this year. Cheers to all the gardeners!

What gorgeous weather we had last Saturdy afternoon. Spring was definitely in the air. I had the fortune to tour the NCMA with a group of artist friends, and artist Karen Moffitt again was our docent. The tour covered the period starting... from French Academy Classicism to the WWII era. It gives me a vivid understanting of this important period of art transition. Thank you again Karen for the great job you did. I feel spoiled!

 

I am just about to finish teaching the two watercolor workshops this week. It has been such a great experience for me to share my love of watercolor and thoughts about art/life with my fellow artists. Here are some demos I did in the clas...ses. All of them have been produced within 25 to 40 minites. I have learned a great deal from teaching these workshops. Some participants have expressed interest in taking figurative painting in watercolor and strongly encourage me to offer such a workshop soon. So keep a look out for this upcoming workshop.

 

On a snowy day in February, where is a better place to spend an afternoon than the NC Museum of Art with a group of aspiring artists and friends? Thank you to Karen Moffitt who did a great job as our docent. Our only regret was that the wine bar of the museum closed too early. We did not have time to make a toast in the celebration of art and good times with friends.

Ma Dao Cheng Gong

the title literally means"success is achieved once horses arrive" in Chinese. It is my sincere wish those horses painted here will bring us success and prosperity.

 

During the christmas and new year holidays, I have finished the three horse paintings for the upcoming horse painting show(for the Benefit of CORRAL, which is dedicated to bettering the lives of troubled teens and rescued horses)held at Waverly Artists Group Studio/Gallery. These three paintings demonstrate my evolving concept and perspective of this majestic creature.