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!