Bougainvillea

I started out trying to write some Chinese characters using a chinese brush. The first time I was taught to use a Chinese brush for writing was when I was six years old and I have never forgotten how to hold the brush since. Some things for some reason you never forget. Writing is another matter because I have to get used to a new medium. I realised that the brush was too thick for writing and being distracted I decided to draw my bougainvillea shrub. The first attempt(1st photo) was rather controlled as if I was still using a pen to draw. Later, I became more relaxed in applying the strokes and did a second drawing on rice paper. Then I thought I should write some words there to describe what I felt at that moment when I completed the drawing. The writing may not be 'grammatically correct' . What I wanted to say was that having the bougainvillea flower I wish for happiness and good fortune for my family. Actually, I should have started writing from right to left and not the other way round .

Now looking at the drawing, I am just satisfied I have tried something new in art. Artistically, it is so-so for a first attempt, maybe even way below par. If I want to do better than this, I shall have to find out more about calligraphy and Chinese brush painting and find ways to pick up the necessary skills. The shrub has grown wild in all directions. It will be a massive job to prune this shrub and the job has to be done this weekend.