Fish

This pond holds happy fish that are free to swim anywhere within its boundaries. They have no fear of being caught or eaten. They are able to reach old age without disturbances and there is no worry of where food is coming from as they are well taken care of. I like to watch them and freeze their lives at precise moments with the camera and then to play around with the colours, the tones and experiment at framing the subjects in a way that reflects what I was thinking about when I snapped the pictures.

This one above is my favourite because it shows depth and makes me aware of the two dimensions of space - inside and outside the water surface, the dividing plane being the reflection of the plants above and the floating twigs on the water.

I wanted a couple - a big, strong and regal fish and its consort.

I thought the reflection of the cloud interesting and as soon as a fish swam into view I took this picture because at that moment it felt like the fish was entering a heavenly realm.

I was not going to take this shot until I saw my own reflection and thought I should also be a part of nature and took the shot before the fish swam out of view.

Tree

Look at this tree! Chinese brush painting for the first time and it's a fantastic creation by my son. Wow, I am so inspired!

Time-filler

Painting with Chinese ink and brush is very relaxing. I don't have to labour over choices of colours because I only work with black and white here. How you use the brush is up to your imagination and how you make impressions and forms on paper is something you can explore to your heart's content.

Most of all, I can do quick paintings in between things I have to do in a day.

Famenco in Blue

It took less than two minutes to manipulate a simple editing tool to produce this effect. I like it, yes I like it very much because the colours are those I like most. If I were to title this photo it would be "Flamenco in blue".

Sunflowers

It starts with a wash in the background

then the shapes and shades evolve
colours came and went
only playing with paint
with sunflowers on my mind

Torch Ginger - preliminary to oil/acrylic painting

I heeded my daughter's advice that I should just paint no matter what may be distracting me from doing so. 'Just go and do your chinese brush painting mum!' and I did. Though I like the free flowing actions that the chinese brush allows me, I am still very much in love with the use of oils or acrylic and addicted to the details rather than letting myself go along with impressions and fine lines that I could have employed using Chinese brush painting techniques. So as time progressed, my painting got darker and darker but it gave me the incentive to move onto oil. This weekend perhaps!

Things in my house

Only one of the two items here belong to me.

My spectacles and the wrist-rest filled with gel
half of which has been squeezed out by my son. Not drawn to scale.

Plastic chair for kids.

Green capsicums a few days before they were devoured.

My stainless steel kettle since replaced with electric boiler
because I have a problem remembering to turn off the gas.

A cheap but beautifully glazed, hand-made clay pot
picked up from a nursery that I use as a pencil holder.

Where the trash goes...

My marble-and-teak stool, one of four that came with
the marble-top coffee table that serves as my work bench.

Preliminary paintings

These chinese brush paintings will eventually lead to an oil or acrylic painting on the subject of Torch Gingers. I cannot lose momentum for if I do, the oil/acrylic painting dream will be not be attainable.