what's in a name?

What's in a Name?
Watercolor & Acrylic

I know, I know... I said that I was going to put up paintings that made people felt better and more peaceful. But today, I have to break that promise.. I actually felt rather frustrated with myself. Confused, lost and unsure of my identity. I have moved so many times. Lost so much ground.

"What's in a name?" contains chinese characters from my name. The two of which I actually know how to write semi-decently. One more is missing - because it is quite a mystery. There have been debates between relatives and old aunty friends who say it is a garden or 'imperial' garden or phoenix... I'd like to think it is a garden.
.

The plant that survived

He kept saying it was a weed. I was pretty sure that it could turn up to be something else worth keeping. The poor thing got trampled on several times by falling wood and sinking soil.. but inspite of it all - it started to bloom. And my hunch was right.. it is a lily plant!

So, here is Lily & cactus. It was so beautiful this morning - I sat in the garden to paint. The cactus which was sitting in the shade, we had just bought and today I had brought them out to sun with the rest of us.

Lily & Cactus
9'' x 12''
Watercolor

Chinese New Year feelings

I was shopping in the chinese supermarket in Sunset, and caught myself feeling festive. Then I realized they were playing traditional chinese new year music on the air. How I missed home suddenly.

Back in the studio, I painted this:

Malaysian Chinese Flower
10'' x 10''
Watercolor

We are connected

Golden Roots
18" x 24"
Acrylic

I transplanted some plants today into new soil today. It made me think about all these plants and their roots and stems , and then I thought about my family and friends and beyond....and how dynamic our relationship is to each other - that nothing we do today is possible without this complex and flowing energy between every single one of us.

A productive stormy morning

This morning the rain continued to fall in heavy pellets on the roof of the studio. I opened a fresh set of oil paints I was given for Christmas. I haven't touched oil since I was 15 at Miss Vong's art class in school when we did that one experiment with oil paints. I loved her classes - she was the greatest art teacher around.

I rediscovered the joys of oil and am inspired to experiment more with it. Anyways, here's a meditative piece...

I will sit through this storm

While surfing the web, I read about the SF Ballet's new show, and see pictures of those beautiful dancers moving in near impossible gracefulness. I also look at dance that is happening in Malaysia, such as those at my friend's dance organization, Ballet Base - more beautiful forms and movement from around the world. Then, I think about this storm, and imagine dancing through the waves..

Dancing through the storm

So there... the rain has granted me a wonderfully productive morning in art. Thank mother nature :)

Wet

I was caught in the heavy rain as I cycled through the Golden Gate Park. Being overloaded with water, I think its a good time to paint a watery one.

Think about me cycling through a river. I have to drink some soup to warm up now.

Water and Forest

New additions at the new studio

Dark Sunset

Orange blossom from livermore

Mum's lemon tree

The new place at ocean beach



-paintings copyrighted by Shelley YM Leong 2010. all rights reserved.-