“In gardens, beauty is a by-product. The main business is sex and death.” ~ Sam Llewelyn

Acrylic on paper 8″x10″

I wanted to paint flowers and beautiful butterflies but since orchids are one of my favorite plants in the garden, I opted to paint this particular one. This variety is called "Dendrobium Junceum" from the Phillipines. Growing slightly above sea level, it is subjected to very high temperatures and humidity. It also requires very bright sunlight.

If you notice carefully in the center, the labellum or the lip resembles the shape of a butterfly. No doubt to attract insects or other pollinators. However, I feel like hitting two birds with one stone with this illo, flower and insect!

If you’re in the DC area, the annual orchid exhibit at the botanical garden is opening now til April 13th. For more info

I made this watercolor painting for a friend’s bday present. It is based on Joy Division’s (his favorite band ever!) single album cover “Love will tear us apart.”

I also started an oil painting of this too, but sorta hit a wall, so I changed course mid way and opted for watercolor. The medium brings out another quality that’s a bit different than the picture itself. . . a bit warmer. It is afterall, a BDAY present!

A parade of caterpillars March upward, approaching the warm air. Enthusiastically , Froggie leaped to join the parade. Hopefully, he doesn’t scare all those caterpillars all the way back to the cold winter.

We’re all leaping for Spring too! I look forward to the warm weather, the butterflies, the flowers, the sneezing. . .

For Illustration Friday

There are multiple fish, snails and plants in our aquarium. What’s even better is that our fish kiss multiple times!!

No joke! These fish are called Gouramis Kissing Fish. This is based on this picture, taken while our fish kisses.

—————————-

I’ve been so busy but still wanted to put this in before Friday comes and the topic changes again. Enjoy!

I feel average.

Despite the fact that I am or not, I feel average. It’s all relative I know. My mom said that “If you’re the smartest person in your group of friends, it’s time you find new friends.” I take this advice to heart so I’m never the smartest person around.

I saw dad recently (he’s technically my best friend’s dad who “adopted” me) and he mentioned how proud he is of me – for all the things I’ve achieved, how independent I’ve become because I was the kid who was always playing catch-up.

As an immigrant, I am always playing catch-up. I played catch up to be average, in order to fit in. Whether it’s English, school, or TV shows, music or books, I am always behind, especially with books. My knowledge is mostly based on all the catching up I did over the years. It’s very limited compared to an “average” person.

Due to my limited knowledge, I am always so enthusiastic, surprise with a sense of wonderment when I discover new things. I am like a kid who had been locked up from the rest of the world and finally discover it, with A.D.D. But the things that I am excited about tend to be really really simple, almost average. These things are not Earth shattering or world changing, just simple, brilliant ideas in my mind. My sense of awe isn’t necessarily curiosity or a love of learning, just simply that I’ve never seen it before.

Yesterday, I discovered a tiny little book, tucked in between a hardcover boxcar book, and something else…Ah, The Phantom Tollbooth, another great book I discovered a year ago. So thin and little was this book that I didn’t even know of its existence until now. It’s Ed Emberley’s Little Drawing Book of Trains, published in 1973 with an inscription “From Mom, 2/14/79. Happy Valentine’s Day,” and Doug’s 6-year-old handwriting of his own name. I instantly fell in love with it. Sprawl on the carpet, I looked through it. Then, got my pens and pencils, learned how to draw a train.

By the end of the day, I drew 5 trains, in between various work. I can’t believe I’ve lived for so long and never knew how to draw a train. I can’t believe these books exist, and this particular one is older than myself!! See, I was so behind!

I am so proud of myself that I have to share my best train with y’all. I believe I would be a better artist now if I had these books when I was little.

This knowledge officially earned me an average person status. Yes…I decided.

ps. This book is out of print. However, there’s Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains. I am going to collect all the other ones. I especially want to learn how to draw weirdos.

The umbrella theory turns out to be Mrs. Book’s big poofy skirt. On a windy day like today, she’d lift up her skirt and float in mid air while her story pages flying wildly in the wind. If you want to continue with the story, you’d HAVE to hang on!!

hey, in theory, anything is possible!!

pencil sketch:

Recently I’ve had this urge to cut my long long hair into a cute bob. Then I had a fever last night and my hair turned into a poof ball covering my feverish body like a warm blanket. I think I will miss it dearly if it were shorter. This piece illustrates the warmth and comfort my long hair gives in times of sickness.

Acrylic 5.5″ x 7.5″

Hai Ba Trung (39-43A.D.)

Two of the most popular Vietnamese legendary heroines are the Trung sisters who led the first national uprising against the Chinese government in the year 40 A.D. (they had been ruling VN since 111 B.C).

The legend goes that in the year 39 A.D. a Chinese governor assassinated the husband of Trung Trac. She was well educated, strong-minded and versed in the military arts. She called upon her sister, Trung Nhi, and together they organized an army with the help of the other lords around them to start the first major revolt.

This revolt led to the expulsion of the Chinese from Viet Nam. It secured the independence of Viet Nam for the first time in a century and a half. The Trung sisters were made Queens and established a new capital at Me-Linh in present day Vinh-Phu province.

However, this victory was only to be short lived and their troops were defeated in 43 A.D. Rather than accepting defeat, popular lore says that both Trung sisters chose the traditional Vietnamese way of maintaining honor – they committed suicide.

Throughout Vietnamese history, they became the source of inspiration to revolutionaries against foreign rule, as well as a source of pride for women who lived more restricted lives.

Today, there are statues and temples and shrines honoring them in Vinh-Phu province near the Red River.

In continuing to celebrate my bday, we’re going to see the Kirov Ballet tonight performing La Bayadere at the Kennedy Center.

I’ve had the urge to paint a banana all week, so figures why not?