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Any last words?

Summer is ending. Tomorrow, a new school year will start. Despite me trying to move my lazy butt into work, I still missed a few projects that could have been pretty awesome:

- Greensleeves: a musical jewelry box that features a creepy sculpted head and the melody of “Greensleeves”. I had to suspend the whole thing since I ran out of polymer clay and the art store didn’t stock any of these. The wooden box ended up being the base of “A Koi, a silver carp and some lotus for Sensei”.

- Paris by day, Saigon by night: semi 3D art on a framed sheet of A5 watercolor paper, featuring both cities Chinatowns. Project aborted due to missing materials (fairy lights and the stuffs that go along) and the lack of time.

- The living flowers and their beast (Their caged heaven): I got engrossed in “Alamut”, a Bartol’s novel, since August. The book features beautiful houri, living flowers in a caged garden and brave, loyal fedaiyin whose strengths were comparable to that of beasts. The fates of these young people fascinate me as much as the Alamut’s fortress does. But i got lost in the researches and I could never really grasp the essence of the place. Unlike “Pavilion of a young novice” and “Looking for a new king”, inspired by places I’ve been to and cultures I’m familiar with, I know nothing about Ismailism. I didn’t know where to start.

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The Alpes: post-pins edition

For my brother and ma, who live so far away.

Acrylics on 3cm pins

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The making of: Looking for a new king

I’ve always wanted to do something European inspired. This guy completes “The pavilion of a young novice”, which is a very East-Asian work. They go in pair, inseparable in my garden, like how both my heritages are in my life.

Honestly, I had fun sticking egg carton on toilet paper, and having people giving me dirty looks during the shooting session.

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My big family ❤️

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Looking for a new king: indoor shooting session

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The making of “A koi, a silver carp and some lotus for Sensei”

Draft

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Last layer

Acrylics on resin in a 10x10x4,4 cm box

Man, this one was such a test of patience. The layers took ~24h to dry. Every day, at the same time, I had to skip whatever I was doing to continue the project. But it was worth it. The result is good enough for a first try. Such a small gift but let’s hope Sensei is happy with it.

Bonus:

Last minute surprise. I have never panicked as much. The lid just gave up on me and snapped right before I brought it to Sensei.

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Looking for a new king: outdoor shooting session

The shots were taken in a park nearby

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A koi, a silver carp and some lotuses for Sensei

“I wish Sensei a happy marriage (koi), and lots of success (silver carp). May your perseverance (lotus) shine through life’s ups and downs (red and black).”

“Koi fish” is a homophone of “affection” in Japanese, thus, becomes a symbol of love. Traditionally, people illustrate a marriage blessing using two koi fishes, meaning two joining hearts. I swapped one of the kois with a silver carp, an image of successful scholars. The lotus signifies perseverance.

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The autumn air

Acrylics on 3cm pins

These took me an entire morning. They were easy, fast but still cute enough

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Predator

Acrylics on ceramic

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The purple blessing

Same deal as “Stages of grief”

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I’ll always look out for you

Acrylics on a d=4 cm pin

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A close escape

Acrylics on a d=3,5 cm pin

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Watch out for the spying moon

Acrylics on a d=3 cm pin

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The hybrid town

Liège of Belgium + Bình Ba of Vietnam

Liège from what I remember wasn’t a grandiose place. It was a tiny, typically European city, packed with people that barely noticed its poetic sceneries. I can’t say I missed it when I left but I wasn’t glad either. Nothing too special but it was definitely a nice place.

Marseille of France + Bình Ba of Vietnam

My 2 favorite beaches in 2 different countries.

Marseille was a generous place. What the city had to offer was endless: the port, the rocks, the warm summer vibes, the blue endless sky with its equally stunning water.

When I visited Bình Ba, I thought I was back in Marseille but the genuineness was ten fold: the fishermen’s karaokes at the sunset, the loganberry forest that laid out like a carpet under the eyes, the corals keepers who would teach anyone to swim, hearty, cheap meals.

Venezia of Italy + Lyon of France + Zhaozhou of China

These places all left me a bad taste after my visits.

I blame Venezia for breaking my heart. I loved the city but I’ll never ever be able to live there.

I blame Zhaozhou for the painful nostalgia. For me to be part of its people and share its culture but I live so far away.

I blame Lyon for the bad memories.

Venezia of Italy

Watercolor in my A5 moleskin

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The pavilion of a young novice update

It’s been roughly 2 weeks since the plants are repotted here. They are still doing pretty well. Granted, the little ones shriveled up and died within a few days. The improvised pot provide them 5ml of medium. The older ones are rooting and fighting for life.

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The Alpine mountains: indoor edition

Watercolor in my A5 moleskin

Early-morning days.

One does arguably much better art when one doesn’t have to stand in the cold, battling with shivering fingers.