On sketching and watercolors

footsteps

This summer I had no chance to travel thus I’m stuck staying at home for the most of it. I have always love watercolor paintings.  But they said it’s the hardest medium to control but I still tried my hand on it anyway . Along the way I find the need to sketch which to my surprise I also  find quite fun. So the rest of my summer came and gone  with amateur sketches and  watercolors… Indeed watercolors are hard , I cannot seemed to get good ones on my sky and waters but it’s load s of fun and not giving up either.

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On sketching and watercolors

This summer I had no chance to travel thus I’m stuck staying at home for the most of it. I have always love watercolor paintings.  But they said it’s the hardest medium to control but I still tried my hand on it anyway . Along the way I find the need to sketch which to my surprise I also  find quite fun. So the rest of my summer came and gone  with amateur sketches and  watercolors… Indeed watercolors are hard , I cannot seemed to get good ones on my sky and waters but it’s load s of fun and not giving up either.

the endless walk

There is one thing I have learned and come to like in my life  here in China and it is the art of walking . Chinese people walk a lot. They walk the streets to shop, to sight see , almost to do everything and to go everywhere, the women walk and even climb the hills on  high heels . What a feat!  For sure they are the experts if walking is an art . I enjoyed walking along with them. My daily walk is  made more enjoyable by  the scenery along the way (like the one above) . I walk this path by the lake every day to work. But  when the temperature soars up to the 30’s or goes down to the zeroes, walking the 20 minute walk  becomes  a daunting challenge. But still I admire the people young and old alike who made walking such fun and easy exercise!

spring with anticipation

Finally it’s here. It’s been a  long, long wait. In this part of China winter last longer than it should. I took my first spring shots yesterday, saw a lot of birds swinging on  willow trees  but did  not have my cam with me then when I went back  I only found this lovely  fellow by itself.  Like all the birds out there I await spring with great anticipation, winter is not really my season. ..only spring can bring an extra sprite to my step, I long to see my favorite blooms come to life  and kicking to hike the hills dotted with flowers…although I love autumn as much , spring is not far behind my list  of favorite here in China.

footprints of a mighty God

My island hometown is significantly divided by a range of mountains and hills right in its middle..although quite small but my memories of home are always  the mountains and the sea. Thus  the  Third Day’s song   These Thousand Hills are footprints of a mighty God”  has become  one of my favorite…indeed when I see nature I see an awesome God behind it…the hills and the  mountains became my signposts which  reminded me  that He is bigger than everything else in this  life…in this world…

a nice sunrise and a doggie morning

My sister  and I  went to a nearby island last weekend for s short break. On our last morning in the island we were greeted by  a wonderful sunrise and pretty much  scruffy barking beach visitors…most of them were waiting for their fishermen owners  to come home…but while waiting they sure know how to play in the waters.

a taste of home

It’s winter break and I have a chance to be back  to my “tropically hot” homeland. I am more than happy to leave the chilly wind and snow of  China and bask in the sunshine again.   Coming home always brought mixed emotions for me. I am happy to see my family and friends yet also sad that I missed most of their milestone experiences…happy to see  my “mama’s” remnant of  a garden yet sad that most of her flowers are gone…happy to see my hometown’s booming economy yet sad  that her natural beauty is slowly fading overtaken by the “so-called” urban development…BUT  still I  am grateful to God who gives me this short break to enjoy and cherish home ..although I will leave it again yet at least I have the chance to experience the sights and smells of my “beloved” home.

beauty in white

The first snow of  this year…coming from a tropical country, I’m always fascinated with snow ..I especially  love the fresh snow that comes in  the morning. so pure and beautiful …also love the way it clings to the pine trees like this …just awesome beauty in winter! Winter is a paradoxical  season for me . Although  I love the sight of snow like this and love wearing winter apparels  yet I hate    the biting chilly wind that comes with it in this part of China.

strange appetizer

Attended a Chinese friend’s wedding last week. The whole process takes half a day plus more pictorials in the afternoon.  While waiting in our table for the bride and groom to appear, I took notice of this interesting sight.Who would have thought that among the  plates of appetizers served already on the table some  sticks of cigarettes could be one of them? Actually, after the wedding ceremony the bride and groom would go to each table of guests  then  they will give a toast to  all   then  they will give either another toast or  they will lit a cigarette for each male guest on that table and  offer sweets for the ladies to show their respect and gratitude.  Normally there will be about 25-35 tables with ten people in it ..so just imagine how tired they will be after the whole event.

the “beloved” lotus

I don’t know if you are familiar with lotus flower but this is the pod. It’s a special delicacy in this part of China. The petals  as  well as these  pods  are made into special dishes. It has a peculiar taste and  they  said its very nutritious. Well , everything is nutritious here as Chinese have all this balance of the yin  and the yang food…which is really hard for me to get the basis of. I don’t know really know which food has more yin  and which has more yang.I have tasted a lotus pod dish but I  never did  see the raw stuff in the market… but alas!  in the streets of Suzhou I found this one so I quickly took a snapshot.