Enjoying the good life - art, photography, travelling

Life got busy

2012-01-25T07:30:00.001+11:00

Malaysian fruits

It feels like ages since I last posted. The truth is that life got a little busy in my world.

Anyway, here are a few more photos from Malaysia.

Do you know the fruits shown on the right? They are langsat, (on the left) and maggis (on the right; mangoesteen in English).

Both fruits are widely available in Malaysia. My sister-in-law came home with a bag full of these exotic fruits which I haven’t tasted in over 10 years. It sure was a treat. The skin of both fruits are discarded. The small langsat (make a circle with your index finger and thumb – that’s about the size of the fruit) is easily eaten as the skin is soft and can be peeled away like banana skin. The skin of the manggis is harder. Place it between both hands and gently press your palms together. The pressure will pop the fruit. The skin has a reddish stain so I am careful to keep it away from my clothes.

Pop a piece into the mouth, and the flesh of both fruits seems to melt. Be sure to spit out any seeds, and enjoy the sweet juicy taste :D.

Chocolates

My friend just arrived home from Hokkaido, Japan and she gave me this beautiful box of chocolates. Don’t you just love the packaging and colours?

There were many flavours such as passionfruit, berries, chocolate (of course!), green tea, etc. You’d notice that two pieces have gotten a little bit misshapened – the hot weather in Malaysia made the pieces soft, and when I tried to pick them up…

Hope you are having a great new year so far.

Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

2012-01-16T16:33:00.001+11:00

Mom, Sis and I went to Central Market in Kuala Lumpur. It is a cultural shopping centre, which in the old days was a wet market selling meat and vegetables.

Today, the shopping centre offers visitors a lot of unique Malaysian made goods, and a pleasant place to walk around.

I am not keen on going to a modern shopping centre for brands that can be found all over the world (such as Gap, Esprit, etc.) At this place, my sister bought a lovely blouse, and I bought a shirt and a scarf – all made locally.

Indoors (the blue building on the left of the 2nd last photo is the Central Market) is lovely and pleasant, but there are also more stalls/shops outdoors. It’s quite hot and humid outdoors, but I enjoyed walking around and admiring the architecture of the old buildings seen in the photos.

The simple life

2012-01-06T15:40:00.001+11:00

I have been a bit busy catching up with family and friends, and haven’t been drawing or painting. So, for Paint Party Friday, here are pieces I completed in Tai O Fishing Village in Hong Kong mid last year.

A skinny 4 storey house. The top (green section) of this house was used as a laundry room.

I wonder if this was a house. It resembled a surf rescue station. It was low tide, so there was no water below the house/building.

A beautiful old house which I think can be restored into a very lovely place.

Now to a totally unrelated topic…

Arrowroot Chips.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in Malaysia in late January. My Mom and Sis-In-Law were busy in the kitchen making arrowroot chips, which is a popular snack made for the festival.

I help a little, but I was also taking photographs. Here is the finished product (above) which is crunchy and stores very well in airtight containers. If you are curious about how it is made, keep scrolling down. It is quite easy.

The arrowroot bulbs were washed and their skin peeled.

When using a slicer like the one above, leave the arrowroot stalks intact to be used as a handle while slicing.

Without adding any flavour, the slices were then deep fried in oil (I guess you can add some flavour if you like, but in this case, none was used).

All done.

Happy Weekend.

Photos from Malaysia

2012-01-03T22:37:00.001+11:00

I went to the outdoor morning market with my Mom and her friend. My Mom has been shopping here for years. This vegetable stall owner allows Mom and her friend to deposit their purchases here, until it’s time to leave. The man would even help take their bags of food to the car. Fabulous service, don’t you think?! In case you are wondering, he doesn’t do that for everyone. Mom is a loyal and special customer.

These are popular Chinese snack that have been around for many years. Fried dough – they are crispy on the outside and soft inside. The long ones on the left (Yau Char Kwai in Chinese. In Australia, these are referred to as “Chinese doughnuts”) are lovely when dunked in local coffee. It is also commonly eaten with Chinese congee.

There are a few varieties of round ones on the right (Ham Chim Pang)– sweetened dough with seeds on top, sometimes containing sweet fillings made of beans or rice, etc.

Char Kueh Teow is a favourite street food. It is made with thin flat rice noodles fried with bean sprouts, prawns and Chinese sausage (which is the red piece on the top). The sauce to flavour this dish is a concoction of a few ingredients including light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, salt and oyster sauce. The green leaf that the food is placed on is banana leaf, which in this case is just an aesthetic feature.

Malaysian desserts tend to use a lot of shaved ice, which I love since the weather is always hot and humid. This dessert has many varieties of local fruits and sweet potato, served in freshly squeezed coconut milk.

Hiding

2011-12-30T18:57:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 8.27 x 11.69 inches

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

It’s Paint Party Friday again, and here’s another acrylics painting in my bird series…

I arrived in Kuala Lumpur to catch up with my family. Here are a few random photos. My Mom’s prawns (above) was delicious.

She cooked a yummy meal. From top left, prawn curry, fried beans, boiled eggs and fried prawns. These were served with jasmine rice cooked in coconut milk.

Some photos taken in the garden…

This was mine, before I left Kuala Lumpur. It has since grown up a lot under my Mom’s care.

My brother’s beautiful palm tree

I wish you a wonderful 2012.

Ipad Art

2011-12-23T11:09:00.001+11:00

Time is zipping by this week. I have “lost” a day, because I crossed the international time line coming back to Australia. In my current jetlagged state, I thought I have missed Paint Party Friday, but obviously I was wrong.

Today’s post is about some Ipad art I completed for my husband’s presentation a few months ago in New York. The finished artwork was exported to Jpeg format, which he projected on a big screen, together with other slides and video. The feedback I got was positive, since a picture can sometimes say so much more than words.

I hope you enjoyed the images, even though I haven’t given you the context of his presentation.

Have a nice weekend, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Kookaburra, San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

2011-12-16T15:50:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 8.27 x 11.69 inches

I keep calling him “Tommy”, because it makes me think of a boy who is pleased with himself, and is thinking of the next mischief to get into…

Do you know the Australian nursery rhyme? Here goes…

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That's not a monkey that's me

Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail
Gets a boo-boo in his tail
Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, kookaburra!
Oh how life can be

Paint Party Friday

The Golden Gate Bridge in silhouette… the family seemed to be having a nice day out last Saturday.

Sunday Bridges.

Another painting, and photos of Alameda

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 8.27 x 11.69 inches

How’s your week? I have had a very busy week, and the painting that I started this week is still sitting on the easel. The above was completed last week. Maybe you remember the bird from my last post, but the idea is evolving and I am rather excited about it…

Paint Party Friday

Today, I am sharing some photos taken in Alameda, which is located in the heart of San Francisco Bay.

We took a bus there, then looked around on foot. I love their waterways…

It was a long walk but we had fun. I love the autumn colours.

As you can see, there are some nice residential areas here.

Some photos for Weekend Reflections.

I hope you have a nice weekend.

Birds and Water drops

2011-12-03T04:27:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 8.27 x 11.69 inches

Another 2 birds for Paint Party Friday.

And some water drops for Weekend Reflections.

Happy Weekend.

Don’t Feed

2011-11-26T04:41:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 8.27 x 11.69 inches

I am completing some paintings related to birds now (you might be sensing that already). What better way to practise and find my style, by painting a fun subject.

Anyway, I found the guy (above) at the San Diego Zoo, and I wouldn’t want to meet when I am alone. He was not pink, but I thought I’d dress him up.

Acrylics on canvas paper, 8.27 x 11.69 inches

Having said that I’m painting birds now… well, I could not resist painting this squirrel. He’s getting all dressed up for Christmas, in case you are wondering.

Oh, hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday, and Happy Weekend.

Paint Party Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:28:00.001+11:00

These are sketches completed when I visited San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden a few months ago. There were many stone lanterns and I was attracted to all of them.

Are you busy preparing for Thanksgiving day? Since I am now living in California, it will be my very first Thanksgiving. I have bought the turkey, and am reading up on what to do next!

Have a great Thanksgiving day, and a nice week.

Friends, and Rotunda

2011-11-19T04:17:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 5.8 x 8.3 inches

There is a lake near our apartment, where lots of birds gather. I am not sure what specie this one is, but it didn’t look very happy. Poor birdie was all alone amongst the pigeons, so I thought it should have a friend.

Acrylics on canvas paper, 5.8 x 8.3 inches

This is Rotunda (no prize for guessing where her name comes from), a colourful pigeon I met by the lake.

Happy Paint Party Friday, and have a great weekend.

Across the land (Number 10/10) –California is home

2011-11-16T12:25:00.001+11:00

California is
my new home

The 10th piece for My Sketchbook Project is inspired by my personal circumstance. Some of you may know that I spent over 2 months in California a few months ago… Here is a personal update - I have now moved to California!

By completing the drawings, I have now reached the first milestone for My Sketchbook Project (click the link if you would like more info).

A big “Thank You” to everyone

for cheering me on along the way. It is very much appreciated, and you helped me to keep going. Here are the other 9 pieces which you have seen previously:

There is much to do like reviewing the artwork and ensuring the file quality is up to scratch, designing the sketchbook, etc… At this stage, I am not sure what a realistic timeframe is, but I think it’s safe to say I might get a draft printed by year-end or January 2012!

San Francisco reflections

2011-11-12T17:27:00.001+11:00

House boats in San Francisco

Enjoying the view…

Weekend Reflections

Just the two of us

2011-11-11T12:25:00.001+11:00

Just the two of us - another one for my Sketchbook Project, which is in a slightly different style from the earlier pieces.

A drawing exercise – why is the apple such a hard object to paint? For me anyway…

Happy Weekend

and Paint Party Friday is the place to go for more paintings.

Bags

2011-11-08T16:15:00.001+11:00

Hope you are having a good start to the week. Here’s another piece for my Sketchbook Project. This is based on an earlier work, which I completed a few years ago (below).

The earlier work consisted 400 plus ceramic sculptures. Here they are… each one is different, each one unique. These sculptures are small (each is about 3-4 inches).

The same work shown in an exhibition.

Poster Girl

2011-11-05T10:51:00.001+11:00

“Poster Girl” is drawing number 7 for my Sketchbook Project. It’s nearly finished - the man in green is completing the piece very soon, then he will go home and have a nice weekend.

I painted these wooden drinks coasters as an exercise. Visit Paint Party Friday for links to painting posts.

Have a nice weekend.

Sheep Country

2011-10-31T11:18:00.001+11:00

Another piece for my Sketchbook Project. You may have seen the drawing of the guy before here. The above piece is based on an earlier piece I completed a few years ago (below).

An earlier piece – same them, different country, different person.

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Impressions of my neighbourhood

2011-10-28T11:26:00.001+11:00

Around my neighbourhood in Melbourne, Australia. The building is not so colourful, but I could not help myself when I had a few boxes of watercolours to play with.

It is Paint Party Friday again!

A couple of night shots – this is a view of the port

And restaurants at night for Weekend Reflections.

We had a lovely sunny day yesterday. I took this photo with my iPhone when I was out walking. We don’t normally have clouds like these – they remind me of the Simpsons on telly.

Have a happy weekend.

The Sky is the Limit

2011-10-24T23:05:00.001+11:00

Lot’s of pink this time. The above is the 5th piece for My Sketchbook Project – I am halfway!

I went to dinner at my neighbours. There were cupcakes, but I was too full by the end of the evening, but they gave us 2 to take home. The cakes were yummy.

Chocolate and a few outdoor pieces

2011-10-22T10:18:00.001+11:00

My husband came home with a box of chocolate recently. This is “Irish Cream” which was quite yummy.

It’s Paint Party Friday again, so click on the link for more creative works.

Back in San Francisco…

I enjoyed the free lunchtime concerts at Yerba Buena Park. As I drew this, a band from Mexico was entertaining the crowd, and a few people got up to dance. The lady in front of me sat on the grass and ate her sandwich.

There is a church across the park.

A drawing completed while having breakfast one morning.

Happy Weekend.

Another sketch, and the Gap of Dunloe, Ireland

2011-10-20T18:04:00.001+11:00

It’s mid-week, so here’s another one for my Sketchbook Project….

Getting a coffee fix… I know that this piece is quite different from the previous few. Are things going astray? I’ll keep drawing and see what I end up with.

Now onto another totally unrelated topic…

The Gap of Dunloe in Killarney, Ireland is a popular tourist destination. When we were in Ireland in 2009, my husband and I decided to cover the area by bicycle.

Before the ride, we load our bikes onto a boat which took us across 3 lakes.

It was very peaceful.

Except when our boat got stuck, and a couple of men were asked to get off to give it a push away from the bank

I’ve taken a lot of photos along the way, but just a few here…

When we arrived at the other end of the 3 lakes, we were surrounded by mountains.

The route was hilly (500 feet elevation), and it was one of the most difficult bike rides I’ve experienced. There was a lot of huffing and puffing! (Of course, if cycling is not your thing, other options are walking or getting on horse drawn carts).

When we hired the bikes, I didn't think about how difficult it might be. That was a good thing, because although it was difficult, it turned out to be one of my most memorable experiences.

The vast open area and the view were just magnificent. And we met a some furry friends.

Here’s another view of the green rocky landscape.

Hope you enjoyed the trip.

Meet Me Halfway

2011-10-16T22:30:00.001+11:00

Drawing No. 3 for my Sketchbook Project.

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

Food and sketches in Melbourne, Australia

2011-10-14T17:46:00.001+11:00

Flinders St Station in Melbourne, Australia

A fellow traveller on the plane

A couple of pieces for Paint Party Friday.

More homemade breakfast toast. Crunchy pear slices, walnuts and mascarpone cheese on toast, drizzled with honey. Yes, another version of the earlier ones (with strawberries and figs).

Homemade again, but on a different day! Sausage and butter beans baked in tomato sauce, with poached egg on toast

At the cafe…We love our coffee here in Melbourne, Australia.

Have a lovely weekend.

Fly Fishing

2011-10-13T19:26:00.001+11:00

Continuing from my previous post (click here for more info about the project), this is my 2nd drawing on photographs.

I have returned home from my travels. This is not a recent photo, but one from my collection, of my neighbourhood in Melbourne, Australia.

Me and my robot

2011-10-10T14:50:00.001+11:00

I am starting a project with a collection of drawings on photographs, which will end up in a sketchbook. I know it sounds a bit odd, because sketchbooks are usually empty. There will be lots of blank pages to sketch on too, and maybe one in 5 pages will be a printed page of my drawing.

There will be 10 drawings, which are to be completed within 5 weeks. Check back mid-week, and weekend for new works!

This first drawing is inspired by the movie “Real Steel”, which I saw a few days ago (click on the link to see the trailer). It’s not a movie with a lot of depth, but I loved it, and now I want my own robot.

The theme for this week’s Illustration Friday is contraption. How timely.

New York

2011-10-08T11:19:00.001+11:00

Man taking a snooze on a plane. He seemed pretty comfortable.

It’s Friday again? Where has the week gone! Paint Party Friday is back again. Hope you had a nice and creative week.

Happy Weekend.

If you are an art enthusiast, hopefully you might appreciate this photo of Pollock’s work (with a woman taking her time studying it) taken at MOMA in New York

Times Square, New York

On my last day in New York, my lobster breakfast – a special treat!

La Jolla, San Diego

2011-10-05T08:26:00.001+11:00

I spent a lot of time sitting on the beach with my art materials. It is a beautiful place, and the weather was perfect. I had some nice conversations with a few people who stopped to chat.

This is my Watery Wednesday submission – check out the link for more watery posts.

This little guy have learnt that humans are non-threatening. It rummaged through my plastic bag of art materials… it must have been hungry.

There are many seals who live around here. It was easy to spot them on the beach, or swimming in the sea, but we were not allowed to get close.

An interesting sculpture on top of the Contemporary Museum of Art, which is located along the beach

It was closed when I was there, but I could walk around the sculpture garden.

From San Francisco to New York

2011-09-30T08:37:00.001+10:00

My first submissions to Paint Party Friday. The top one shows a small section of a church, and the bottom one was drawn on a sunny day by the water. Both were completed in San Francisco.

For Weekend Reflections, let’s go to New York. I caught with some friends over dinner, and they took me Queens so that we could look at the Manhattan skyline from there. The above structure is in Queens, and my friends said most people point their cameras in the opposite direction…. see next 2 photos.

And a bridge for Sunday Bridges. The photos are not exactly sharp since I only had my point and shoot with me then., but I like them anyway. Hope you are not getting crossed-eyed!

The view was breathtaking, but my photos are not very good. I hope you enjoy them anyway.

Have a nice weekend.

Homemade

2011-09-29T17:49:00.001+10:00

I posted the photo on the left of a breakfast in San Francisco, in my previous post.

Today, I tried to make it. I had to alter it a little, since I could find neither thick chunky bread nor figs.

My version (top photo) is fresh strawberries and walnut on mascarpone cheese on toasted bread, drizzled with honey.

My husband and I enjoyed it, but we both agree that it would be better with chunky bread on a griddle with olive oil, rather than toasted slices.

Oh, by the way, if you do try it, use lots of mascarpone cheese and honey! And I’d love to hear about what you think if you do try it.

More San Francisco photos

2011-09-28T08:49:00.001+10:00

A marina in San Francisco on a lovely day.

Alcatraz Island is seen in the background.

Watery Wednesday : please click the link for more posts.

Changing direction slightly… here’s a yummy breakfast I had the other day. Delicious yet simple to make – fresh figs, walnuts and mascarpone cheese on top of toasted chunky bread, drizzled with honey.

Dinner one night was pulled pork in a roll, with coleslaw on the side. It was very enjoyable but strongly flavoured. All my taste buds were stimulated!

Bought the pull pork roll from this shop – I love the funky decor.

Lastly, have you tried Vietnamese coffee?

In the above photo, a metal container sits on top of a sieve, which are both placed on top of a glass on the left. Grounded coffee is placed in the metal container, and hot water is poured over the top. The coffee slowly drips into the glass which has sweetened condensed milk. When all the coffee has dripped into the glass, give it a stir, and it’s ready. It’s different from the usual regular coffee or lattes, but extremely delicious.

Hope you are all having a nice week.

A few people – sketches on the go

2011-09-21T08:10:00.001+10:00

This artist was sketching outside a coffee shop right in front of us – perfect for me, since I thought that he was going to be there for a while. But he was just finishing up, or maybe he didn’t want me to sketch him, and left quite quickly. If it was the latter, I’m sorry, Mr Artist, to have been a nuisance. I love your beret, by the way.

We took a little trip from San Francisco to San Diego again. Many flights (including ours) were delayed… So there was more sketching time. Airports are good for people sketches I think. This guy stayed in the same position for quite long.

I enjoyed sketching this man. He was obviously very tired, and had a little snooze while waiting.

Sketching at lunch in Sausalito, which is located north of San Francisco. We went there on a ferry, and had a lovely afternoon. Photos later!

Have a nice week.

Looking out

2011-09-15T05:57:00.001+10:00

Staircases outside of apartment buildings always remind me of the US. In fact, I have not seen them anywhere else. I love them, as well as the many old buildings that I see in San Francisco. Our rented unit in San Francisco is in an street where there are many old buildings. This is a building across the road.

The origami crane reminds me of my Mom. When I was little (maybe about 5 years old), she taught me how to turn a flat piece of paper into a lovely 3 dimensional bird.

Botanical Garden. San Francisco

2011-09-13T12:20:00.001+10:00

I visited the San Francisco Botanical Garden some weeks ago. I hope that you will enjoy these photos.

I brought my sketchbook to draw. But I did not get around to drawing. I was having too much fun taking photos.

The shapes and the different shades of green makes the leaves interesting.

Love the stone lantern – wish I could have one when I have a garden.

I am not sure what this squirrel was looking at.

Weirdo!

2011-09-12T12:58:00.001+10:00

Can you read my writing?

If not, scroll down, I have enlarged the speech/thought bubbles below.

A true encounter during the day, on a street where there were other people… so it wasn’t scary, but still a rather strange incident.

Happy Weekend!

A few more – San Francisco Sketchbook

2011-09-08T05:25:00.001+10:00

When I saw a carousel, I was transported back to my childhood. I just had to stop to paint this.

I love the details of this building…

One of the piers along the Embarcadero

Hope you are having a nice week.

Unconditional Surrender

2011-09-06T13:36:00.001+10:00

A 25 feet sculpture in San Diego.

If you were kissed by a total stranger - a sailor in this case – in the midst of a momentous celebration, what would you do? Read about it here.

I saw a few couples in the same pose, kissing in front of the statue, while being photographed.

I drew this while sitting on the green grass under a tree.

It seemed like a very popular sculpture. A few people were curious and came to have a look at my drawing, and to chat. Someone took a photo of my hand drawing…

Half an hour later, and 500 feet away, someone approached me. He said he saw me drawing the statue, and was curious how it turned out on paper. I showed him. He smiled, and nodded. I think he approved.

A few more sketches

2011-09-02T01:56:00.001+10:00

Coolness…. some people look nice no matter what they wear.

I had to complete this before we landed. A rush job, but it still took me about an hour. I guess it was a good way to spend time during a flight.

The kitchen of our rented unit. The colours are not actually these, but all white. I decided to have some fun.

Quiet time

2011-08-30T07:15:00.001+10:00

At the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

Steak sauce

2011-08-29T12:18:00.001+10:00

One of the items that came with our rented apartment.

Not sure why I painted it…

This is making me think of juicy steak, and I am getting hungry…

San Diego

2011-08-28T02:42:00.001+10:00

I spent a few days in San Diego. It was a short but fun trip.

I went to the Botanical Building in Balboa Park. The next photo is taken from inside the building.

Weekend Reflections

Nice looking up inside the building

One of my favourite photos, taken outside a kite shop

Happy Weekend.

More sketches in California

2011-08-26T02:19:00.001+10:00

We were in sunny Palo Alto (about an hour south of San Francisco) for a couple of weeks. It was sunny everyday – perfect for sketching outdoors.

Along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. These plants belong to a restaurant. There are always many people along the Embarcadero, including tourists.

Further south along the Embarcadero, I spotted this lovely building across the road.

Wishing you a wonderful week.

Hong Kong desserts

2011-08-21T03:03:00.001+10:00

Whenever I think of Hong Kong, I think of yummy desserts. Mirrored surfaces increase the number of these perfect looking pieces… These remind me of Japanese desserts.

Visit James at Weekend Reflections for more.

Not quite a Hong Kong dessert, but it is a photo taken in Hong Kong. You can see my blurry reflection in the photo. Had fun, until I was told off for taking photos of their lovely food.

More desserts…

But as if that’s not enough, there’s even more at the other end of the plate

This is a very smooth milky custard (like a panna cotta)

Mango pudding… Yummy.

Have a happy weekend.

People sketches

2011-08-18T12:13:00.001+10:00

I brought my iPAD to breakfast this morning. While waiting for a table, I quickly sketched a man in front of me.

It was getting addictive… I sketched Jeremy at home, on the iPAD. He doesn’t like many of my pieces of him, but he likes this :).

Still life on the iPad

2011-08-16T07:31:00.001+10:00

I was given a 2nd hand iPad recently, when my husband bought himself a new one. I have been painting – it’s a lot of fun, and it’s clean! I have forgotten how much fun it is to paint digitally. The downside is that I have to watch my posture, to avoid getting a sore back.

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Sketch

2011-08-14T11:27:00.001+10:00

My first drawing in San Francisco, on a lovely sunny afternoon.

Under the bridge… and scroll to the next photo to see where the beams/poles end.

Here the poles are bolted into the wall below the bridge. When we first arrived and was driving around, I noticed these poles and thought they were interesting…. I guess it’s because I’ve never been under many bridges before.

Visit Sunday Bridges - Louis has uploaded a photo of this bridge.

San Francisco sketches

2011-08-11T12:11:00.001+10:00

I use public transport a lot in San Francisco. It’s convenient, and an inexpensive way to get around.

This is the Ferry Building in San Francisco, which I go to quite a bit. It has a lots of yummy food, and on weekends, a farmers’ market.

Buffet table

2011-08-08T14:38:00.001+10:00

While travelling, we were staying at the same hotel for a while, and the hotel breakfast was becoming boring. So I decided to have some fun – it made breakfast pass quickly, but the food still tasted the same…

Purple beauty (Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco)

2011-08-03T14:10:00.001+10:00

I mean the flowers, and not the man (although it’s very kind of him to wear purple for my photo :D )

Happy Watery Wednesday.

Coloured sketches

2011-08-02T04:34:00.001+10:00

2 sketches; I was using a concertina sketchbook hence the sketches sort-of got squashed into any available space…

The top left is a drawing by the pool. And the bottom, which I enjoyed more, a scaffolding and tube (don’t know the right term) for building materials…

There is something about drawing and painting plants that I find appealing

Plants with bags of soil by the side

Finally, some potted plants.

Have a nice week.

Colourful Santa Cruz

2011-07-30T08:08:00.001+10:00

Amusement park by the beach

Getting some sun, notice the amusement park in the background

Water sport.

We were in Santa Cruz on the Independence day long weekend. As you can see in the top two photos, it was busy. It seemed that everyone went to the beach, since we had the hotel swimming pool all to ourselves.

I am attending a drawing class on Saturday, then I will probably spend more time over the weekend drawing, and learning Japanese. What are you up to this weekend? Hope you have a nice one!

Sushi sketch

2011-07-26T10:01:00.001+10:00

Sushi with salmon, tuna and avocado - 美味しいです (delicious). I don’t think I can ever get enough of Japanese food.

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco

2011-07-23T13:11:00.001+10:00

Greetings from San Francisco.

I visited the Japanese Tea Garden recently. It’s a beautiful place.

Bridge stones. Walk carefully or you will get wet.

I didn’t get a chance to climb this bridge – it was full of kids. There was hardly room for me to take this photo, balancing myself on another bridge with excited parents, who were taking snapshots of their children.

Before the crowd came…. The bridge in front was the one that I was able to stand on, to take the above photo. Visit Louis for more Sunday Bridges.

I love the stone lanterns.

Fabulous place. I spent many hours here drawing.

There’s a tea house in the Japanese Tea Garden. I had udon, and it made me think of my time in Japan.

Happy Weekend.

A few photos from home…

2011-07-22T05:20:00.001+10:00

Glorious Melbourne sky.

Hot chocolate.

A colourful section of my wall…mostly (not all) my drawings and paintings.

Fun stuff.

More fun stuff…

Happy Weekend.

Tai O Bridges

2011-07-17T13:41:00.001+10:00

Tai O is the name of a fishing village on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

A little bridge coming off a bigger (red) bridge.

In this photo, I also love how the house is extended upwards.

The red bridge shown in the above photo.

There’s also a blue one...

And another…

Visit’s Louis at Sunday Bridges for more.

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Remembering Beijing’s delicious food

2011-07-13T11:01:00.001+10:00

I am missing the variety of mouth-watering food in Beijing. Here are more food photos….

Yummy Muslim food – grilled skewered meat. This stall belongs to a restaurant close-by, which we have been to a few times.

Breakfast snacks.

Tea-smoked duck, eaten wrapped in a thin pancake (like Peking Duck). I love the smokiness of this version.

Shao Mai – flavoured glutinous rice in bite size parcels

Dumplings for breakfast, lunch or dinner

A different type of dumplings… also good for breakfast, lunch or dinner

Kung Pau chicken

Cumin fried rice

Spicy fish and rice

Are you hungry? I am.

More shoes

2011-07-08T13:38:00.001+10:00

Another 2 pairs… I made these up based on a black black pair that I own :)

Happy Weekend.

Fishing Village

2011-07-05T13:50:00.001+10:00

More photos taken in Tai O Village on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

Sea and mountain views… We couldn’t ask for more.

Inspired by colourful buildings in the village.

A structure on stilt.

Looking down at Tai O Village from a hill.

A few old houses have interesting roofs.

Fishing Village – drying fish

2011-06-30T19:42:00.000+10:00

This is a piece inspired by scenes of Tai O village in Hong Kong. One of the famous produce of this fishing village is dried fish. See next photo.

I am not sure why some fish are dried in baskets, while some are hung to dry. Perhaps the fish in the basket is a different variety which birds love…. Anyway, a lady told me that the heads are covered to prevent flies from laying eggs (around the eyes, I guess)

Lots of fish being dried. The dried fish is quite delicious. We had meat and dried fish in a clay pot, and fried rice with diced chicken and dried fish. Only a small piece is required since it’s quite salty.

Fishing village on stilts, Hong Kong

2011-06-29T14:52:00.001+10:00

We spent several nights in Tai O village, on Lantau Island.

It was a fantastic experience; there was so much to see and to draw.

I am not sure if the above is a home or just a storage shed.

I will upload more photos later. Have a nice week.

Watery Wednesday

Yuan Ming Yuan

2011-06-27T18:17:00.001+10:00

It was very hot in Beijing. We didn’t want to miss out on visiting the Old Summer Palace (Yuan Ming Yuan) so we arrived here at about 9 am. It was already getting hot then.

The lakes were covered by beautiful lotus plants, with red, pink and white blooms.

Some ruins from of the buildings

It was a very photogenic place (pardon my photos, all taken with my iPhone). There were many photographers snapping away with impressive looking equipment…

Father and daughter enjoying their time at Yuan Ming Yuan.

We spent 2 hours exploring the garden. It was great having seen this lovely place, before we left Beijing. I had a great time in Beijing, and hope that you have enjoyed my photos.

Hope you have a great week.

Colourful wares, photos from Beijing

2011-06-24T00:43:00.001+10:00

Stalls at the Great Wall offer lots of colourful souvenirs

It’s lovely to look but be prepared to bargain if you see something you like.

A colourful stall selling fresh and dried fruits at the Ming Tombs.

Colourful and pretty umbrellas.

Have a nice week.

A few more sketches in Beijing

2011-06-21T09:13:00.001+10:00

Sketching in a taxi… It was a risk because I get motion sickness when I read in a car, so I drew quickly. I wasn’t feeling too good afterwards, but only for a little while. I painted it at home.

Sketches completed while my husband was getting a massage.

I was quite excited when I saw this cinema in Beijing. I haven’t seen one like this in a long time.

Doodling while having my breakfast in a bakery.

Beijing Shop Reflections

2011-06-19T14:52:00.001+10:00

Reflection on the mirrored ceiling.

Reflection on a pillar on the left.

Visit Weekend Reflections for more.

Dragon Boat Festival

2011-06-13T11:15:00.001+10:00

In China, the locals celebrated Dragon Boat Festival last Monday (6/6) . Everyone ate Zongzi. Zongzi is rice, wrapped and cooked in bamboo leaf. While at dinner last Monday, the restaurant served us complimentary Zongzi. This was a sweet version with red dates. They also gave us sugar, in case we preferred it to be even sweeter.

I like Zongzi. My Mom makes the best ones – rice with pork cooked in soy sauce, salted egg, chick peas, candle nuts and rice. Yummylicious!

Did you have Zongzi last week?

Shoes sketches

2011-06-12T08:55:00.001+10:00

Katie passed on to me the Stylish Blogger Award. Thanks Katie. LOL, “stylish’ is not a word I would used to describe myself. No, not stylish at all….Anyway, here are some things about me…

I love shoes, but mine are mostly comfy shoes.

I love “Crocs” – yes, the brand of plastic shoes, which are oh-so-comfortable. Recently, my husband bought 2 new pairs of slip-ons. Here’s one, the top is fabric, the sole in comfy rubber. Finally, some nice looking shoes from Crocs. I am waiting for some nice ladies’ designs.

My gym shoes have been put to good use. I have been going to the gym diligently twice a week in the last 10 weeks. My husband and I share a personal trainer, so it’s a good way to make sure we exercise consistently.

I love drawing shoes – you may have already guessed that!

There you have it – a few things you didn’t know about me. Thanks Katie.

Lakeside in Beijing

2011-06-11T17:26:00.001+10:00

One of my favourite places to sit and relax.

Connecting to Sunday Bridges and Weekend Reflections.

Happy Weekend.

Breathing space

2011-06-08T18:32:00.001+10:00

Hi everyone. Here I am on the top floor of one of my favourite places to go to chill out, and get away from the millions of people in Beijing.

Comfy sofas, internet connection, cappuccinos, milkshakes, black forest cake…. it doesn’t feel like I am in China.

Sometimes I find a spot under the trees. The grass is long, so it’s not comfortable to sit on, but there are lots of stone seats like the ones you see in the above photo

Relax by the water

There were lots of peonies a month ago. Click to see my photos of peonies in Beijing

Roses are blooming at the moment. Click to see my photos of roses in Beijing

If the weather is good, I take a walk and enjoy the beautiful blooms.

Hope your are having a wonderful week.

Apartments in Beijing

2011-06-06T20:07:00.001+10:00

Probably apartment blocks look more interesting from the back…

Have a nice week.

Balloons on the streets of Beijing

2011-05-31T17:13:00.001+10:00

I was on the way to lunch when I saw this lady arrive on her bicycle, with lots of balloons for sale. I love balloons; they seem like happy objects to me.

Well, looks like I am not the only one who loves balloons. I took this photo after lunch. I guess business was good.

A few sketches

2011-05-29T14:47:00.001+10:00

Entrance to an apartment block in Beijing. It was fun to chat with a girl who came by to have a look. We managed a conversation with my limited Chinese. Earlier, a young man stopped to have a look, but he left quite quickly when he discovered that I am a foreigner, who knew only a little Chinese.

I managed to make a rough sketch before it was moved. That seems to happen a lot, so I try to be quick when drawing vehicles.

I went to a park earlier in the week. There were lots of equipment for public use. When I started drawing, a girl came into my picture (left). She had just washed her hair and brought her comb along. She sat on the bench and combed her, while I drew.

The 4 “discs” can be turned. I have seen people placing their palms on the edge of 2 discs and turning them at the same time. First one way, then the other way…

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

A few people

2011-05-27T13:52:00.001+10:00

I hope you had a nice week. It’s Friday already – where has the week gone. My internet is back in working order – yay!

I’ve been drawing people recently. I am quite slow so the people I drew here were usually studying or having a meal… so they stayed in position for a while :).

Happy Weekend!

Food - hot stuff

2011-05-23T10:12:00.001+10:00

I never thought Chinese food could be so hot.

When I was living in Malaysia, Chinese food seemed to be quite mild, as most Chinese food in Malaysia are variations of Cantonese cuisine.

The above photo shows one of the dishes we had when we first arrived in Beijing. This is a Sichuan dish. There is probably as much chilli in there as chicken.

In Beijing, there are varieties of cuisine from all over the country. I love Sichuan food, but they are often very hot. In this 2nd photo (above), the prawn dish on the right seemed quite harmless, doesn't it? Actually, there are lots of bits of chilli scattered all over. These dishes are eaten with steamed rice.

Skewers of vegetables, meatballs, tofu, mushrooms…. I have not eaten this. Sure looks hot! I am not sure if this is Sichuan food…

The best capsicum I have ever tasted, but it was extremely hot.

If you are alone, ordering food from a menu can sometimes be a challenge as most dishes are for 2 or more people. But some menus offer the lone diner a portion of a dish over rice… So here’s hot spicy chicken over rice…

And hot spicy pork strips with vegetables over rice

Hot dumplings are yummy but it felt like I was torturing myself. Yet, I could not stop eating…

And another hot chicken dish… Now, where are the tissues? And where is the cold drink I ordered?

Quite a presentation… hot chook.

Finally, one last hot dish…

Sichuan peppercorns are widely used in these dishes. It has a very distinctive flavour and sensation (numbing effect) in the mouth… Here’s a link if you are interested to read more about Sichuan food.

No internet connection

2011-05-20T18:02:00.001+10:00

Life seems different this week, due to no internet connection. I hope it returns soon, before I spend too much time at the internet cafe and drinking too much coffee.

Happy Weekend.

On hot days in Beijing

2011-05-16T12:45:00.001+10:00

I found a place under a shade… I look at these pots of flowers whenever I walk pass. Such lovely colours.

Many people (foreigners mostly) love to sit under trees in front of this supermarket. The owner got some beer in recently, and according to my husband, the beer is especially cold. I get a soft drink whenever I come here. You can buy bread and cakes from the bakery through the window on the left (can you see the lady…). Just outside these windows, there are 4 basins of water on the ground for washing used beer mugs – each mug is washed 4 times by dunking in each basin once. Whatever works – none of his beer drinking customers seem to mind :).

A cafe kitchen door, with 2 big waste bins outside.

I was upstairs in coffee shop drinking cappuccino. The food and drink kiosk was below, and surprisingly there were not many customers.

Bicycles and tricycles, Beijing

2011-05-12T16:33:00.000+10:00

I spotted these tricycles with their heavy loads recently…

I sure hope these tricycles run on batteries.

Lots of them… if one falls, they all fall – imagine dominoes.

A funky yellow one. Most bicycles are old compared to this.

Most, but not this brightly coloured electric bicycle…

A tricycle at home having a break

A roadside bicycle repair shop, with chairs for customers. (It was early, so the repairman wasn’t at work yet).

Outdoor Sketches

2011-05-09T11:47:00.001+10:00

Hope you had a nice weekend.

Last week, when I was out drawing, I realised how some trees in Beijing are different from what I see back home.

Here’s a better example. The leaves are very stiff and grows above the branches.

On another day, a found a nice seat just opposite Building 4. Not much of a view but I found the electrical cables interesting.

And on another day… I wanted to play and see if I can capture sunset over some buildings.

Ah, what fun!

Hope you have a fantastic week.

Indoor bits and pieces

2011-05-03T20:55:00.001+10:00

No pen here - it was hard to resist using a style that I am more comfortable with.

We found a shop which sells delicious Chinese soup, cooked and served in an earthen ware pot.

Left: At an internet cafe - he was studying. I went there to draw. Right: At dinner…

Clean clothes waiting to be stored away

Paper…Rock…Scissors…

Tea time…

Hope you are having a nice week.

Street Food Vendors, Beijing

2011-05-02T12:10:00.001+10:00

I enjoy browsing around a busy street market in the morning

Breakfast on the go.

Steamy hot mantou, with no fillings, eaten at mealtimes with savoury dishes.

Cutting pineapple…

Pancakes with a meaty filling

Fish pastry with chocolate on the inside – I love this.

My first breakfast when I arrived a month ago. It was 2°C/36°F and I enjoyed holding and eating a steamy hot roll while walking around outside.

Skewered meat – very popular in Beijing. This reminds me of satay in Malaysia.

We refer to this as Chinese Bacon and Eggs… It’s got all the same ingredients, only a different bread. See next photo.

Yummy (…and just as unhealthy as Bacon and Eggs)

My favourite vendor but I only came here once. They disappeared overnight.

Happy Weekend

More buildings

2011-04-28T14:28:00.001+10:00

I love sunny days

This building towers above many buildings… My husband had a chuckle. He said I should have added a watering can, coz it looks like the building is growing! LOL, I will have to work on my trees… :)

Hope you are having a nice week.

As it gets warmer in Beijing…

2011-04-25T19:32:00.001+10:00

I was on my way to a wifi cafe, but decided to stop and enjoy the sunshine for a moment. I started drawing this and before long, I wish I had brought my cap. I never made it to the cafe that day, as I got distracted again after I finished this piece.

There were just a few bicycles out and about on a Sunday afternoon

Creative Every Day.

Spring blossoms at the Great Wall of China

2011-04-23T22:12:00.001+10:00

The landscape is changing quickly.

I noticed that the blooms are disappearing very quickly.

We were lucky to be able to see the blooms along the Great Wall.

Breathtakingly beautiful. I just love the scenery… gorgeous mountains as far as the eye can see..

The wall that goes on and on and on… the landscape seems to be dotted with white cotton puff.

Happy Weekend.

Electric bicycle

2011-04-23T21:23:00.001+10:00

Electric bicycles are quite popular in Beijing. A slightly wonky version unfortunately, but finally a submission to Illustration Friday after a long absence…

Staying healthy in Beijing

2011-04-21T15:42:00.001+10:00

It’s quite nice to watch this large group of students rehearsing the Tai Chi.

The slow movements are quite therapeutic… but when someone fails to keep up, it is quite obvious from our 9th floor r0om.

There are usually lots of groups here playing, but in the early morning, it is rather quiet.

Tofu topped with coriander and a savoury gravy must be a healthy breakfast… an acquired taste, I think… I enjoyed it.

Don’t like sloppy food like tofu? Locals love dumplings.

Strawberries are very sweet at the moment…

Need more excitement? Go the the Great Wall and walk… More pictures later!

Hope you are having a nice week.

Beijing buildings

2011-04-19T10:15:00.001+10:00

A couple of buildings from my sketchbook

Creative Every Day

Recent Dinner Sketches

2011-04-13T10:17:00.001+10:00

Have a nice week.

Creative Every Day

Beijing Views

2011-04-11T12:56:00.001+10:00

Hope you had a nice weekend. A few sketches to share…

Looking out from our 9th floor room.

Another view from another window.

My painting corner.

Writing table next to the bed.

Chair and bag storage area in our little room.

Creative Every Day

Beijing Skies

2011-04-08T12:03:00.001+10:00

We have been in Beijing for about 2 weeks. This week, we see lovely spring blooms.

Beijing sky is usually hazy. We don’t often see blue skies.

A week ago…

A week ago, the trees were a bit different…

This is another photo from a week ago. This is a more typical Beijing sky. Soon, this street will look quite green. I am imagining a canopy of fresh green leaves above.

Happy Weekend.

Happy Hour

2011-04-07T22:55:00.001+10:00

Another 2 sketches from my sketchbooks.

Creative Every Day

A vary narrow restaurant in Beijing

2011-04-05T12:40:00.001+10:00

During lunch hour, there is a queue to get into this little restaurant. When you do get a seat, there is not much elbow room and the staff shouts your order from your table to the kitchen…. It’s all part of the experience of eating here and I love it.

At the front, there are a two tables for 4 people. If there are just 2 of you, you must share your table with 2 others.

Besides the 2 tables in front, there is a long bench facing a wall. This is where elbow space is limited. If you are right handed, and have to sit next to a person who is left handed, make sure you sit on his/her right. Otherwise, you might end up with a slight chopstick fight throughout your meal… My husband is left handed while I am right handed.

During our first visit, we had dumplings. They were simple everyday fare…

but yummylicious.

Some sketches of Beijing

2011-04-04T21:31:00.001+10:00

A sketch of a Chinese guardian lion sculpture. The lion sculptures appear in pairs, a male and a female. I have drawn the male version, indicated by a ball under one of it’s paws. The female version looks similar but has a cub (instead of a ball)… I will have to go back to draw its partner but I have forgotten where the sculptures are located. Doh!

Cyclists are part of the Beijing cityscape. I have always found the cyclist a challenge to draw. The proportion and getting wheels to look round are challenging, so this is a good start for me.

Creative Every Day

Beijing food

2011-04-03T11:10:00.001+10:00

The weather in Beijing has been good in the past few days. When the temperature got over 20°C (68 °F) in the afternoons, we went out for our walks.

In the photo on the top left, the vendor is selling sweet potatoes, baked over hot coals in a drum that is built onto his bicycle. I have not tried the sweet potatoes yet but it sure smelt good. I bet he feels nice and warm all the time, with the heat from the drum even when it is really cold.

We normally stopped for dinner and we tried to eat something different every day. A few days ago, we had noodles in broth, with meat and vegetables – top right photo. Very nice.

On the way home, when the sun began to set, a lovely orange and pink tone covered the sky and the sun looked like a glowing ball…

Have a nice Sunday.

Playing with my phone camera

2011-04-01T19:38:00.001+11:00

How do you spend the time on a long flight?

I watched a few movies, sketched and explored my new phone camera. You will notice that the above is distorted, the page on the right is at an angle… Some stuff that I carry with me to keep me comfortable on flights includes my phone (complete with music and podcasts), earphones (noise cancelling), moisturiser(100g or less), a small sketchbook and pens.

A few more images from my sketchbook which were drawn much earlier. Since I couldn’t take proper photos on the plane, I decided to play with distortions…

I am currently in Beijing, and will share some photos later. Have a great weekend.

The dumpling seller

2011-03-22T10:45:00.001+11:00

Evelyn Howard, Acrylics, 12 x 16"

I am remembering the wonderful dumplings we had for breakfast and lunch in China. Yummy, hot, steamy, meaty, satisfying, delicious dumplings.

Not my best painting, but I am enjoying the process, and learning a lot. I plan to upload my work at least once a week, so hopefully over time I will be able to see some improvements….

Creative Every Day

Going around

2011-03-17T22:48:00.001+11:00

... in Hong Kong.

Looking for the perfect spot…

Round and round…

Have a nice weekend.

Chinese Teapot

2011-03-14T18:18:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 14.8 × 21.0 cm/5.83 x 8.26 inches, Evelyn Howard

Another small but really fun piece. Please visit Creative Every Day for blogs on creative activities.

Happy Creative Week.

Precious water

2011-03-14T08:39:00.001+11:00

Have a nice week.

Macro Monday

Thinking of Japan

2011-03-12T08:45:00.001+11:00

I’ve been reading about the earthquakes in Japan and I feel sad, that there is so much damage and lost lives. Since I started learning Japanese months ago, I’ve come into contact with a few Japanese, whom I communicate with on a regular basis. Many of them are ok, but I have not heard from everyone. So, my best wishes to everyone in Japan…

Anyway, this photo was taken in Fukuoka, Japan last year. Food stalls (like this one) were only set-up at night. I regret that I did not eat at the stalls… I’ll just have to go back to Fukuoka :)

Happy Weekend.

Painted flowers

2011-03-07T23:01:00.001+11:00

Acrylics on canvas paper, 14.8 × 21.0 cm/5.83 x 8.26 inches, Evelyn Howard

After being stuck with a bigger piece for a while (which I am finding to be quite a challenge to complete), I was happy to paint a small one and finish it within the day. Not a subject that I would normally choose, but it was nice to do something a little different, and definitely good practice.

Hope you have a good creative week.

Creative Every Day

Enjoying the good life - art, photography, travelling

Life got busy

Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

The simple life

Arrowroot Chips.

Happy Weekend.

Photos from Malaysia

Hiding

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

I wish you a wonderful 2012.

Ipad Art

Have a nice weekend, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Kookaburra, San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

Another painting, and photos of Alameda

I hope you have a nice weekend.

Birds and Water drops

Happy Weekend.

Don’t Feed

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a great Thanksgiving day, and a nice week.

Friends, and Rotunda

Across the land (Number 10/10) –California is home

California is my new home

A big “Thank You” to everyone

San Francisco reflections

Just the two of us

Happy Weekend

Bags

Poster Girl

Have a nice weekend.

Sheep Country

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Impressions of my neighbourhood

Have a happy weekend.

The Sky is the Limit

Chocolate and a few outdoor pieces

Happy Weekend.

Another sketch, and the Gap of Dunloe, Ireland

Meet Me Halfway

Food and sketches in Melbourne, Australia

Have a lovely weekend.

Fly Fishing

Me and my robot

New York

Happy Weekend.

La Jolla, San Diego

From San Francisco to New York

Have a nice weekend.

Homemade

More San Francisco photos

Hope you are all having a nice week.

A few people – sketches on the go

Looking out

Botanical Garden. San Francisco

Weirdo!

Happy Weekend!

A few more – San Francisco Sketchbook

Hope you are having a nice week.

Unconditional Surrender

A few more sketches

Quiet time

Steak sauce

San Diego

Happy Weekend.

More sketches in California

Wishing you a wonderful week.

Hong Kong desserts

Have a happy weekend.

People sketches

Still life on the iPad

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Sketch

San Francisco sketches

Buffet table

Purple beauty (Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco)

Coloured sketches

Have a nice week.

Colourful Santa Cruz

Sushi sketch

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco

Happy Weekend.

California is
my new home