"GOOD-BYE RAINY DAYS"

"Rain, rain go away, come again another day, little Ebb Tide like to paint...."-by the author/artist

PAINTING ON WARM WEATHER - This week's weather here in Southern California is just perfect for painting. The beautiful sun is out and the temperature is between 74 degrees to 84 degrees. The rainy and gloomy weather doesn't make me in the mood to paint. When the sunlight is shinning bright, then I like to paint and I am alive. Rain makes me feel drowsy. I could sleep all day and hibernate during extremely cold, rainy weather. The hilly landscapes of our beautiful city had turned yellow ochre due to lack of single rain last summer and fall. I am thankful for the rainy season because our city needed rain to stay green. But I don't like rain to come everyday or every week. This week there are lovely blooming flowers everywhere. I am happy to say "good-bye" to the rain and welcome SPRING!

TITLE OF PAINTING: "RAINY DAY"
MEDIUM: OIL ON CANVAS SIZE: 30" x 48"
DESCRIPTION: I painted this huge oil painting for my eldest sister who lives in Seattle, Washington. Most of my sisters are living here in Southern California. One day, my eldest sister sent me a old photo of a painting by a Filipino artist. I couldn't decipher the name of the original artist because the photo had faded. She asked me to copy the painting. The painting is about a woman battling a storm with her umbrella. A typical stormy scenery in the Philippines during rainy season. My sister thought this is an appropriate scene for their house in Seattle, because it's always raining there. I had fun creating this huge oil painting. When I finished it, I didn't charge my sister for my labor. Instead it was given as a gift for her retirement. I forgot to take a photo of the painting when she picked it up from my studio here in California. During that time, I didn't have an art blog yet, so I was not eager to photograph it. I haven't seen it for so many years because this sister never bothered to send me a photo of the painting. Last August 9, 2008, my family attended the wedding of of her eldest son in Seattle. I am not joking but it rained during the wedding. A typical Seattle scenery. Then Sunday after the event, my sister invited my husband and I to dine in their house. I was finally reunited with this old painting of mine and was happy to see it. My husband took a photo of the painting. I said good-bye to my rainy painting. I might not see this painting for a long time.
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WARM COFFEE & FLOWERS

"Part of what I'm about is seeing how I can paint the same thing differently, instead of different things the same way."- Alex Katz

"RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY" - I am no longer a kindergarten but this poem makes me feel like one. After weeks of rain and cold weather, I am feeling good that warmer days are back. I am happier when the temperature is warmer and brighter. This are the conditions where I thrive and paint most. When it's gloomy, I am not in the mood to paint. The colors on my painting are also gloomy. I like bright colors and sunny weather. Just the right stimulus to jump start my creative spirit and imagination.

" WARM COFFEE AND FLOWERS" I posted this oil painting a month ago. It's the same painting I gave a friend for her 65th birthday. I started working on this painting about two years ago. I shelved it, thinking that something was not right. Last January, I worked on it again and called it "Make-over Phase 2." Surprisingly, here in Southern California, you wouldn't believe that in the middle of January we had a summer like weather. I had time to paint again after a long break during the holidays and successive rainy week. This oil painting is the same painting below but more beautiful and artful. I added the white window, warm coffee and the friendly quotation. Then varnished the painting. Then I shopped for a ready made golden frame to make the painting look richer. The frame was "X-PEN-SIV" and yet I still bought it. The painting dried up on time for a friend's birthday.
ART IS EXPENSIVE -I wonder why art supplies and frames are so expensive????? Some people have no idea that art is not cheap. To save me some money, my husband did most of the framing for my paintings. He's a good handyman and no room for return or complain. What a blessing!
DISCOVER-This is not a plastic adventure but a "disco-tour" to find out the cost of custom framing. Last year, I had one oil painting (30" x 48") framed at a nearby art store. They had a half price sale on custom made frame that week. I was h-o-o-k-e-d and went shopping. I was charged $350.00 for a simple custom frame, plus sales tax. Then there was an additional $60.00 for mounting the painting on the frame. I did the math, and it was ridiculously pricey even with half price sale. So my husband supports not only my art career but also the framing aspect of it.

FIRST PHASE OF THE OIL PAINTING - This was the original painting before. After the make-over, the painting is very different. Go back to the painting above and look at the transformation. I learned not to toss a painting at first try. Believe in make-over. Give time for a painting to bloom and grow. After the rain, there is sunshine and a beautiful painting is born again.
THANK YOU NOTE FROM LISA:"Your thoughtfulness of the gift and warm wishes were truly a blessing to me. Truly thankful for the Lord have provided me friends like you! Words can not express my joy and deep gratitude to you and Rhod. Most of all my "special" present. I will hang the painting to welcome all my friends in front, by our staircase.'

LOVE PAINTING#2

"HAPPINESS......it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."- Vincent van Gogh

VALENTINE'S MASQUERADE BALL - Last Valentine's Day, my husband and I celebrated this sweethearts day at Castaway Restaurant in Burbank with many friends from the Filipino-American Association of Santa Clarita Valley. At the same time it was also the 2009 Filipino-American Induction Ball for the incoming president and officers.

MYRA MIRANDA (PRESIDENT) AND ME (THE ARTIST) - The beautiful and talented lady on the left is the newly elected president. This was her night to shine and sparkle as the president. It was also my night artistically. There was something new this year. We had to wear a mask. I bought a simple mask from a $$$$$$ store which I embellished w/ lots of sequences, pearls, ribbons, etc. With lots of creativity and an investment of only 25 minutes, I transformed the simple mask into a dazzling Mardi Gras sort of stuffs. To my surprise........ I won the best mask. My price was $25.00 gift certificate from Fiesta Grill, a Filipino Restaurant at Sta. Clarita. Thanks and "maraming salamat" to the board who liked me to be the winner.

MYRA AND EBB AGAIN - I passed my dazzling mask to Myra. She's as gorgeous as my colorful mask. It matched her gown because it was multi-color.

HI THERE! IT'S ME....EBB TIDE! CLOSE UP VIEW OF MY WINNING MASK

"LOVE, LIFE AND LAUGHTER" - This is my love painting that I posted last week. The event depicted on the painting truly happened at Disney's private island called "Castaway Cay at the Bahamas. What a coincidence that this year's induction was held at Castaway Restaurant. I was delighted that the masquerade ball was a "double deal" for me. This painting was featured on the front cover of the souvenir program. "A Million Thanks" to Myra Miranda, who decided to put my painting on the cover. I was thrilled just like the way Vincent defined what is happiness. It seemed that Van Gogh thought about me when he defined happiness.

KNOCK! KNOCK! WHO'S THERE??????????? - Who else but Mr. and Mrs. Resella!!!
HI THERE! ITSME .....RHOD!
HELLO THERE! THIS IS EBB AND JINKY

HAPPY TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS:

LEFT TO RIGHT-PETE AND NANETTE, EBB, CELY AND RAFFY
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"HAVE A NICE DAY!"

LOVE PAINTING

"I feel that there is nothing more truly ARTISTIC than to LOVE
people."- Vincent van Gogh

LOVE IS IN THE AIR Yes, love is the most infatuated topic every where as Valentine's Day comes around. My thinking dwells on people that I love most - my husband, children, grandchildren, family, relatives and friends. I also think of my favorite impressionists artist, Vincent van Gogh. He was a very romantic artist but not very lucky when it came to love. His first love rejected him. His second love was a prostitute. They lived together for many years but never married and parted with her. He died a single guy w/ no wife and children. Yet Vincent thought that nothing is more artistic than to love people. He had tons of quotations about love and here are the ones that I love most:
1. "LOVE is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence."
2."LOVE always brings difficulties, that is true, but good side of it is that it gives energy."
3."LOVE is many things, for there in lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well."TITLE OF PAINTING: "LOVE, LIFE, LAUGHTER ON VALENTINE'S DAY"
MEDIUM: OIL ON CANVAS
SIZE: # 30" x 40"
DESCRIPTION: (PAINTED IN 2008)
This painting was inspired by real events. It was Valentine's day 2006, the most romantic and reddest Valentine's Day of our lives. My husband and I embarked on a four-day Disney cruise to the Bahamas (Nasau). I have always dreamed of celebrating Valentine's Day on a private island. This was a dream come true and a Valentine's day to remember. On Valentine's Day our cruise ship "Disney Wonder," docked on their private island known as "Castaway Cay." It was a day filled with adventure, fun, love, and delightful cuisine. I recreated that memorable day and "cruise-feast" on this painting with vibrant Caribbean colors. I painted and blended the pink and blue palm trees into a huge heart shape that became the centerpiece of this art.
"Happy Valentine's" to my family, friends and viewers.

A DRIVE, A BIRTHDAY & A PAINTING

"One starts to get young at the age of sixty and then it is too late."

-Pablo Picasso

WONDERFUL WEEK-END Last Saturday was one of those special time worth blogging about. This time, my husband and I had a leisurely drive on the 405 freeway. Usually we dreaded it due to the long traffic jam. We made it to Newport Coast in about an hour and a half. We were invited to a birthday bash by a good friend named Lisa. We celebrated her 65th birthday in their time share villa on Newport Coast. The ocean view was gorgeous on a clear day. There were many guests. Everything was good. We came home loaded with good food, desserts and friendships.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH FRIENDS -Norma, Lisa (birthday celebrant), Ebb and Cristina. On the food table (by the right side) there was a mobile hanging on the chandelier with a quote: "Life is too short not to celebrate a birthday party." It's true and NOT too late......to celebrate and do something fun. Never mind if the economy is messy, celebrating 65th birthday is not the time to cut back our pocketbook and let our dreams hibernate. FRIENDS THROUGH THICK AND THIN- Say cheese! "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!" The lovely floral painting was my birthday gift for Lisa.

The ART OF STARTING OVER

"It's never too late, or in my case
too early, to be whoever you want to be.
There's no time limit.
Start whenever you want.
You can change or stay the same.
There are no rules to this thing.
We can make the best or worst of it.
I hope you make the best of it.
I hope you see things that startle you.
I hope you feel things you never felt before.
I hope you meet people
who have a different point of view.
I hope you live a life you're proud of,
and if you're not,
I hope you have the courage
to start all over again."
Lines from the screenplay by Erin Roth-"Benjamin Button"

STARTING OVER?????' Last week-end, my husband and I saw the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." It is a modern movie miracle story. Of course, we were also curious WHY the movie has 13 Academy Award nomination - BEST picture, cinematography, screenplay, film editing, costume design, production design, director, actor, supporting actress, and ensemble. Brad Pitt is one of my favorite actors and I can't say NO to his movie. He did a brilliant performance in the title role. The movie reminding us all the of the preciousness of each passing moment. What struck me about the movie is....... "the courage to start all over again."
WHEN TO START OVER?
1.The New Year is always a good time to start over w/ unfinished projects, to undo bad habits and to repair frozen relationships and friendships. It's not too late, although it's now February.
2. Milestones like birthdays are good starting point to re-do whatever stranded goals we had. Reviewing our goals from month to month, year to year is good. If our goals are not working, let's start fixing the engine, so we can move forward.

3. Here's an oil painting of mine depicting "BIRTHDAY MILESTONES".
Medium: Oil on Canvas - Size: 48" x 30"
This is one of my paintings shown during my solo art show last September.
Birthday celebrations are very important event among Filipino and Filipino-American families. They always have big parties and fiestas for birthday milestones, especially the "First Birthday, Eighteenth, Fiftieth, Sixty-fifth, Ninetieth and One hundred Years." They celebrate with many delicious foods not just cake and ice cream. In the Filipino custom and tradition, the birthday celebrant treats the guests to a big "blow-out." American style is the opposite. Friends treat the celebrant.
4.The month of February is another RED month for birthday celebrants in our family.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND,RHOD!"- (February 4th)

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SON, ROBIN!" -(February 9th)
5. Additional birthday greeting to a good friend.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LISA!-(February 2nd)
6.When something life-shattering happens, it's an invitation to start a new life.
A traumatic event invites us to cultivate our relationship to God and we start
praying for his help.
7.Thought of the week- "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic."

PAINTING A SAINT

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? It will be a hard pull for me; the tide rises high, almost to the lips and perhaps higher still, how can I know? But I shall fight my battle, and sell my life dearly, and try to win and get the best of it." - by Vincent Van Gogh (1881)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you survived the first few weeks of January. Well, I did! Despite of the the endless gloomy economic news, I am still painting. Daily, I watch the economic news because I think it's very important to creative people. When times are good, artists, writers,photographers and musicians get the support they need, enriching city life in unquantifiable ways. But when the economic woes are getting global or the rich lose interest, artists are among the first to suffer. Today we we're hearing predictions of fewer arts, movies, books, plays, and exhibitions to support new works just when we need creative thinking. Of course, artists have had it rough for centuries, their livelihoods vulnerable to the whims of the powerful and wealthy patrons. Am I discourage to paint more and continue my art goal "Studio 65" this year? Nope! My goal is to keep on painting. Like Van Gogh, despite of hard times he never stopped painting and did the best of it. I believe good times will roll again.
REAL ARTFUL STORIES FROM 2008:
1. I planned and conceived my first solo art show when the financial outlook was rosier. About four years before the actual date September 27, 2008 came around. Little did I know that the stock market would be shattered the week during my art show but I decided to forge ahead. It was a successful event despite of the shaky economy. If you want to see my art show please go back to my older post and view my October 2008 entries.
2. Most of my oil paintings during my art show are NOT FOR SALE. However, I "SOLD" one oil painting that is not part of my theme. In this kind of rumbling economy, people buys painting? Yes! The price was so good and the money helped cover the huge expenses I incurred during my own solo art show. It was worth all the expenses and hard work.
3. This is the painting that I sold for a thousand dollar. I painted this for one of my sisters. Julie wanted me to paint this St. Petersburg cathedral in Russia, which she visited in her many previous trips. It took me almost 2 years to create this detailed painting. I knew every nooks and crannies of this saintly cathedral. I thought I will not be able to finish it because, I got so....bored painting the details. I put it aside for months and when the mood came back I worked on it again. I got a better view of things when I didn't work on it for sometime. When I see the painting again, it looks and seems fresh and new. During this time, I fall in love with SAINT PETE and decided to keep it. I didn't like to sell it anymore. But Julie was persistent. I gave in and she finally wrote the $$$thousand dollar check during my art show.

4. This is my sister Julie and I during my art show. This painting is now beautifully hanging inside her lovely home. "Thanks Julie for patronizing and loving my art. You're a wonderful and generous sister."
5. On October 25, 2008 my design for the cover of the Filipino-American Association 25th anniversary souvenir program was a winner. I was very happy even for a small reward like $50.00. It's not big but the publicity and recognition was more than rewarding.
6.Last November 4, 2008, during the 6th anniversary of KCS (Kalusugan Community Services) of San Diego, California, I donated my huge oil painting "Thanksgiving - Fil-American Style." In appreciation for my donation, this health group gave me a robust tax write off. Even in this jittery art market, surprisingly there is some monetary reward. I posted this "Thanksgiving" painting last November.
7. On November 9-15, 2008, I joined my husband during his annual conference to Longboat Key/Florida. After the conference was over, we were invited to dine with his relatives in a Thai restaurant at Sarasota. One of my husband's cousin has an American girlfriends who works at an art gallery in Sarasota, an affluent community. I asked her...Are people still buying paintings in this kind of bad economy?" Her answered was very encouraging..."Yes, they do. I am surprised that people here continue to patronize art and not holding on to their money."
7. I am confident that ART is a good investment for our money. How the sagging economy will affect the art world is a big question out there? When stocks, housing, savings bond, mutual funds, etc. fall apart..... ART..... is a sure thing....ART..... is forever.