THE ART OF SEEING A SUNSET

Welcome back! Just got home last night from a wonderful trip to New York City and a 4th-of-July-get-away cruise with Queen Mary 2. Our trip/cruise was a belated celebration of our 38th wedding anniversary last June 12,2008. My husband and I embarked at New York City and then cruised to Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada), then to Boston, Massachusetts and back to NYC. This was a different cruise from the Hawaiian cruise we took during our 30th wedding anniversary. We missed the spectacular sunset. During cruising many tropical places, we always enjoyed the beauty of the sunset. I am re-posting my sunset blog. Many of my friends and viewers have seen it. For those who missed it, please enjoy. For those who have seen it before, enjoy again.

It is often said that that......"the best things in life is free." I often believed that quote.

Whenever I read about free stuffs, my eyes lightened up. I like to hear "Buy one, get one free" or "Free gift, for the first fifty customers, and many other promos. What "free" things come to my mind that money couldn't buy? For me, it's the spectacular sunset.

One time, I saw a nice "Family Circus" cartoon at the Los Angeles Times. The family was watching the sunset and the little boy asked his mom, "How much would it cost to see the sunset if God decided to charge for it?" I could only answer.......PRICELESS.

One of my passions in life is seeing a sunset wherever I am, at home or basking in Paradise. I have seen countless of spectacular sunsets during our travels but nothing melted my heart than the Hawaiian sunset. Today people are too caught up in the rush, noise, and confusion of demanding routines that it is not easy to see the beauty of the sunset before us.

Alexandra Stoddard, a famous interior designer said, "Few really know how to see and as a result are unaware of the majesty and beauty around them. But seeing can be learned, and those who learn to see well, the world becomes an entirely different place. Life is suddenly rich with promise full of light, color, texture and harmony." This is very true. We have to learn how to SEE. Just because we've been given eyesight doesn't mean we know how to use our eyes to look and really SEE.

Of all the artists I've grown to admire, the Impressionists speak to my heart most directly. The greatest gift of the Impressionists is that they taught me to look around the ordinary experiences of everyday life. In their passion for the beauty of nature, they open up a wider visions, enabling us to see nature and things more beautifully.

HOW TO SEE THE SUNSET THROUGH THE VIEWPOINT OF AN IMPRESSIONIST ARTIST? 1. WISH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE HERE Wherever you are, STOP and SEE the SUNSET. Claude Monet, an impressionist artist painted water lily over and over again. He said, "I have never been bored with it. It is always different." So is seeing the sunset. You'll never get bored. It is always different every passing day.
2.FIND A ROMANTIC PLACE TO SEE THE SUNSET Don't just settle for an ordinary place. During our 25th anniversary (1996) we were privileged to stay in one of the twin towers at Hyatt Regency Resort in Waikiki. We had access to the Regency Club located on top of the tower. From there, we got a breathtaking view of Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, and downtown Honolulu, that we had never seen before. From the rooftop, we saw the "most fascinating, interesting, and captivating sunset" in our whole lives.

3. BECOME A SUNSET ADMIRER AND SEE IT WITH YOUR LOVER From the Hyatt Regency rooftop, we saw this spectacular sunset. It was an overwhelming sight of the fading sunset in all it's glory. It was fascinating to see the kaleidoscopic changes in the sunset. The sunset will surely make your old flame blazing for a day, or a week, if not forever.
4. LOOK BEYOND ORDINARY COLORS Seek colors that are uplifting. Seeing vibrant and pulsating colors of the sunset will not only bring more joy and pleasure to everyday life but also transforms mere existence into the art of living.

5. SEE THE SUNSET THROUGH THE EYES OF VINCENT VAN GOGH He was my favorite impressionist artist. When I see the colorful sunset, I think of Van Gogh and began to feel that he was painting just for me. His paintings are windows into a sunny scenes and sunset, which make me alive. His vibrant yellow, a primary color has lots of wavelengths of energy and is a color you associate with cheerful sunset.
6. DON'T FORGET THAT REAL SEEING TAKES TIME AND CONTEMPLATION Watch the sunset everyday and stop what ever you're doing, to fully enjoy the sunset as it comes down to the horizon.

7. SEE THE SUNSET FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES A sunset from Maui (Hawaii) is not the same as a sunset in St. Maarten (Caribbean). Like many impressionists artists, they experimented with different colors. They are colorist - loving fresh, alive, clear colors. What a dull world this would be without colors? Imagine a world without color. A day without sunshine. And at the end of the day without a sunset.

8. WATCH THE SUNSET WITH YOUR GRAND KIDS DURING A LUAU Set aside time to have adventure and fun with your grand kids while they still want your companionship. It will also renew your souls, spirits and hearts and become like kids again.

9. TAKE A DIGITAL PHOTO OF THE SUNSET During the Impressionists era they didn't have a digital camera. They painted impressions as quickly as they saw them. Today, a digital camera can capture all the beauty and wonders of the sunset without spending days painting them. If you can't always see the sunset, you can look at your photo collections. Our spirits do not always soar. Sometimes even the noblest of spirits sinks into a despondent sea. When you get so low and desired escape from struggles, the photos of the sunset will be a divine inspiration that will help lift you up, soften your heart and open your mind.

10. FIND PLEASURES IN LITTLE THINGS LIKE THE IMPRESSIONISTS: Food that tastes delicious, friendship that is sincere, smile that is meant to cheer, a rainbow that is inspiring and a colorful sunset scene that is bursting with colors. Simple life is better.

11. TREAT YOURSELF TO A DELUXE BOX OF ACRYLIC PAINTS WITH ALL THE COLORS FOUND IN THE SUNSET Painting is a rewarding hobby even if you don't aspire to be a pro. Acrylics are more affordable than real oil paints. Create a painting on a real huge canvas with just dabbing and pointing like the Impressionists. Hang it where you'll see your "self-made-sunset" everyday. The bold colors will exalt you, elevate you and allow you to grow more creatively.

12. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Don't be discouraged if you couldn't paint like Van Gogh. Even Van Gogh practiced, apprenticed and started with simple sketches before he became a great artist. He did it with practice, not magic. If you paint and practice a few minutes each day, you will reap tremendous benefits, over time.

13. AT THE END OF EACH DAY, LET GO AND REACH OUT So many of us hold grudges, resentments, and bitterness. The way to be happy is to forgive others for their imperfections and mistakes. They are only "human" and not perfect like a sunset. 14. KEEP ASKING YOURSELF, "WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT?" Take a few seconds to ask yourself this question. Is making more money important than taking the time to watch a sunset? Reminding yourself of what's really important helps keep your priorities straight. 15. SING "HOW GREAT THOU ART." Praise the Grand Designer (God) who created the sunset for us to enjoy. Who said that there is no such thing as free? This is a free show beyond comparison. God never made a stingy sunset. Look! What beautiful colors He put into the sunset! Chrome yellow, lemon, orange, saffron, peach, crimson, and and amber. The sun turns light peach, burnt orange, then maroon before it slips away. Tomorrow will be another day. A new day to start anew. A new painting to inspire others.

SADLY many people spend far more time watching reruns of television shows, they don't even enjoy. Instead, make time for seeing the wonders and beauty of nature like the sunrise, rainbow and sunset, that nurture the heart. I wish that you will use the precious minutes of your every day, living creatively. There are great things that you can do every day and every trip. The best is opening your eyes to see the spectacular sunset. I have been there, with my eyes open, and I desire that what my eyes have seen your eyes may also see.

"HAPPY SUNSET WATCHING!"

ART OF REINVENTING

"If I can put one touch of a rosy SUNSET into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with GOD."- G.K. Chesterton (English poet)

"SUNSET#1" Do you remember this painting? I know some of you would remember and others not. This is the same sunset painting that I posted on my blog few years ago. Somehow, I re-invented this painting last January. To fit the "love" theme of an upcoming group art that I wanted to join last March, I decided to do some renovation on the original painting. I added some palm leaves on the top and painted the lovers down below, to give it a more romantic edge and feel.
"SUNSET AND SWEETHEARTS" (18" x 24"- oil on canvas). I apologized that this photo wasn't as sharp and focused as the first one. I liked the first one better. Will do another photo shoot in the future. Meanwhile, I'd like to point out the differences. This is the renovated and reinvented painting. I gave it a new title too. I also moved my signature to the left side. This is now the new painting that made me the first place winner ( People's Choice Award) during the "Love Is In The Air" group art show at the Hyatt Valencia last March 29,2009. I am happy with the painting and there will be NO more future changes. There is nothing wrong with reinventing a painting if you could make it more......BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY ART BLOG! Please take a moment to drop me a line on the comment icon below.

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.

SOLO ART SHOW #1

"Because I have walked on this earth for thirty years, and out of gratitude I want to leave some souvenirs...." Vincent Van Gogh
"Because I have walked on this earth for sixty-five years, and out of gratitude I want to leave some souvenirs...." Evelyne D. Resella

FIRST SOLO ART SHOW I apologize for the delay of posting my photos during my recent art show. My son Ryan who was the official photographer during my art show was extremely busy, working and studying for his MBA. I have to wait patiently for the 300 photos he took during the event. Ryan is a good photographer and loves to do it as a hobby. The many wonderful photographs are courtesy of Ryan. Please visit his website "Ryan's Photo Blog"-

http://ryanresella.com/

The many photos are worth waiting for. I am sharing them to my family & friends who were there and to those who didn't make it. Slow down and enjoy my art show. I 'll be posting the event photos in series, so as not to overwhelm myself and viewers. WELCOME TO MY FIRST SOLO ART SHOW! I have participated in many art shows and exhibits in the past. But every artist dreams of having her/ his own solo art show and I am no exception. Having creative goals in life makes me feel alive , fresh and younger. I designed the above handcrafted, colorful huge palette sign for my art show, displaying old worn out brushes. I glued sparkles around the palette. I also made and gave away colorful artists brushes as favors.I attached tags to the brushes w/ quote inspired by Vincent Van Gogh above, and then personalized it into my own.

MEANINGFUL PAINTINGS I did thirteen brand new oil painting for this art show. Here are some of the six brand new oil paintings (Size -30" x 48"). The theme of my art show was "Slices Of Filipino -American Heritage, Homeland And Heart." My recent paintings are inspired by real events that happened in my life and with family here in the United States and beyond its shore. These are slices of memories recreated as remembrances from a colorful heritage, with bits of nostalgia about my homeland. This is a subject that I feel needs to be recorded and noticed.
CLOSER VIEW OF THE PAINTINGS I will post these paintings one at a time on my future blog. ANOTHER VIEW OF THE OIL PAINTINGS.
ART SHOW WITH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION This was a double event. Although my family hosted this celebration, I did most of the planning and preparation. Since this was my art show, I insisted of doing it my way. I designed the centerpieces, signs, favors, brochures, programs and the set-up. I dreamed of impressionism for my theme color. Every table came with bright, different colors. I designed the simple centerpieces using colorful painted bricks as vases. I put bamboo poles- arched w/ sparkling palettes, surrounded w/ multi-hued floral and accented w/ autumn leaves. Each centerpieces were named after favorite impressionists artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, etc.
VIEW OF OIL PAINTINGS FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.
TWO PAINTINGS FROM MY "EVENTFUL PAINTING" COLLECTIONS.
PHOTO OF PAST PAINTINGS "REFLECTIONS OF MY HOMELAND"
I exhibited three huge oil paintings that I did thirty seven years ago. Here are the lucky survivors.PRE-ART SHOW Another view of "REFLECTIONS FROM MY HOMELAND." I was putting the finishing touches on the table. I believe that people have their peak, at different times in life. I am a late blooming overachiever. I want to climb more mountains and do challenging art shows. I named my art goal - "Studio 65" - sixty-five new oil paintings completed before I reached this age. Although I had not finished even half this number, it's worth celebrating my birthday with an art show. Creating thirteen new paintings is a good accomplishment. There is no way I could have finished those sixty-five paintings! I will finish my goal in phases.FRONT VIEW OF PAINTINGS "REFLECTIONS FROM MY HOMELAND."

I was putting the labels on the paintings.

ART SHOW SET UP It was singing with colors as we displayed the paintings side by side, coordinated by colorful table clothes & centerpieces.
ANOTHER VIEW OF SET UP Simon, my grandson was taking a break.
ANOTHER OF MY HANDCRAFTED PALETTE SIGN.

WITH THANKS I am very grateful to God for making my dreams come true. I deeply appreciate my supportive husband. Because of him, I was able to paint leisurely without financial worries. Thanks for my children and grand kids for making this event a memorable and unforgettable one. Many thanks to my cousin Cely, for her culinary gift. Her talent was inspiring and made the appetizers truly beautiful. Thanks to all my family and friends who were there to share my joy and long life.

NEXT WEEK , I'll post photos about the food, entertainment and other interesting part of the celebration. Art is empowering. I encourage you to surround yourself with art, and live it. Thanks for visiting and stay tune for more.

SOUTHWEST ART #5

"Seeing with your eyes doesn't guarantee seeing with your heart. Seeing with your heart opens your eyes." - Anonymous

HARRIS RANCH RESTAURANT: Every time my husband and I took a trip up to San Francisco, we always stopped by HRR for lunch. It's located on Fwy#5 going up north. This ranch got a restaurant and hotel. The restaurant was famous for it's excellent steak and other delicious beef menu. It had a cattle ranch nearby.

The Harris Ranch Restaurant had a Southwest architecture and decorations. I loved looking at the many cactus's oil paintings on display in the lobby, hallways and private rooms. The particular painting above was one of my favorites. The artwork was painted by a woman artist but I couldn't remember her name. I took a photo of this painting and did my own version.

  TITLE: "TRIO OF CHARMING CACTUS"
  SIZE:  20" x 24"
  MEDIUM: Oil On Canvas
  PERSONAL ART COLLECTION OF THE ARTIST

My oil painting was inspired by the painting shown above. This was my new version of the original painting. Copying some body's painting was frown by others but I did't see anything wrong with it. In old times, many artists copied art works by the masters. It was often encouraged. I thought that if one could copy well, that's a great talent. To be a good artist one needed to practice, study and copy over and over again. It's not a crime learning from others artists who came before us. Studying their style and technique was very helpful.

This trio of cactus was a beautiful painting that I was happy and proud to display in our living room. Painting the same subject over and over again, never bored me. Whenever I look... ..meaning.... really looking..... with admiration and appreciation with my whole heart..... the paintings and the world becomes a more fascinating, inspiring and COLORFUL place to live in. Try it!

A GREEN PALETTE#2

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."........Bible

A GREEN PALETTE When I think of green palette I remember Tom Cruise movie "Jerry Maguire." In 1997 he was nominated for Oscar as best actor in leading role for his portrayal of a sport agent. His famous line was "Show me the money." Today when we talk about money it means "green bucks." "GREEN CACTUS PAINTING#1" The size of this oil painting is 12" x 24" on canvas. Again, I painted it for my self and now a decor for our living room. This is a huge and curvy emerald green saguaro with blooming white cactus flowers. I painted the horizon in purple color and the cactus field beyond in yellow ochre. This beautiful subject is a refreshing scenery that keeps me going and gives lots of inspiration. Sometimes I think like Tom Cruise....."Show me the money." It will be nice to sell this painting and make some green bucks. I could do some shopping spree in Aaron Brothers ( art supply store) or Michael's (another arts and crafts store). Lately, I am spending lots of green bucks on canvasses, oil paint, linseed oil, turpentine and brushes. The prices are escalating like basic stuffs - gasoline, energy, and food. It's getting difficult to afford art supplies and my budget is running low. Art supplies are not always on sale. There are no discount or outlet store for artist supplies around me. I need extra green bucks to stock on my art supplies. I love to paint and I couldn't imagine my life without it. Painting brings me great joy and pleasure.
"GREEN CACTUS PAINTING#2" This oil painting is also 12" x 24" on canvas. This very tall saguaro is leaning like the famous Pisa Tower in Italy. I did these pair of paintings during the past many years on my leisure time. Lately, my husband is happy that I am becoming a serious painter and spending more time painting than blogging and blog hopping. One day, I heard him said..."That's good....so that I could retire soon." In other words, if I do more paintings, then I can sell them. It means more....green bucks. There is nothing wrong about artists making more money. For many years my husband supported me so I could paint without financial worries. Lately he wanted to retire sooner. Maybe I should let him retire and have a good life. It's his turn. I will try to supplement our income by trying to do more paintings and sell them, although it's very hard to part with my paintings. Other artists are very good in marketing their art works and don't mind getting separated. I have yet to learn how to do that. If not, I'll just wait for our income tax rebate and return.

MANY THANKS TO ALL MY VIEWERS Every week I get a report from my site meter how many viewers drop by. Although I don't aspire to be a popular blogger, I am grateful to all my viewers who continue to support and read my art blog daily. When I started blogging last year I could count with my fingers how many readers were there. Recently, despite the great numbers of viewers reported by my site meter, I discovered that many still don't know how to input their comments. I'd like also to get feed backs from my viewers who are not blogger. Typing your comment is a simple process. After reading my post, you'll notice that at the very end, there's the word "COMMENT." Click on "COMMENT" and wait a few seconds. The comment box will appear. On the right side, please leave and type your comment on the enclose small box. Then you go down. Later you'll be ask to type some letters as you see them. You will also be ask to choose an identity. If you're not a blogger, identify yourself as anonymous or some other name like James or Joy. You can preview your comment by clicking preview. Later, when all is set, you hit "PUBLISH." Your comment will be publish upon my approval. It takes practice and patience to learn this process. I look forward to hearing from my other viewers. It will help me improve the content of my art blog if I know what my viewers wanted to read and see. THANKS TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!!

A COLORFUL RED PALLETE

" A friend is a close companion on rainy days, someone to share with through every phase. Forgiving and helping to bring out the best, believing the good and forgetting the rest."-Anonymous

RED MONTH When I think of FEBRUARY the color RED comes to mind. Valentine's Day is around the corner. There are RED hearts and cupids everywhere, reminding us to go shopping again for gifts for our loved ones. I haven't recovered from Christmas shopping yet. I am seeing many RED dresses for sale in the mall with matching RED shoes and purses. I saw a RED Prada shoes. I wasn't tempted to even try them because I know the devil wears Prada. Last Friday, it was National Wear RED Day. Women were asked to wear RED.

RED IN MANY SPLENDORED NAMES It is s a primary color. Sometimes there's no such thing as RED. That's only a small sampling, though, of what you'd have to deal with if you walked into an art supply store and asked for "some red paint, please." "Do you want vermillion, cadium, Indian oxide, alizarin crimson, Acra, Venetian, or Mars? So many choices, huh? When I read novels, I noticed many authors would write sexy RED names like scarlett, crimson and rose? When I go to jewelry stores RED means garnet or ruby. When one is in debt, they say, " In the RED." When one is treated with very grand or impressive welcome, we say "roll out the RED carpet." When I walked into the hospital, I see RED every where, meaning I smell "blood." RED is the color of blood. So many names and terminologies. Could you imagine a world without RED?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!! In our family we have two birthdays in February. My hubby and youngest son are celebrating their birthdays this month. Tomorrow (February 4th) is a special day, and as usual this blog space is dedicated to my special friend, close companion during rainy and sunny days, and faithful husband for 36 years, who happily turned ???????? years old. Shhhh....sorry, I couldn't disclose how young he is. Last year we celebrated his birthday on board the gigantic Crown Princess during our cruise to the Southern Caribbean last February 2007. Our cabin door was festively decorated with RED balloons. Dinner that night was RED wine and RED Fillet Mignon. He likes rare but I like my steak medium (not too RED). Dessert was jumbo fresh strawberries dipped in brown and white chocolates. My husband is a chocoholic. What a RED birthday to remember!

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT HIS NAME: My husband's full name is Rhodamin but we call him Rhod for short. His father being an artist picked this name. It originated from a RED chemistry color called Rhodamine. This color or dye is obtained by heating an alkyl aminophenol w/ phthalic and hydride. Interesting huh? RED is PASSIONATE color and my hubby lives up to his name. He's passionate about many things- long marriage, big family, grand kids, career, latest technology gadget, huge flat screen TV, church work, Fil-Am volunteer, traveling and cruising. He is supportive about my passion for art but he is not passionate about art and museums. Although all his life, he's surrounded by artists-artistic wife, a father who is a scenic artist and two sons who are graphic artists. RED is a HOT color. He is true to my car's plate # HOT ROD. RED is also a BOLD color. If you ever watch a bull fight, the matador challenges the bull with a RED flag. When my hubby challenges me, his lips and face turned RED too. He's fair and get REDDISH easily. No kidding!
A PAINTING FOR A WONDERFUL HUSBAND My husband is an electronic engineer. He works for a defense company that makes sonar system. One day he asked me to do a painting for him. He wanted me to paint something for his office. So I painted this oil painting ( 18" x 23") entitled "Airborne Sonar AN/ AQS-18 (V)." This painting is now on display in his office. I blogged about this painting last February 2007 and I am posting it again for those who have not seen it and new to my blog.
CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE PAINTING
I had only done one painting for my hubby. I think I should paint more for him after supporting and loving me all these years. One day, I met a male and unmarried artist in his early thirties. He told me...."You're very lucky to have a husband who could support you, so you could paint full-time. I wished I could find a wife who could support me too and paint full-time like you." Gee, he sounded like Van Gogh. Van Gogh was able to paint full-time because his brother Theo was there to support him most of his life. He didn't take a day job and paint at night. At mid-life, I think it's a good life to paint without financial worries. Thanks to a wonderful husband.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET-ART!

ART OF GIVING

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING I was not among those shoppers who braved the malls and super centers the day after Thanksgiving. Although we spent Thanksgiving Day with my husband's clan in Camarillo, Ca. We wanted another intimate family dinner. So I was busy baking a turkey and preparing all the trimmings. After dinner, I was terribly exhausted and down with allergy, running nose and bad cold. I managed to clean-up and went to bed with an aching throat the whole night. No wonder they called this day "Black Friday" here in America. I spent the rest of the Thanksgiving week-end on bed- napping, reading and catching up movies on DVDs. I was surrounded with so many cold medications but swallowing them didn't make my cold disappear like magic. As I write this post today, I am still recovering from a lingering bad cold.
Well, here we are again moving quickly into the traditional season for giving and receiving. My.....my.....I am starting to miss shopping, but I needed to rest and get back the energy to be able to go shopping. Shopping is not easy. Among the many challenges the Christmas season bring is always the challenge of finding the perfect gift for loved ones and friends. Gift cards are always nice, but they lack the personal touch. You know you don't want to get your dad another tie for Christmas, but what else would he like? He's got every tie there is, every mechanical gadget ever invented. Aunt Picky has returned every gift you've ever purchased, what could possible please her? She's got every household appliance, every baking dish and every piece of jewelry her heart desires. Now what? Tired of racking your brain and scratching your head for the best gift to give? If you run out of creative ideas and find yourself shopping in the same old impersonal big box stores, try something different this year. Are you feeling uninspired by the traditional holiday gift choices, such as perfume, cologne, sweaters, robes, tools, purses and the dreaded fruit cake? Then maybe it's time to think outside the box and consider giving a one-of-a-kind gift of original art work that is sure to impress. How about giving your loved ones or friends the gift of art. Paintings are gifts you can't put a price on.You don't have to go to the mall. Just visit the art -for - sale online. I'd like to introduce my latest art-blog mate -Jude Maceren. He's a wonderful artist and you can leisurely view his many original paintings on:
http://paintingsbyjude.blogspot.com/

GIFT OF ART Personally, I like to give loved ones and special people in my life a gift of art/painting- not only during Christmas time, but during weddings, birthdays and retirements. For others, of course, I will go to the mall but look for creative stuffs like handmade ornaments or beautifully handcrafted decors. Art is not just original oil paintings on canvas or watercolor. Art encompasses limited edition prints, posters, giclees sculpture, glass, metal, photography, clay and hundreds of other media.

BUSY YEAR-2007 This year, I have been very busy traveling that I spent more time on the road, air, sea and tourist shopping malls. I have a very big art project next year but in reality, I only finished 6 paintings so far. Many paintings are still waiting to be finished.

" WOMAN WITH BASKET OF FLOWERS" This painting is my version of Diego Rivera's painting. It is 18" x 20" in size and painted in oil on canvas. It may not sound like an original painting but it doesn't matter to me. What's important in a painting, is that it touches you, and inspires you. Some people are very particular about originality. I am not. I don't see anything wrong about copying some one's art that I deeply admired. I would say that originality is not the TOP criteria for an outstanding art. It must have a "HEART."

SPECIAL GIFT I gave this colorful and lovely painting to my cousin Cely. She retired 2 years ago but I only finished this painting last April. I promised her this painting and I am happy that it is now hanging on her beautiful home in Maryland. After our trip to Florida two weeks ago, she e-mailed me the bad news that she is diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a sad news. I had no idea she will be hit by this devastating cancer. In 1999, she had a thyroid cancer and survived it. Thank God, we were able to spend lots of time together during our 12-day cruise to the Mediterranean last October. We talked, laughed, ate and toured together. I hope this painting and the colorful flowers will cheer her up and wishing her a speedy recovery during the coming surgery and radiation. Wishing her lots of serenity in such a difficult time.

"FLOWER SELLER" This is one of my favorite painting by the famous Mexican artist named Diego Rivera. This colorful painting inspired me to paint a woman with flowers that I posted above.

THE ART OF GIVING If you can't give material things this year, that's okay. You don't have to buy. If you are like many of the creative people I know, you are good at making handcrafted gifts, or baking cookies and cakes, and giving your time, talent and help is also much appreciated. Honestly, I always appreciated things made by hands and with a generous heart.

THE ART OF CARING

IN THE BEGINNING THE GRAND DESIGNER (GOD)..... CREATED MAN AND WOMAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE. AND GOD ALSO "CARED" FOR HIS CREATED CHILDREN. Yes, God is very creative but he's also caring. I like this hymn "God Will Take Care Of You."

"Be not dismayed what-e'er betide, God will take of you
Beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you."
"Thru days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you.
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.

This song speaks to us of God's providential care. We shouldn't worry because He will provide all our needs. Nothing we ask will be denied. No matter what may be the test, we should rely on God because He cares for us. Because God cares, we should care for others too. Caring is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to everyone it touches. You may be surprised how much each act of kindness rewards you with positive feeling. If we all do our part, pretty soon we will live in a nicer world.

COVER GIRL One day, I received on the mail a beautiful Christian magazine called Mission Mosaic. What a surprised to see a familiar face on the cover! My sister Julie was featured on the cover as the present president of BNF, a Christian organization of professional nurses that promotes continuing professional education and growth for members of nurse missionaries. supported through the WMU (Women Missionary Union), BNF offers an opportunity for nurses across the United States to participate in the work of nursing while serving as part of various mission projects.

PROUD TO BE HER SISTER This blog space is specially dedicated to my sister Julie on her birthday today (July 4th). A memorable and happy day, bedazzled by fireworks at night while we celebrate America's Independence Day with an all-day-barbecue bash. As always, I am proud to be an American citizen but most of all I am proud to have a sister like Julie who is hard working, smart, caring and very independent.

"WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE! MAY YOU HAVE MORE BIRTHDAYS AND SUCCESSES TO COME."

A TREASURED MAGAZINE I have many magazines that I thrashed or gave away, but not this particular issue. Julie personally autographed it, and so it's one of my collections.

SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE (June 2005) Julie was featured in this magazine as one of the women who move the city. Julie is a R.N. (Registered Nurse) with MBA. She owns the state-licensed, Medicare-certified home health agency, based in San Diego, which was formed in 1996. If you need rehabilitative care in the privacy of your home, the best choice is:

We Care Home Health Services ( http://www.wecarehhs.com/ )
The home health agency helps people get back on their feet through combination of experience, professionalism and dedication.

The agency's mission statement puts it best: "We are committed to providing the highest quality health care in the home, making the comfort, dignity and recovery of our patients and their family the primary goal of our existence."

DESIGNER'S LOGO I designed this simple but beautiful logo for We Care Home Health Services, Inc.

BIG FAMILY OF SEVEN When I play slots in Las Vegas, I always pick up the one with "Blazing Seven". Why? For me, seven is a lucky number. I had won $200.00 on a quarter slots at the Mirage, another $200.00 on quarter slots at the Hilton and $75.00 in nickel slots at the MGM Grand. So seven is a lucky number based on these few winning experiences.
I have five sisters, one sister-in-law and one brother. Julie is the sixth sibling. On the above photo, she's standing second from the left. I am the one with the red dress. Our family is blessed with many different gifts, talents and abilities. Most of my sister have musical talents. They could play the piano, organ and sing well, but not me. I have no musical talent.

JULIE WITH YOUNGEST SISTER Of course Julie has more than musical talent. She has a gift for leadership. She is detail-oriented and concern with policies and procedures, but also as someone who enjoys being with other people and caring for them. No wonder she named her home health care agency "We Care." What a fitting name! Her mission in life is: "There's nothing better than helping people recover their strength and get back to doing the things they love, If there's a more rewarding business, let me know.

At present Julie has a new goal. She's working diligently on her doctorate. She plans to teach someday. She's a beautiful nurse and in the future will be called "Dr. Julie Conte."

A CARING HEART Yes, Julie exhibits a genuine passion for nursing but she also have a good human side known mostly to family members. She's a very, very generous and caring auntie. This photo was a memorable moment when she was surrounded with nephews (Rodney, Mike, Chris) and niece (Joy). During Christmas and birthdays she would shower and pamper them with many wonderful gifts. She's the kind of auntie every nieces and nephews would have dream of having. What a nice auntie!

CARES FOR DOGS Here's one of our best photos together. This was taken one Christmas Day. Julie has no kids but she's very devoted to her dogs. These are her ..... loving pets.

CARES ABOUT GLOBE TROTTING One of her passions in life is traveling. She had been and seen many places all over the world. Here are some highlights:

1. "Hi there!" Happy hour while riding on a colorful camel.

2. JULIE IN EPHESUS (TURKEY) AMONG THE RAVISHING RUINS

Something old but also something new if you haven't seen ancient and interesting ruins that stood the test of time.

3. "WISH YOU'RE HERE!" IN FRONT OF BALI HAI IN MOOREA ISLAND (TAHITI- 2004)

4. JULIE WITH A NATIVE TAHITIAN IN RAIATEA (SEPTEMBER-2004)

Sounds interesting, huh? Meeting a new a guy in "paradise?" Does he looks like "Arnold?

5. JULIE IN TAHITI UNDERWATER SAFARI (Sept. 2004)

Can you see what the future holds? I am sure Julie will have a bright future like this underwater scene. Let's watch and see what the future holds for her????????????

PAINTINGS FOR JULIE She is one of my sisters who appreciated my paintings and admired my art talent. She loves to travel and requested me many times to paint places that captured her heart. Over the years I had painted two paintings for her.

ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING IN CANVAS (18" x 24")

TITLE: "EIFFEL TOWER"

ARTIST NOTE'S This is the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. Very inspiring city.

CARES FOR ARTS I gave her these paintings as birthday gifts. These paintings were labors of love. I wanted to make her happy. She had enough problems and I am sure my paintings brightened her life when the going was rough.

ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS ( 18" x 24")

TITLE: "TOWER OF PISA"

ARTIST'S NOTE: This is a famous tower in Italy. It's an interesting historical subject to paint. My family enjoyed visiting this tower. Every time I look at this painting it reminds me of that happy trip.

A CARING SISTER The paintings are now on display in her home in San Diego. Always appreciative and grateful for my paintings, she never failed to thank me. A thank you card is more than enough but I was delighted to get more in return. One Christmas ago, she gave me a beautiful triple string-pearl, a reproduction of Jackie Kennedy's famous pearl. She also gave me gluco-devices, books and free medical advices. She also took me out to nice restaurants for dinners. What a caring sister! Imagine a world without sisters. It will be dull without them. So, let's shout and make the world know "We Care" for our sisters. If you have no sister, adopt one. Your life will be blessed.

SHE CARES FOR MY ART WORKS Lately Julie bought one of my original oil painting "St. Petersburg." I will feature this painting in a later blog. Thanks to my sister who appreciates my paintings and raised the prices of my art works. Life is too short to take our sisters for granted. Let's show "We Care" by thinking of them.