Congratulations, Roslyn!

Title : Life is Beautiful
Name : Roslyn Levin
Medium: Ki/Sumi-e painting
Approx Size: 23cm x 30.5cm

My Sumi-e brush painting teacher, Roslyn Levin's work has recently been accepted into the internationally juried David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009 exhibit in London England. She has also been asked to show a work in Tokyo in fall 2009 with Group Yohaku.

http://www.wildlifeartistoftheyear.org/2009/exhibit_0489_levin.shtml

Roslyn demonstrates the style of Sumi-e called Ki Painting. Ki is the Japanese word for Universal Energy, also known as qi or chi. The body, breath & brush are one with each brushstroke as she moves & breathes with the brush, reaching within to share her spirit with the image on the picture.

More paintings of hers, please visit at her website, http://www.artbyroslyn.on.ca/

My New Renovated Kitchen

It has been a month and I now announce that my kitchen is finally renovated! Inspired by one of my favourite interior designer, Sara Richardson, I make my kitchen in French country style and exhibit my painted tiles on the backsplash. The white cabinets are installed with polished chrome knobs while the wall is painted in pale green colour. On the backsplash, I put on eight painted tiles, which depict a series of Franz porcelain pieces.

Franz porcelain is my favourite porcelain company. This Taiwanese company’s artworks are inspired by Chinese culture and Nature. Also, they hire various famous artists, such as Jean Boggio and Kathy Ireland to create their beautiful teapots, cups, spoons and even jewellry.

In Europe, most of people like to place Delft tiles on their kitchen’s backsplash. However, I don’t like their patterns and colours. They look a bit ancient. So, I decide to paint Franz porcelain, which looks much up-to-date. Also, I put varied colours to make my backsplash stand out.

Opposite to my stove, I hang up two posters, showing antique cups and saucers and vases. These posters were bought by my friend, Alice at Wedgwood in England.

Asian Teapot & Cups

Asian Teapot & Cups Were Sold!
I’ve always looked for a modern representation of
porcelain/ china wares. For this Asian teapot and cups, I dip peacock feather to mixed china paints and painted on this teapots and cups. The peacock feather itself is so flexible for movement. When the feather touches the surface of porcelain, the paints is vividly on it.

Instead of using traditional medium oil for the paints, the mixed china paints, this time, are mixed with milk. No matter 2%, homo or else. Just simply mixed both together with a palette knife and it becomes liquid form. It’s less messy than using medium oil; however, it dries out very fast.

A lot of people simply move the feather and wrist. I will suggest moving the whole body at the same time while painting. The movement of the pattern will look nicer.

This peacock-feather technique looks similar to Chinese Brush strokes. When I received this teapot with bamboo handles, I go ahead using this painting technique. Also, I use the same technique to the cups as well. These cups are commonly found in Chinese Restaurant when you have dim sum there.

As for the color selection, orange and green are always complimentary with each other.

By the way, you may question if the feathers come from a real peacock. Well, the ones I am using are synthetic.

Delft Style Soap Dish

Delft Soap Dish Was Sold!

You may find this soap dish from my Esty shop. It has been recently sold. This soap dish was painted with Delft’s flower pattern. When I was painting it, I was inspired by Delftware or Delft pottery so much. Delftware denotes blue and white pottery made in the Netherlands from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.

Inspired by this type of ancient pottery, I painted this ornamented soap dish in American Beauty color to give a modern style of this Delftware.

I found a lot of the old granny things, like collectible spoons, porcelain ware, and bone china tea pots. They may only attract to the elderly or those who are big fans

of Antique Roadshow. If you take a close look, you may find some intriguing background or history. They are waiting for you to explore.