La Sagrada Familia Part II

A church is the only thing worthy of representing the feelings of a people, for religion is the highest thing in people. 

Antoni Gaudi

When people is talking about religion, they find it's another way of nagging them, another way of lifestyle or else.  On different perspective, those who devote themselves to their religions or even their church, are really into it.  I am talking about into it, it isn't just into something like a new technology gaget, TV program, gambling or else. These people are really involved wholeheartedly and even express their gratitude in diversified ways.  Antoni Gaudi, an artist? an architect? He is a historic persona who I have recently started to know.  He used his expertise and knowledge to design a church with all the elements relating to the Mother Nature.  His imagination is beyond most people's.  While I still think the classical look of the Catholic churches should be built with nice marble, mosaic and perfectly carved gigantic sculpture.  Antoni's style - La Sagrada Familia is a blast.

One of the Antoni's design is the columns amazes me. Inside the Temple, there are many columns supporting the ceiling. These columns are designed from the inspiration of trees.  They all standing inside the area, form a forest surrounding.  You will see [in the following photos] a round shape on the tree's trunk, which is a scar form by cutting off a branch.   This design is amazingly corporated into the Temple.


In the ceiling, it is full of round shape with zig zag edges. They represent leaves. A canopy of leaves, the branches and the trunks create a natural yet organic environment for believers to shelter us from the sunshine and rain.

Once upon a time, God creates plants, trees, ocean and human beings, basically the Nature. Vice versa, Basilica reflects the human beings create this church figuratively by the use of the Nature [e.g. tree-like columns]. Is this a way of contributing to God back?

Another amazing thing makes me fallen in a deep thought - the building has been continuously built since 1882 along with difficulties and challenges. Nowadays the society has been encouraged with the conception of “multi-tasking” and “efficiency” and finish tasks in a limited of time. It leads us to be less patience, less persistent and less focused. Sometimes an old perspective may not be a worse thing, it may inspire you in meaningful way and appreciate what we have in this moment. 

For more details, please visit at La Sagrada Familia Museum website. 

Please feel free to visit the album of my Facebook page.

Porcelain Painting Jug - Chantilly

This weekend I just finished painting this nice scrolled jug. The jug's representation is a bit of antique-like and thus I decided to paint the classical pattern, Chantilly.

Chantilly pattern always comes in blue color. Of course, I can use other colors instead but this time I prefer using blue. The jug's porcelain part is not purely white, it contains a bit transparent yellowish hint. It's a bit unusual. Chantilly pattern on yellowish porcelain container with scrolled rim, handle and bottom, it enhance the jug's antique quality.

The curves of jug is very smooth and it looks very adorable. When it sits in French country style kitchen, it's definitely value added.

As usual, I signed this jug's bottom in French as "Peint main Charlotte L". [translation: Painted by Charlotte L.]

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.