11/21/2009

5 more updates! from (Oct 3rd - 24/24)

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-

James stopped by around 8pm,  and brought us some coffee. So sweet.  I received some quick high energy from the coffee for the last stretch of the marathon.  I like hearing his traveling stories and see his photos on facebook. He goes everywhere.... I mean everywhere From North Korea, to a wild camp in Alaska, Israel to Cambodia, where next??? 



My friend from College Hon. I miss her so much. I still remember the conversation 
we had on Savannah River Street about our future and here we are now. So 
strange how time passes so quickly. I was not scared about the unknown in front of 
us, since she was always so "zen"and grounded me. She is an amazing artist.

I realized I still had to finish 7 portrait paintings in  2 hours! ! ! ! ! ! ! Now I speeded up my brush and pencil drawing.  20 mins to paint 
Kiriko san.  It was a quick gesture drawing and water color but I was happy with it.


Wesley was also painting his awesome hair die piece that day.  Always so interesting 
the things he does. And look, he just commented on my wall, so he was the next target for me to paint. :)  Cool tattoos on those digits!!  

I had an hour break to get some dinner for myself and other fellow artists including
our students who joined the challenge to make art for 12 hours straight.  They were a
very focused bunch. They were all around 12~15 yrs old.  They did an awesome job. 


Around 4 pm, at this point, I had been painting for more than 2o hours continuously. Hofan came to visit since she knew about my challenge and since she is sweet like that.  It was very surprising because I was out of friends to paint since I made a strict rule to myself to paint only friends who I interacted with during the 24 hours.  But Hofan was the first person who I started to paint against this "rule" that I created. Then all of sudden, she called and said I will come to visit you now! Whaaaa???? It was a magical moment. :)

11/15/2009

5 more updates!

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-

This challenge was initially provoked by my husband artist Gabe Ostley, who finished his 24 hour comic book on the same day.    At 10 am, after  12 hours of my painting marathon, some fellow young artists also joined the club! ( Some students from Yew Chung International School. They also wanted to challenge themselves with a 12 hour art jam.  There were no more time for me to be sleepy. My friends Wesley and Emily also joined to make some art. 

Ashley... she was a hard one to paint. Well, Wesley already warned me that she is going to be a hard one to capture the essence.  I guess, once again, what makes it hard is to fight against the time and watercolor.... cannot really erase or change. But I think over all, this medium allowed me to be bold with my painting. Quick, and no going back !  SUP !! Ashley!  Loved your wedding photos. 

Nikkie made my day!  She responded to my facebook comments while I was updating the status through out the challenge.  Sweet comments added some sugar energy to my work. So awesome that she scuba dives 

After having a lunch break, I painted Nell: my super photographer friend who lives in the Philippines.   She took many crazy photos from the recent flood that happened in the Philippines.  Cannot wait for her to visit Hong Kong again soon !

Hiroki kun was my first baby who I visited in the hospital when they were just born. He was born in Hong Kong and he was such a sweet baby.   Tamieさん、貴重な経験をありがとうございました。すっかりひろき君も歩き始めているそうで。会いたいです。また遊びにいかせてください。How come babies grow so fast! Quite amazing to see my friends baby photos on facebook. They grow extremely fast! or am I not feeling the time passing? but their moms don't seem to age at all. 

This was one of my favorite paintings.  The moment I saw her photo, I knew how I wanted to paint her. Natalie, I hope you are doing well :))) When I was in college, it was only Myspace that was becoming very popular... You know, now that I think about it, it would have been so different experience if I could connected with my high school friends and family while I went to U.S. alone.  Probably less home sick. But so cool how now I have more contact with many friends who I don't  see in person my everyday life. 



11/10/2009

Five more updates from my 24 hours challengeFive more updates from my 24 hours challenge!

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-

10th hour, 7:55 am... I like "Like this" click on facebook. It takes only a second but the simple click can make me happy. :)

Speir !!!! Yes, hopefully we can see you next year! So much to catch up. Are you back in east coast?  You inspired me to do monochromatic painting... sort of... I wanted to try... sometimes it was so hard to draw free hand and painting with water color, fighting with heavy eye lids...

I was so sleepy at this point, but your facebook photo gave me such a warm feeling. And thank you for sending me "Of course!!!! :) good luck!! message. You kept me awake and helped me keep going during my peek time  :)) 

It was so awesome chatting with you. So wired I used all my energy talking with you! as usual... hahah so inspiring and fun catching up with you my princess! we gotta go back to NY and order our usual Doncacino!! wait a second... I saw a comment on the facebook, "Are you back in NY?"

4 am-  talking to Gabriela was my amazing moment. So much we shared in NY as a roommate. How could I know that you were in Israel!!   I really treasure those days and many memories we shared.  It was so nice to see your photos.  Saudades de ti !  bjs

11/04/2009

Three more updates from my 24 hours challenge!

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-
 
3:09 am- The fifth hour of this challenge, my target was Jiekai ! I had a part in his feature film, which he directed few months ago. It was a wonderful experience working in Singapore and meeting many great people there.  Wait a second.... I chatted with him online, and he was working on the post production. He was editing the end credits part.  It was so strange typing to him while he was editing.  Wow... I thought nobody would be awake from my time zone. 3am...

Zining chan!, 2 am I have so much to catch up with her!! Haven't seen her since I was 17?  You were still pregnant that night! And now, you delivered a beautiful baby! Wow, so strange to keep finding out my high school friends are now having babies!  So fast status change in facebook. 

Cliff.. I haven't seen him for so long since my college graduation? , but so nice to see the updates of his current projects. I chat with him online for a little bit, and I asked him if I can paint him for this project. And he said "absolutely.."  A story teller - photographer Cliff always has many inspirational works going.  http://www.cliftonhenri.com/artiststatement.htm     

11/02/2009

Facebook 24 hours portrait challenge first 3 hours!

Wendy Lai! She also came online while I was chatting with Aki chan. I didn't notice for a while and she went offline. I felt bad not responding to her. I hate when that happens.... ! I saw her yesterday and realized, nothing better than seeing your friend in person!

Aki chan is my friend from my childhood.  I lost contact with her for a while and it was so wonderful to chat with her online while I was painting. 


My friend Xuan Ming was the last one who wrote a message on my facebook.  I met her in Singapore through a film shooting. Its even more impossible to keep in touch with people who you met for few times. Such a common phrase nowadays to ask " Do you have Facebook?"  across the nation! I heard its banned in China though... 

3 out of 24 

11/01/2009

Adam and Eve for the Tangled Hair Art Exhibition

Adam and Eve
color pencil and graphite on canvas
 14" x 20"  and  12"x18" 




Adam and Eve celebrates the beauty of hair, differences and togetherness of  man and woman. I used the most simple materials, yet felt so satisfying in the end.