The Challenge

Prior to Po's return home for a long Thanksgiving visit, I asked her if she was willing to participate in a-blog-a-day challenge. She agreed and has been doing very well at committing to this task for the past three days. And yes, it's been three days and I haven't done a single post. But then again, I haven't posted anything in a very long while... I am very behind...

As we were sitting inside Starbucks this morning, while she worked, a kenken puzzle slipped out one of the notebooks she was shuffling through. I was supposed to be reading up on the 16th and 17th century art in Northern Europe and SpaIn. Instead, I took the puzzle, had her explain the rules, and I worked on that for a good fifteen minutes. I am hooked.

I will definitely try to be more disciplined in the area of blogging and meeting deadlines. A variety of artworks, some from myself and some from other artists that interests or inspires me, will be displayed. I'm challenging myself to either create something new or find something interesting to showcase until at least Sunday of the big turkey weekend.

My Ongoing Mission to Learn

Yes, I know... It's been long overdue for a new post. I will definitely try harder about updating the blog.

Every so often I get the "I've been checking your blog and I haven't seen anything new... so... UPDATE!!" from my only follower. I should know that blogging about something that I am passionate about isn't as easy as ranting about random incidents that happens during the day.

In the past few days, I stopped by both the bookstore and the library and realized just how much I love books and most things printed! I love them for the information, photos, images, sometimes random facts, even ads and mainly anything visual that sparks the imagination. I realized that I can be easily consumed by them and forget that I have other places to be.

I've come to love reading since I was able to follow the words in a children's novel with the accompanying audio cassette tape for "Journey to the West" in Chinese. It was one of my favorite stories when I was young. I followed the words as it was read through the cassette player until I was able to recognize the characters and read it on my own. Needless to say, I practically memorized the book by the fifth time around.

I love stories, real or fiction. I love the way a good story is told, whether it is through spoken words, written words, images or through even through music.

I've recently finished reading a short biography on one of my favorite artists, Gustov Klimt. What surprised me was that he isolated himself socially and from the movements around him. I love that despite what the critics say, he stays true to himself and continue to evolve his ideas. But what I love most is looking through books with images of his sketches and paintings. They're always visual stimulating and I'm always looking for more things hiding in those elaborate patterns he paints. Like I said, I am easily consumed by books, especially art books.

So in my ongoing mission to further educate myself and widen my knowledge of all things I am interested in, I will further submerge myself in a world of information and learn. Hopefully some finished artworks will be a product of my ongoing mission.

Finally!!

After much indecision and many more debates, I finally settled on a name for my blog. And what can be more simple than my own name and the purpose of the blog? Well... nothing really...

Just a few things, I live in the southern part of california where a variety of things are readily available to those who seek it. A part where an abundance of artists who are always seeking for new inspirations and collectors who are looking for the new hype.

A part where everyone and everything is constantly trying to reinvent themselves.

I'm what I would consider struggling and confused artist... but then again, who isn't

On that note.... here's my first post!! Which took me months to write, edit and pick out a photo to accompany this post.

step back 2006
12"x12"
acrylic on canvas

it's leung and the old man