Rooftop Reverie & Ocean Overture

Have been tardy this year updating my blog but have to really set down to do so, because these 2 paintings from my Untitled series completed earlier this year have sold :)

The nights always seem so full of possibilities to me, especially from aloft a rooftop which I would dearly love to do myself and dangle away on a carefree evening into an endless night of reverie. So it is that a magical fairytale journey unfolded with this one, inspired by a photo that I took of Barcelona's beautiful architectural backdrop from Gaudi's Casa Batlló.  And with it, the musicians and creatures start to creep in. And it is what your imagination wants it to be..

Speaking of music, the second piece had to do with my ambition to be a composer many moons ago which was somehow linked inextricably to many a sojourn to the beach. So the idea of a sea overture with my little girl protagonist conductor was born, with dolphins and whales performing in symphony with the swirling winds of musical notes.  

Lastly, my Untitled series was recently featured in an interview with Naorococo, an art news portal cum online gallery, where I shared my inspiration for these whimsical paintings. I don't think I am done with the series yet but let's see how it goes :)

Title:  Untitled 10 (A51) 
Description: Whimsical blue painting of girl at rooftop watching a magical fantasy night unfold over a european cityscape of chimneys, pied piper music and a flying witch. 2016. 
Medium: Acrylic on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
SOLD.

Title:  Untitled 9 (A50) 
Description: Whimsical ocean fantasy painting with little girl conductor, sea waves, dolphins and whale in lively reverie of vintage music notes. 2016. 
Medium: Acrylic on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.

SOLD.

A Backstreet in Cordoba

The subversive mood just got a little darker. For reasons unknown, I am attracted to this street in Cordoba, an otherwise boisterous city in southern Spain teeming with tourists at the famous Mezquita area.  I love the place, but it gets a little heavy at times, and this quiet lane beckons with the odd fountain of an animal atop, a mythical beast I think.

Again I am painting over a previous canvas that didn't work well. Strangely, I love the green glow it provides which I leave simmering through the whites giving a rich undulating texture to the piece.  It's probably an acquired taste to like this one but it's a personal favourite. 

Title: A Backstreet in Cordoba (O78)
Description: A moody surrealistic piece inspired by a quiet lane with an odd fountain in Cordoba, an otherwise boisterous city in southern Spain.  Spain Vignettes 2012.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 61cm.
SOLD.

Destined

It has been a year long art journey painting the Spain Camino de Santiago, re-living my Way of St James pilgrim hike as I go along, so it was with trepidation and exhilaration that I approached the painting of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - the penultimate destination of the 1000-year-old pilgrimage and holding the sacred shrine of Saint James.

Arrival at the city itself initially wasn't quite the emancipating experience I expected, not with the terrifying hordes of pilgrims, tourists, and just so many people that it was disorientating. But making the way through the clutter for the first sight of the Cathedral dispelled everything. The feeling was indescribable, akin to when I first saw Angkor Wat.. It was medieval architecture at its utmost glory and no photograph could quite capture its grandeur. And so instead of snapping blindly, I chose to feel the place.. and to capture those feelings on canvas one year on..


Title: Destined (O66)
Description: A bold expressionist piece echoing the artist's emotions on arrival at the famous Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - the penultimate destination of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) pilgrim route. Spain Camino 2011.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 91 x 76cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com 

Comments: 
james scrivano said...
Beautiful.
steve thorpe said...
Lovely work!
rob delves said...
nice expressive work Yen!
xueling zou said...
Wonderful painting, so well done!
jeffrey said...
This is lovely!

Picturesque Arrival

My pilgrim's journey on the famous Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage (aka the Way of St James) began at the Spanish Meseta (plateau), starting the hike from a small village called Hornillos. It was a beautiful walk, lined with many pretty wild flowers amidst a backdrop of rolling green hills and valleys. "Buen Camino" (good way) was the greeting we call out to fellow pilgrims on this lovely hike as we journeyed on, listening to many a wonderful tale about the area, from the history of the boulders remnants along the path, to even conservation help for the path from quarters as far away as, amazingly, south africa.

But nothing beats the joy in our hearts as we approached the picturesque village of Hontanas, nestling comfortably in a beautiful valley and with the pilgrim's path going beyond up a hill yonder. The village dome building in particular seems to leap and speak to me, as with the trees on the distant hill. I knew I had to paint this scene, this feeling of jubilance. So I got my trusty camera out and took many pictures as we walked the pretty path into Hontanas, a wonderful stop for pilgrims to rest and unwind, and not forgeting to collect a stamp or two from the local tavern, before continuing on with the pilgrim's journey. Much like the journey in life, we encounter beautiful surprise highlights along the camino way, and this was a memorable one.

Title: Picturesque Arrival (O50)
Description: An exuberant piece featuring the Meseta (high plains) section of the pilgrim route of Camino de Santiago de Compostela (the Way of St James), which passes through many a picturesque local village like this one called Hontanas. Spain Camino 2010.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 60cm.

SOLD.

2 comments:
alice said...
Lovely!
demeter gui said...
Wonderful landscape, excellent painting!