New Year's Resolutions

Hi, Friends, Happy New Year!
Are you enjoying a New Year? What did you do a New Years Eve? We had big dinner and enjoyed fire work! So beautiful and popular spots were over crowded. Now, I hope all Friends have a wonderful start. This is my first work in 2013. 

Did you make resolutions? Here, my new year's resolutions. 

1)  Put Heart or Message in Work 
I'll do my best to work on the ongoing picture book project! (*only the shame is I cannot upload the work.)
The point is how illustrations successfully send the message or depict the text for readers. 

In my personal opinion, the message already-put in work is more eye catchy than technical stuff. Sounds strange? I believe so. Or I should say, a message captures viewers' hearts.

A Japanese proverb says, "A brilliantly sculptured Buddha, BUT an artist forgot putting a soul in." That wise say is spot on any art work and particularly, it's true of picture book illustration.
A stunningly beautiful work without heart, will neither move readers nor bear time. On the contrary, technically, it might be not so sophisticated, but if it has a precious message, the work reaches viewers souls. Example, the work is done by young children and people with intellectual disabilities. I always learn from anyone's work.

2) Explore Caricatures As Well As Portraits 
As well as world famous people, I'll make academic people's caricatures, as I'm fond of literature and history etc.   
But I NEVER want to make a caricature that might hurt a personal feeling. I want to make a model and viewers smile. 

I cannot resist uploading my mentor, Ann James's caricature again. Anyone loves this work in our publishing industry!

Caricature, also, is a good practice for character design. The key is how to pick up the essence of a personality.  

3) Sketch everything, anything interests me
Sketching brings ideas for studio work and different approaches.  They become my references and precious daily exercises. Sydney Sketch Club sketched the organ recital at Town Hall last week. On the way to Town Hall, I sketched a couple in train. The work pleased them so much! I'll put colours later for fun!

Below, the organ and the practice of changing "perception."
The subject was too huge. Although on the same seat, I changed the perception in mind and tried to capture a whole. The bottom and the centre were emphasized to show a monstrous mass, but the wings were omitted. After the recital, we climbed up to a stage. My perception was correct! The real sketch location was very near to the organ and just under it from the left. Interesting and handy approach. It deepens my understanding of perception and develops drawing skills. 
I'll explore more interesting approaches in sketches.  

4) Life Drawing
I'll enjoy it and try different techniques. We, members will run workshops this year. I'm in charge of figure by watercolour. Teaching is learning.  I hope I will have a wonderful time with members.   

Well, finally... I'll do exercise lots such as yoga or taichi on the ground. Ah, only the issue is "putting on weight" in this festive season... gulp!  Even though I love swimming and do 1km often, it does not help weight loss at all.  A physio answered with a sympathetic smile, "Swimming is a very gentle exercise that does not consume calories." So, Friends, I'll do exercise "on the ground"  more! ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ Girls, go unite! and ... crash calories?!

I heartily hope 2013 will be a wonderful year for all of you!

Happy Painting!!!

New Year's Resolutions