1) Edinburgh Uni Press 2) sketch Sydney CBD

Very busy. A new project is a book cover for a second edition of "Intercultural Communication," written by Prof Ingrid Piller, an academic book. It will be published by Edinburgh University Press in Jan, 2017. The book is British Association of Applied Linguistis Book Prize 2012 - Runner Up. Great honour and so happy to work with/for Ingrid! I hope my image will help Ingrid's great work that tries to respect any languages and advocates oppressed languages in the world. When a book cover image comes to me, I'll post it. (*if this topic is boring, skip it and read about Sydney Sketch Club meeting below.) 

The statues at Family Court of Australia

Do you want to know how to have a chat with different language speakers? Why do we sometimes behave differently or similarly in languages and societies? If so, "Intercultural Communication" is the book to read! Full of insights, deep knowledge, good data, so many interesting case studies are drawn from Ingrid's life long and rich linguistic research in a critical approach from all over the world. 

This book also challenges our stereotyped information or prejudice in society. Some say, "Japanese or Asian background overseas students are shy, modest and silent." No, the fact is they cannot get the timing of turn taking in an English conversation and no idea about local topics in a class room. So, they think silent is the safest option. Ingrid demonstrates it with convincing statistical data. Her case studies fascinate me so much and very beneficial to contact other language groups. (I can't wait for a gratis book! Yey!) 

Ingrid is the linguist who can walk across continents and overcomes boundaries such as races, nationalities and languages. I was lucky to have her in my uni life! As far as I know any linguists dream that people will communicate freely in any languages and respect every language. No oppressed languages. No dominant languages. Like other linguists, me, too, hope so.    

A brave artist voluntarily sacrificed herself for my model.

Between the projects, a good break was a Sydney Sketch Club meeting. We enjoyed to sketch around the corner of Pitt St and Goulburn St in Sydney CBD. I sketched members, a hotel and the statues on the gate of Family Court of Australia. The first image is the statues. They were very emotional and eye catchy. A male and a female were struggling for something in a rocky mass in a dark colour. It has fascinated me. I depicted an unfamiliar subject like the statues. The second image is a kind member artist voluntarily sacrificed herself for my model! We, cheeky girls enjoyed a chat and portraits! The image below is the hotel and a street view. I so much enjoyed colours. Next time, I want to put people around architecture on streets. City view sketches will be references for the next picture book. So, I've been focusing on a street view and architectures these weeks. 

A hotel and a street view

Yes, I do sketch hunting. When I come across useful visual information, I'll sketch it. I'm always aware of the ongoing project and nearly obsessed?! It's nothing different from hunting. Then, I've been working on the character design in black and white and colour of the main children. I'm certainly developing their images = my characters will come to life in my heart and on papers. 

Another good news. My computer has been fixed up, finally! You've got why I've been so quiet for these weeks! Please pardon my no comments on your blogs, but I tried my best to contact you. Oh, being without a computer is equal to being out of civilisation and no socialisation! The fractured shoulder and the wrist are recovering steadily and quickly, which has amazed a physiotherapist at hospital. My magic?! is "long distance swimming." 1.5 km. The physio says with her shining eyes, "I'm excited! You do very well. I will recommend other patients to do swimming. You recover much quicker!" The kind physio, too, celebrates my contract with EUP. 

Thank you so much for a strong support. We all have ups and downs in life. In any context, I'm eventually and always optimistic and positive, because of your support.   
Friends, thank you for waiting and visiting. Happy Painting and Happy Communication! Let's enjoy our lives! 

1) Edinburgh Uni Press 2) sketch Sydney CBD