Snow day in Spring Street

 

When I was walking around downtown Soho area for subject matter,

I was encountering the First snow of the season just in time, at this time

snow was pouring in to the city from in the morning, I feel delighted

to see snow because it give me a lot of inspirations, first, our family

me, my wife and my daughter noticed unique Christmas colors on Empire State Building

from distance, the Red and Green lights from top of the this building was shining with

a little different patters, this Red and Green lights was good contrast with White lights

coming from top of the Chrysler building, these two buildings are the most

beautiful and symbol of the New York city.

 

when we arrived 14th street, there was Art and Craft festival going on at Union square,

there were lots of artistic crafts such as mosaic designed lamps and wooden sculpture,

and a lot of jewelries, we were happy to see all these pretty stuff, and headed to

downtown Soho area, by the time we decided to walk, almost everything was covered

with white snow, I took a lot of  snap shots around this village, one thing I noticed was

warm lights coming from a lot of store was good contrast with cold snow coming down,

and people walking on this snow filled street...there is something very unique

quality of coziness and romantic mood, it's not easy to describe with word, but

there is something very positive spirit going on here, it's my duty to capture or

create this mood by working hard.

 

 

Village of Lambertville

 

 

Today, I want to start this blog with other artist I admire,

the person is Fern Isabel Coppedge. All I know is she

was female artist who painted so many landscapes around

Pennsylvania border, I was truly impressed by her painting,

especially her use of bright colors, the deep primary colors associated

with snow colors, if you look at her painting, you will see

there is strong colors, a lot of small houses covered with

snow, there is coziness and there is dreams for generations

to come. 

 

The reason why I brought this artist is that this artist suddenly remind that

she painted a lot of landscapes around here, and time has passed over

100 years, I can easily feel those old masters walking around this town.

 

In this painting, I tried to bring up those spirit of this historical town

regardless of it's outcome.

Autumn Leaves 2

 

This pond is located in Arboretum, Locust Valley, NY.

We used to go out for a walk at Saturday morning or afternoon,

again, I am using background colors as part of the painting,

I tried to get interesting Autumn colors as well as

effectiveness of Abstraction and 3 dimensional effect as well,

sometimes coming out great sometimes coming out bad, but

I think this one came out good side.

 

 I think this painting is effective because there is some complementary colors

showing here, complementary colors are very effective on Paul Gaugang's

painting usually but those are also looks good on a lot of great artists painting.

Gas Station

This gas station is located at the corner of on the way to my home, Locust valley, NY.
I feel like I am approaching somewhere there is a lot of darkness surrounding this
gas station with mysterious lights coming out of this place, looks like this station
is pretty old fashioned, these subtle lights represent curiosity and mystery of
our life. I thought this station is perfect to study colors of the night, night colors
are very intriguing itself, sometimes looks very lonely, sometimes could be
extremely happy also, that is why I keep study about colors of the night.

At the same time, I am looking for effectiveness of abstraction from night colors,
there is unlimited possibilities of abstraction with night colors, abstraction means
satisfaction for my self regarding subject matter, so my study of abstract by
using night colors continues.

Boy's Play 2

Boy's playing under dark shadows of Manhattan remind me of recalling something else,
it leads into metaphysical form...this is rare scene I see in Manhattan, usually there
is a lot of people in this town everywhere, but sometimes there is nobody in
entire street, boy's playing but somehow we feels lonely, this loneliness is part
of my painting from time to time, some people make connection with Edward Hopper
but, honestly my loneliness comes very natural and always here.

In this painting, I like to play with brown tone colors with minimal accent.
If you see real painting, those red letterings in Restaurant sign is much more
visible and effective. And the sky is more pale yellow than it appears here.

I feel that boy's play here represent myself or someone in a sense.

Boy's Play in Manhattan

This boy was playing skate board on late afternoon in Midtown Manhattan,
and Sunshine was so brilliant that makes everything sharp contrast,
there is some area,  street feels like almost empty quiet and that leads into
almost Metaphysical phenomenon.

This painting is all about impressions, this strong impressions lead into
my color interpretations, I interpret color as one color as I mentioned
before, this one color makes everything possible to create certain emotions.

And I like to simplify a lot of things, if I don't,  My painting will be busy
and loose certain characters.

Window Shopping

 

Two ladies walking around downtown, there is brilliant lights coming out of

show windows, it's just so attracting that they cannot ignore those items

from inside, it's window shopping.

In this painting, I try to beak apart all different color spot to make

this kind of mood more interesting, I also made interior more

abstract geometry to make more intriguing.

I would say these different color spot represent musical inspirations.

 

So, this painting is about happy moment of our life.

A Restaurant

 

When I was walking down streets of Manhattan, all different sort of lights
was coming out of window, I thought it's very cute and cozy, I also liked
blue-grey tone colors of the street, in this painting, I used a lot of knife
to get all the colors right, but when I finished this painting, I feel like
still some colors lacking..., I feel I really need more impressionistic effort,
like I always thinking in my head.

What is missing in here is that deeper tone of Jewel colors, yes, that's what
I am looking for next time when I encounter this kind of subject.

Waiting for Coffee

 

So, I finally got into coffee shop, while I wait for my coffee, I saw this
girl standing right in front of me. she had some sort of scarf over head
wearing dark brown jacket and apparently checking out text messages
from her phone, I decided to paint this scene as a close up scene focusing
to this girl wearing winter coat,
What I got inspired from here is that a lot of light source coming from
behind while playing with different sort of brown, I had to bring rich
brown colors and black with accent of blue coming back ground.

I make extreme contrast between people and back ground because that's
where my inspiration is rooted from, this light source is very important for
my painting in general, I believe this is very important if you do not want
to give up figurative form for the painting.

Soho Date

These two couple's apparently having a good time in chilly Soho district,
As soon as I enter downtown Soho area, I feel something cozy and
romantic, I can just walk around all day, have a cup of coffee,
stop by some book store and read some book...
I tried to catch a sense of romantic mood in this painting from downtown
New York, as you see a lot of warmth coming out of this town.
I like the unique lights coming out of show windows, also I like the
color combination of Black, Brown, Winter Grey, and the yellow sky.

My purpose of painting at this moment is creating as much stories as
possible from this village.

Seventh Ave

I was very impressed by afternoon sunshine down to seventh Ave,
there is people walking by and truck waiting for loading, I
thought this is simple color story, but there is enough element
of making good painting possible, that's what artist has to do,
any spot, any location seems to be good enough reason to be
subject matter for artist in general,

In this painting, I like to play with cool lights on top of warm background,
because warm air is always coming out from our Earth and Human, and
that also represent a warm welcome for the future happiness.

A Lady passing by Restaurant

It's a sunny day, this lady is going back home on this beautiful sunny Saturday.
This restaurant is absorbing bright sunshine in this pleasant day, there is also
a charming bike is waiting for the ride, everything looks good here... but
there is dark shadows.. this dark shadows create beautiful sunshine, so it's necessary
element in our life, then I am thinking...  there seems to be always deep contrast in
our life, I don't think I have to be this much serious at this moment,
but our life in general has a lot of contrast everywhere.

My question is "Can I take all these issues positively ?"
My purpose of painting is that I try to make our daily life into something positive
and transfer into a meaningful piece of painting, so hopefully viewers can have a long last impression.

New York Street at Night 2

This place is one of the streets from downtown Soho area, people here are in a hurry
to go home and see lovely families and talk about what happened during the day,
also discussing about where they are going to have Christmas party this year,
I heard some family arguing over hosting Christmas party, everybody want to have
party in their home for several reasons, especially when gas price is going up fast
like no end in sight. But this is a happy argument. I can live with it.

I was really impressed by brown tone with yellowish colors coming from this
street, and all sorts of different light is coming out of windows, that different colors
of the light represent everybody's hope to be happy family.

New York Street at Night

As soon as the blue car in front of her passes, she is about to cross the road and to
 buy some decorative stuff for home, the time is now 7 pm getting to darkness
 eventually, here and there lamp lights coming out from upstairs, there probably
teenagers reading books for home work.

These are kind of story made out of this painting, but this story is trying to
explain how cozy this scene is and why I painted this scene, the reason
why I paint this scene is that I love city lights and the mood coming out of
different sort of light color from this city.

The light source also gives me chance for different color breakdown, because
any lights has different colors and therefore this makes abstract attempt
possible, I do not try direct abstract these days but I continuously pursue
abstract quality from the kind of painting I am working on.

Winter Conversation

There is no snow in ground yet, but she is anticipating snow today, this lady
found something new dress while talking to the phone, and she is planning to
go shopping this weekend, and the other lady is taking a break after half mile
jogging along the street,
I realized that winter time is very cozy and romantic, because winter has
some element of coziness such as warm lights from show window, coldness
outside, especially these beautiful ladies around, and expecting hot soups
from local deli, ok, winter has attraction of it's own.

There is a lot positive signs everywhere in the streets of New York city,
I probably have a chance to get down to one of those café in downtown Soho
and have a cup of coffee soon..

Pink Bike and Facade

 

The Reason why I decided to paint this scene is that this has the kind of

charm that only New York city can have, such as the colors of Façade,

stone walls, that involves some antique colors, I would say " a Little bit of

Nostalgia...", I like to play with these element of deep stone or jewel colors,

because that's what drive me to paint, and if there is a little bit of sunlight,

I would say it's a little hazy sunshine, not like bright sunshine hitting us.

 

Of course this little pink Bike from someone definitely adding additional

charm in this painting, so at least, I am showing some colors of New York

city somehow.. 

Bike and Restaurant

There is a restaurant made of wooden structure, it becomes nice brown tone,
when afternoon sun is hitting the walls of this place, apparently, Restaurant is
open because cozy light is on for the day,
Inside, delivery man is waiting for their order to be shipped,
Probably this bike is going to the new destination.
I found this scene really charming, so I decided to paint, while I am
painting this subject matter, I found something else, there is a lot more
colors than I thought, I can even break down all the color spot with
different color spot, that's exactly what I am trying to do in the future,
and I also found structural abstract quality in this painting, too.

This location is from downtown Broadway, New York, by the way.

Streets of Soho

Of course, we walk by shops of Soho almost everyday, a lot of times we
forget to realize the beauty and attractions of this town, and when you are
working in Manhattan, NY, I am sure you understand what I am talking about,
you are busy with work and I am busy with my own work, but one day,
You see an artist painting of the same boring street, you realize that there
is something positive is going on. Suddenly you can see that this town
is valuable and there is certain colors that no other city can show us.

What I am trying to do is to get the essence of the city by painting as many
piece of New York as possible, hopefully, one day, people realized that
this whole process is very meaningful..

New York Sunlight

 

 

 

I am sure a lot of people including you noticed the sunlight hitting the walls on street,
I was impressed by that strong sunlight, usually last about an hour, but I felt like
this day was extra colorful, full of yellow tone, this light source is becoming
very important element of my painting.
What I am trying to do here is that making a colorful story out of Manhattan, so
these people on the streets come to real life.
Of course, I am not trying to catch exactly the moment, I am trying to make a
beautiful Poetry out of daily life.

Saturday Evening

Almost toward Sunset, this lady was apparently heading to a party, because it's Saturday
What makes me feel interesting is that I felt like there was certain colors at that moment,
of course, an artist can create colors of their own, but the truth is colors are impressive,
only the whole process of creating a mood is impressive enough to others who views
a painting. In order to make good painting, I first painted with brown tone first,
and then, I tried to adding up interesting colors, and see if the mood is following,
my method of painting is Bold Brush and then finish with palette knife.

Morning Shop Open

It's just one of those pleasant day, when I was walking around New Port shopping
district, I encountered this beautiful lady going into her shop, it's one of very
routine moment of our daily life, but I witnessed a glimpse of inspiration
coming from morning sunshine, I am sure all others felt the same way I did,
from here I know what I have to do, take couple shots of photos and go
for painting, the difference of original painting is that it captures the moment
such inspirational and colorful way so what we sees in our life gets very valuable.
And, those brushstrokes and texture give you extra vivid moment !

Extraordinary Night

There was time we all talk about what is going on in the city, so I was only 10 or 12 years old,
we used to play soccer after school in the afternoon, and we used to go out a little after dinner
for a walk, I felt everything surrounding me was positively mysterious.., there was people
walking around looking something romantic, there was show window lights here and there
attracting people !
, and a crescent moon that evening !
Everything was mysteriously beautiful and cozy !

And here I am struggling to make ends meet everyday decades after all those Dreams !

 

 

Ordinary Night...

One good thing about a painting is that nobody knows exactly what artist is thinking or
why they paint, so there should be some mysterious part of painting that one can
never explain. Sometimes, paintings can go differnt direction from what artist innitially
thought, even Pablo Picasso said one time " my painting always
coming out different at the end"

There is an apparent attempt my painting starts with colors, because colors represent my deep emotions. By the time, I build up structure, I go for line drawing, from here character of the painting decided, and artist sometimes hesitate because of the reason to paint.

My recent study of New York is about abstraction from nature, the real message of my painting
will not be completed without abstract quality.
I am really excited about my Manhattan series because it seems closer and closer to what I am
trying to do and possibility of color is unlimited.

What I am trying to with my painting is always remains Mystery but that's exact reason I paint.
Hopefully, My ordinary night turn into extroadinary night.

I have a lot of love for city, especially for Manhgattan, NY..

When I was working as a textile designer about 20 years ago, I used to

walk around Madison Avenue after lunch to disest, I enjoyed a lot of window

shoppings and a cup of coffee from nearby coffee shop, I always thought

there is a sense of positive side in the city, I don't mind if some people

put this as romanticism...I imagined myself I walk around city with a beautiful

girl here and there with hand by hand, but I usally had a lot bigger

dreams about this mentally than some actual physical form...

 

Let's go back to even more..around 1975-90, those high school and college years,

I always enjoyed working on outdoor watercolor painting sketches, I used to meet

my friends and go out making a watercolor painting and walking around beautiful

old town of ancient city, this city is such an old historical city that has rainbow

color all over the place because of the age,

I didn't mind living and working in this city, but there was always something

missing...at least in my mind, part because my brothers taught me like

there is big city in USA and you can achieve your big dream, only if you are able to go 

there...and when I was even younger, I was able to read a lot of novel

such as "Little Women", "Adventure of Tom Sawyer", "Miracle on 34th Street"

etc.....so these kind of positive thought accumulated in my mind overtime..

I have developed a lot of romantic and positive spirit so that I felt like

there is some place( spiritually) that is extremely positive one

 from time to time,

but I cannot explain what it is.....

 

Anyway, in recent years, I am measuring the possibility of making connection

between the one physically what I see and the beautiful spirit that I try to obtain.

and I know this process is very possible with the help of beautiful music, the music

that has a lot of Rhythm.

 

 

 

 

Repetative Greens in Manhattan

 

I have a strange eating habit, which I never thought about it untill today,

I discovered this morning that I do not possess enough patience when I am

eating breakfast...I like to combine two drinks at the same time, along with

main meal, which is orange juice and coffee..ok, when I start drink coffee, I

can't wait for coffee, when I have egg, I can't wait for juice..and this cycle keep

going on until I finish my entire breakfast, so I end up finish my breakfast

within 5 minutes..I feel like I am such a impatient person.

 

And when I paint, this habit plays almost same as usual...

Sometimes when I paint, I feel not so excited about what I am doing, here comes

music, this music makes me keep going and helps me to create new things..

one color makes me really boring so I must create another color next, and this color

is not doing enough so I create another color.. keep going on until I satisfy...

so, over all, creating a painting is like a composing of a classical music,

it requires a lot of patience, change and eventually unity.

 

This color spot theory is based on my own experience and process of a making

oil painting, and this is totally personal matter, but one thing I want to mention

to other artist is that we all need a lot of patience, more than we think

to create something unusual and remarkable...

 

where do I get my inspirations for my painting ?

First of all, there is very initial stage of inspirations from very early age,

probably from since high school...and this very positive energy keep

accumulating constantly with my everyday life, although my life style has not been

close to perfect, this initial inspiration keep grows over the years with back and forth

process of my painting experience,

My second stage inspiration comes with music and visual experience which is more

visible than first one...at this time I do practice with theory and intuition...

but at this stage my painting does not comply with my real desire 100 %,

 

my ultimate inspiration comes with painting experience, accumulated inspirations,

desire and passion put them all together...it,s all in.

yes, an Artist should be all in for what he is is doing.

Again, this is based on my own experience.

A Lonely Walk

I like the cozy warm colors of the window, those warm colors of the window is a mystery color
for me, but it has been a color of the hopes and gave me a lot of courage to continue painting.

I am also in search of colors that gives me endless power or energy and it comes from our nature.
I am looking for colors that make you think about our life, that make you happy and sad.
is this color really exist ?  All I can tell you is that there is always possibilities we can get closer
and closer to this stage, if we keep think and study.

One can argue that true colors coming from our mind, and it can be achieved only through direct
practice of abstract form...I do not disagree with it... I am the one who practiced direct abstract
for years before turning into figurative form, I really enjoyed the form of abstract and colors.

The reason why I changed to the one I am doing is totally personal and I cannot properly explain,
but the only thing I can tell you is that I couldn't resist that temptation at certain point, I couln't give enough message with abstract form.

I am one of the person who believes in any form, I think I can find an answer regardless of any
style I am doing, the real important thing is that I am looking for true colors and form,
and my study will be endless.

 

Today, I want talk about cultral effect on modern day paintings.

First, there is three major culture in Asian Art, historically, China, Korea, and Japan.
I just want to talk about this as a one of the artist point of view not as art historian
or historical fact.
I think Chinese art is huge in scale and somewhat symbolistic because of their character,
if you think about the great wall or millions of Buddist statues, you can easily see
the scale and persistant mentality,
If you look at Japanese paintings, you can see how decorative and something very
distinguished style that gives a lot of impact on some of the impressionist paintings.

Korea, however, was in the middle of these two different culture, more affected by
China than Japan long time ago, has been establishing it's own culture slowly,
Korea was able to create it's own art culture from as early as 3 AD to 19 Centry.
Korea has completely different art, if you compare with China or Japan.
Korea has historically beatiful line drawings stemming from it's Buddist religion,
meaning endless forgiveness or desire for something unachievable situation.

If you observe some of Korea's best sculptures like Shinla's Buddist face or
some of the stone carved architecture from old temples or paintings,
there is somthing else going on..."the balanced beauty"
It is not huge in scale and it's not brilliantly decorative but....there is a beauty.
The balanced beauty is what we are constantly looking for...it's desirable art form.
We are always looking for some new art eiter from abstract form or figurative form.
But, the mentality for this true art was always there from  the beginning.

And I believe I can show that cultral or mental effect in my painting, not by just one
painting but with many paintings over long period.

Approaching Broadway

When I was much younger, our brothers and sisters use to talk about Broadway, Manhattan.
The image of New York city at that time was like a dream or almost like a heavenly place
not only because of our economic level, but also we generally had a lot of positive dream
about America, we talked about how durable American car is and how big it is and we
used to compare to alien UFO ships( maybe it was 1950's Cadillac) and we talked about
how good Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret is also.

There was disappointment when I arrived in New York city in late 1980's...
The city was already becoming aged and city was not clean at all.
and then I had a lot of hardship adjusting my lifestyle..., economically and mentally..
Those hardship made me only stronger and helped developing my paintings over the
longtime period.

Now, I appreciate the city I live around not just for the great architectural buildings, also for
the beautiful people and cozy restaurant, museums and shops, and I realize that
this broadway is getting back the old glory itself.