changing landscapes
May 9, 2013 – 7:21 pm
*the rocks need more shading and texture
in this painting. i really enjoyed drawing the little
houses and the boats. the trees were a challenge–because
i’m painting on a very small scale to start. otherwise i
get lost and feel intimidated.
*water and clouds are hard. ha! that was the
challenge in this painting. i love the misty tall mountains
effect of many classic landscapes in chinese painting but
have a feeling it’d take years to master.
hello lovely readers,
i’ve been trying my hand at landscapes
in these last months in my chinese brush painting
classes. some time was spent finding the right paper
to paint on. i’m not convinced i’ve found the right
one yet–but i’ll have to look into that after my taipei
trip…
which i leave for on saturday!
i absolutely do plan on tweeting fotos of my
eating and research adventures, so please check
out my twitter account. i will endeavor to use #BlueSkies
hash tag for the taipei trip. if you don’t know what i’m
talking about, don’t worry, never mind. ha!
currently reading:
Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson
Ai Ling and Chen Yong by Wendy
April 30, 2013 – 8:34 am
i love fan art! and i also commission art
of my characters when i can to support
fellow artists–but also because it is just so
much fun. =D
i was very happy to see Wendy of Angry Girl Comics
opening up for commissions starting at just $10.
how fabulous! and this was her portrait of Ai Ling
and Chen Yong–which i love!
it’s been a long while since i’ve blogged here.
april was a bust for me writing wise–alas. and
i was hoping to add a lot more wordage to the sequel
in my new serpent demon duology. very tiny progress
was made.
tomorrow is may and a better month, i’m hoping.
i’ll be going to taipei to eat, i mean, to do research
on my 5th novel–an expansion of my short story
“Blue Skies” in Diverse Energies. VERY excited for this
trip. it’s been five years since i’ve been back.
i will most definitely be taking loads of fotos and
updating on twitter as well. =D
currently reading:
Project: Boy Next Door by L. K. Madigan
lifetime
February 23, 2013 – 12:42 pm
hello dear readers!
last saturday, i was still in san miguel de
allende at a writing retreat–a trip of a lifetime.
we were upgraded last minute to a magnificent
villa–the casa was more beautiful than i can
properly describe. and i also got to spend the
week with so many authors i admire and people
i simply adore.
i am essentially, at heart, a boring home body
that loves the monotony of my daily schedules.
at the same time, before the bubs, i loved traveling
abroad, visiting different countries and experiencing
the culture, language, and foods (!!) from all across the world.
since having the bubs, we visit england yearly to
see the family, and taiwan on rare occasion. but
any parent can tell you that traveling with two kids
is *never* a relaxing trip.
so these retreats are a doubly treat for me–as it
is my only time spent doing writerly things by myself
and just for fun. not an author event. not a con. simply
converging on a great place with great people to talk
writing and books. how could i NOT love this and look
forward to it? (and thank you to cassie for having me!)
so this month, i got an incredible seven days at
this retreat in a gorgeous villa, and i am sharing
some photos for my own happy memories–but
also so you might enjoy them as well.
*a view from the little plane while we fly
over the mountains of central mexico before landing.
*just one example of the beautiful decor
throughout our villa.
*one of two ponds in the lush courtyard garden.
*the corridor directly outside my cactus room.
*alcove tucked near my bedroom with steps leading
up to the rooftop. sarah and steph were often perched
on the highest point of the casa.
*a view of the town (including the most well
known cathedral) from one of the verandas of casa.
*a walk into town for starbucks! this is a street
off the main square where starbucks is situatated.
*on the weekend, the giant frightening poppets
come out to play!
*a walk through the flower market near our casa
with the lovely delia sherman.
*i turn FORTY (yes, caps necessary) this
august and cannot stop finding excuses to buy
myself presents. ha! i am of the mindset that one
should treat herself because it is deserved! i fell in
love with this ring in antiqued silver with carvings on
the side and set with rubies, an emerald and white topaz.
*the chef at the casa was *amazing*. these
were the huevos rancheros. so delicious!
*i joked that i was the sterotypical Asian Tourist
making everyone gather for fotos. but no way i was
going to pass the week without one with our group.
holly is the matriarch in this foto. =D (from L to R:
sarah, robin, delia, holly, steph, me, josh & cassie.)
i love this foto!
*there were several pretty birds in cages at the
casa. i tried to get a few fotos but i made them nervous
when i got too close. this was the best i could do. with a
view into the garden courtyard.
*wait. did you buy a second ring for yourself, cindy?
why yes, yes i did. remember, i am turning FORTY. it
is like birthing twins. GIVE ME ALL THE PRESENTS! =)
i decided to go back to that wonderful jeweler to pick up
a present for my BFF who also is turning FORTY this year.
well, i couldn’t resist this black and white mexican fire opal
ring. *happy*
*walking into town.
*this foto was taken almost exactly a week ago at dusk.
i rounded up the lovely ladies that helped to plot talk
the second part of my “serpent demon” sequel–and boy
did they throw out a lot of stuff and gave me much to chew
and be excited for. i love these women. thank you so much,
holly, sarah and delia!! <3
i hope you enjoyed the #mexicoretreat blog post!
(more on my twitter page under that hash tag.)
until the next!
currently reading:
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
by phillip k. dick