Wedding in Coquitlam

It`s been a long while since I posted new wedding photography. Last week this sweet couple Irene and Stephen came and looked at their wedding photography. Thank you--they were so impressed they got 400 images in total! That`s such a huge compliment.

The wedding was very sweet and simple. It was so cute that Irene couldn`t stop smiling for the entire day. She was very very happy. They are such nice people. I am so lucky to be able to photograph one of the most important day of their lives.

The wedding party session was at Rocky Point. I had never photographed at Rocky Point. It was my first time having a portrait session at Rocky Point. It was beautiful! I am so glad that they suggested this location!

For a slideshow of more image, please visit http://artatsnow.com/irene_stephen.htm

(You need Quicktime to view the slideshow. It is downloadable at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

Textbook History, Compound Gallery, Portland, Oregon.

Over the Labour Day long weekend, I went to the opening of "Textbook History" with Gee Gen and Winnie. We were invited to participate in the exhibition back in May.

It was so exciting to meet other artists and see the art scene in Portland. Portland has a healthy art scene--they have uniform art openings. That means, all galleries in a certain district have their opening nights on the same night. You don't have to look up which gallery has an opening this week etc...

Here are a few images from the night. More on the gallery's website: http://www.compoundgallery.com/gallery/2009/09/first_thursday/

Marie Antoinette

I just completed the piece I created for Compound Gallery's group exhibition "Textbook History."

"Marie Antoinette as the woman-as-man monster, the diamond necklace wearer, the notorious pornographic star, and the fifteen-year-old maiden"
mixed media on canvas
20 x 24"
$ 1280 US

The theme of the exhition is that the artist would choose a piece of history that he/she will interpret the history and translate it visually. There is no restriction on the medium or size. I love group exhibition like that where there is a loose limit, so that you are enouraged to do what you normally wouldn't, but there isn't a strict limit on every aspect there is.

I have always been fascinated by the last queen of France. It was a perfect excuse to soak up some reading about the politics around the queen.

The exhibition is in September, and the opening will be on the 3rd.

Compound Gallery
107 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, OR, USA 97209

www.compoundgallery.com

On the other hand, Compound Gallery carries my "M for Mortality", ink and oil on panel in their exclusive web gallery. (I know they say it's acrylic on panel on the website.) Very excited to be part of Compound Gallery!

http://compoundgallery.com/artists/2009/web_gallery.php

Recent new artworks

Cucumber
Ink and Pencil Crayons on Paper
10 x 10"

Banana
8 x 11"
Ink and Pencil Crayons on Paper

Barbara's Photo Shoot at Garry Point

While I am updating my blog, I might as well do two? Here is a beautiful photo shoot I did with Barbara at Garry Point, Richmond. It was a beautiful early summer day.

Most people think of summer as beautiful with the blue sky and green grass. Summer afternoons are the most notorious for portrait photography! That is because the angle of the sun casts unflattering shadows on the face, and the light temperature is bluish.

But I found solutions to work around these challenges, and am more than happy with the results of these images.

I just showed Barbara the images yesterday. She loved them too. Thank you Barbara for loving my images. You were great!

Here are some of my favourites. Enjoy!

Barbara

WAVAW Presentation

Last Wed I gave a presentation to WAVAW, Women Against Violence Against Women. I was chatting with Sarah the program coordinator one day, and I volunteered to give a photography seminar to the staff. She jumped at my suggestion, and said she was secretly wishing it.

So there I was, trying to teach a crash course on improving your images with a small digital camera, talking about learning to see light, composition, characteristics of different focal length...

Sarah commented how she realized why changing the contrast or cropping after the image is taken on the computer would actually not improve the image dramatically. She never thought of lighting, composition and angles before she clicked. She also said it was the most useful seminar she had attended for a while. Thank you Sarah for the huge compliments!

It was very delightful to see how the particpants finally understand all the skills and knowledge behind a successful photograph. Having a "nice camera" is definitely part of it--you need the appropriate tool to do any job! But the training and skills can't be replaced by any top equipment.

Upcoming shows + photo shoot

I went to Seattle and Portland with 2 fellow artists as an artist collective GMW (Gee Gen, Michelle and Winnie.) I am so excited to let my readers know that we've been invited to a group exhibition at Compound Gallery, Portland.

We are also going to have our group exhibition "Humanimal" soon in Seattle and Portland. In addition, a few spaces such as Bluebottle Art Gallery and Kobo are taking our artworks. Check out GMW at http://artistsgmw.blogspot.com/ On the other hand, I have done so many photo shoots lately. Here are a few images from a few different assignments in the past little while. Will post more soon.

workshop + photo shoot

The weather is nice, and spirit is high. It`s supposed to be sunny for the entire week. That`s newsworthy in Vancouver. I just came back from a photography workshop with Robert Provencher, and at midnight, I am still up and working. (Although for those who know me well, that should not be a surprise.) Rob gave us such practical tips that we can use right away. I am so glad I went. On the other hand, I have been having so many photo shoots that I am finding it hard to catch up on my drawings and paintings. Here are some images from a fantastic shoot with Christine and Geetika yesterday at Stanley Park. Beautiful people. Beautiful cherry blossoms.

Recent art activities...

Yesterday, I got a letter in the mail from Canada Art Council. I was so nervous I was completely silent while I opened the letter and read the first page (I was on the phone.)

"We are pleased to inform you that your application to the Art Bank Purchase of Works by Canadian Artists from Culturally Diverse Communities [...] was successful."

Of course, wild screams followed.

Canada Art Bank, under Canada Council for the Arts, is almost like a federal art rental gallery. They purchase works from Canadian artists, and organizations and private individuals can rent any works from their collection. My drawing will be among 18 000 contemporary artworks in the collection. They have the largest contemporary art collection in the world!

If you are curious which drawing was purchased, it is this drawing.


On the other hand, yesterday Bill from Doctor Vigari Gallery told me two of my paintings were sold. Now there are two empty nails waiting for my works. That`s just fantastic. Thank you for my supportors.

I am also working on a commissioned piece for a friend that needs to be completed this weekend. That means endless art-making in the next few days.

My artist sharing + more

As I was trying to move my blog back to my website with the generous help of my website designer friend Gee Gen, I neglected updated the blog.

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of speaking about my works at my exhibition "the Unbearable Cuteness of Being" at the Waterfront Theatre Gallery. I see the series "the Unbearable Cuteness of Being" as an adventure to find the issues that matter, and a style that resonates.

Thank you for friends, clients and colleagues who showed up. It was a huge success. A video of some highlight will be posted soon. Stay tuned.

The exhibition is still up for another month!



On the other hand, I have just become an executive member of PPABC Lower Mainland. Hurrah! Since my involvement with the association, nothing but good things have happened.

I am excited to give more than I have gained in the association, and make new friends.

Andrew and Yvonne

I promised to put the image chosen in the PPABC magazine here. Here is the stunning image of Andrew and Yvonne at the Sunset Beach at sunset!

Here are also images from their wedding at Mayfair Golfcourse, Richmond, in August 2008. I can't believe it has already been 6 months since their wedding.