"National Cathedral" (oil on stretched canvas; 40" x 40") sold

 

"National Cathedral"

 

The painting is a commission for Catherine and her husband Andrew. Andrew went to St. Albans School, right next to the cathedral and practically grew up in and around the magnificent Gothic cathedral. He got married there and had planted a tree in front of the north side (entry area) with his father. It was an important sentimental project for Andrew and he chose this image personally so that his tree would be a part of the finished painting.

It was the largest oil painting project ever for me. It took about two months to draw, block in, paint and add finishing touches. I needed a little stool to reach the highest areas of the big canvas! Thank you for the opportunity, Andrew and Catherine, who were the most gracious clients. 

I must say that my patience and drawing skills have improved much because of this project. The only drawback is that I couldn't take a proper photography of the huge canvas, so I had to make do with a quick shoot with my phone. What a shame!

Work in Progress I

Work in Progress II

Work in Progress III

"Georgetown Key Bridge Afternoon" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

This is the view of Georgetown and the Key Bridge from the tiny Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River. The undersides of the bridge arches glow in the afternoon light. I used a modified pointillist method to simulate the shimmering light.

"Lincoln Memorial Reflections" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

sold

The Lincoln Memorial glows against the violet twilight sky, casting jewel-like reflections in the reflecting pond. I have painted this same view several times and don't seem to get tired of its ethereal beauty.

"Jefferson Memorial Twilight" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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The Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington DC is a beautiful neoclassical building. At twilight, it is breathtaking. I used the pointillist technique for the painting, pretending that my dots are stardust!

"Washington Monument Sunset" (oil, 7" x 7") sold

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The painting depicts the Washington Monument, viewed from the Lincoln Monument Reflecting Pond, against a spectacular sunset sky. It was fun to paint a big picture in a small size.

"Georgetown Key Bridge Afternoon" (oil on linen; 6" x 8") sold

sold

This is the view of Georgetown and the Key Bridge from the tiny Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River.  The undersides of the bridge arches glow in the afternoon light.  Can you believe this lovely cityscape is only 6" x 8"?  I am becoming a miniaturist!

"Smithsonian Castle Magnolias" (oil on linen; 12" x 12")

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Near the Smithsonian Castle on The National Mall, the administrative headquarters of many national museums in Washington DC, there is a beautiful garden complex called Enid A. Haupt Garden. Visit it during the magnolia season.  As hundreds of mature magnolia trees become heavily loaded with big, pale pink, cup-shaped flowers, the garden is transformed into a fragrant pink heaven!

"Abraham Lincoln Statue" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

The marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC is always an awe-inspiring sight. I am wondering whether I should have made the head a little bigger.  What do you think?

"Lincoln Memorial Nocturne" (oil on linen; 6" x 8") sold

sold

I have painted the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC many times, usually against the deep blue night sky, because the marble Doric-temple of the memorial then glows like a gem.  I, however, never painted it as small as this--only 6" x 8"!

"Washington Monument Cherry Blossoms" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

On a lucky day, one can see the sky like this at the Tidal Basin during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The Washington Monument stands tall and beautiful against the equally beautiful blue spring sky.  The festival just started this weekend; Washington, DC is already being mobbed.  What you don't see in this painting is thousands upon thousands of people milling around under the cherry trees!

"Jefferson Memorial Sunset" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

sold

I wanted to see how small I could paint a famous Washington landmark such as Jefferson Memorial and still capture its majestic beauty.  The painting is not only as small as 7" x 7", it also shows the monument at its prettiest--at sunset during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.  How about that!

"Bishop's Garden at National Cathedral" (oil on stretched canvas; 30" x 40") sold

sold

This is the largest oil painting I have done as a commission and took a few weeks to complete.  The client told me that her husband proposed to her at this beautiful place--the Bishop's Garden at the Washington National Cathedral.  The painting is going to be an anniversary present to him.  Isn't that a romantic story?

"Jefferson Memorial Cherry Blossom Sunset" (oil on linen; 10" x 12") sold

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Jefferson Memorial, dedicated to an extraordinary man, is my favorite memorial in the city of memorials--Washington, DC.  I have painted it many times, often set at cherry blossom season, like this new one.  Below is the sketch done in chalk pastel pencil on toned scrapbooking paper that I drew while watching TV in the evening.  I liked it so much that I decided to do an oil version in pointillist style.

"Jefferson Memorial Sunset" (chalk pastel pencil on toned paper, 8" x 8")

"Bishop's Garden Spring" (oil on stretched canvas; 14" x 11") sold

sold

On the grounds of the famous Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, there is a lovely garden, called Bishop's Garden. Its focal point is an old, octagonal, stone gazebo. If you visit the garden on a sunny afternoon in April, you will be greeted by the charming scene captured in the painting.

Collage of my August Paintings

Collage of My August 2014 Paintings

I was very productive last month.  Painting almost everyday, I created 20 paintings!  I feel a great sense of achievement.  Now tell me, which is your favorite painting?

"Smithsonian Castle Rose Garden" (oil on stretched canvas; 18" x 18") sold

sold

Then

It is with a great pleasure that I am sharing the new, better "Smithsonian Castle Rose Garden". Can you believe how much improved I am as a painter?  It is the same, yet totally different painting.  In understanding of color temperatures, the color-mixing ability, and confident brush strokes, it might as well be done by a different artist.

By the way, the painting shows the rose garden at the eastern end of the Smithsonian Castle on The Mall in Washington, DC.  If you visit the garden at the right time of the year, you will be enveloped in the thick perfume of roses in full bloom.  I am planning on visiting it next week!

"Georgetown Spring" (oil on linen; 12" x 12") sold

sold

"Georgetown Spring" is a view of Georgetown in Washington DC, from Rosslyn across the Potomac River.  You can see National Cathedral and Georgetown University.  It is a view I see every week whenever I bring my daughter to her flute teacher's place.  One evening last week, double cherry trees were in full bloom.  The sun was setting.  I saw a painting.  So I painted it. Isn't it nice to see paintings everywhere?

"Jefferson Memorial in Cherry Blossom Season" (oil on linen; 12" x 12")

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The National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC is in full swing!  I went over there on Thursday in late afternoon to catch the sunset.  I have never seen the cherry blossom festival at sunset; I was curious how the warm lighting would affect the famous scenery.  As the sun set, the dome of the memorial glowed.  The golden light turned orangish, then pink.  The sky was the harmony of pink, mauve, and blue.  The drama lasted about half an hour.  I returned home elevated by what I had just witnessed.

Cherry blossom lit by the setting sun. Aren't they beautiful?

Even dogs love cherry blossoms!

"Lincoln Memorial Reflections" (oil on stretched canvas; 8" x 10") sold

sold

The Lincoln Memorial shimmers in the dusk.  Of all the great monuments in Washington, DC, I must say that the Lincoln Memorial is my favorite.  It is an elegant structure dedicated to a great president.

"Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms" (oil on stretched canvas; 10" x 8") sold

sold

What winter we are having!  Even the deep South is in deep freeze!  We are in desperate need of spring weather.  As I lack the power to magically conjure up warm sunshine, I did what I could.  I painted the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Tidal Basin in Washington DC.

By the way, I want to show you how I "recycle" my precious reference material.  Both "Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms" and "Cherry Blossom Festival at Sunset" were based on a same photo. How about that!  Which painting do you like better?

"Cherry Blossom Festival at Sunset" (oil, 12" x 12)
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