Wednesday, March 12, 2014

"Nanya Seaside"

"Nanya Seaside" - Taiwan
- Ink and Ballpoint Pen - 4.25x5.6"/10.8x14cm
Some friends of our took us around to the northwestern tip of Taiwan where we stood out on the rocks on a blustery day. This was the sight below us as the sea continued to erode the stones.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

"Back to Nature" - Ta Prom, Cambodia

"Back to Nature" - Ta Prom, Cambodia 
- Acrylic on Canvas - 28.5x39.5"/72.5x100cm
One of the most spectacular parts of exploring the temples in Angkor Wat is the way the jungle has reclaimed much of the area. These massive trees have taken root and often taken over large areas of the stone structures, slowly dismantling them in the process. Ping took this photo of one of the largest which was straddling the corner of a courtyard. You can see another giant in the background. I very much enjoyed painting this one. My graphite drawing on the canvas was very detailed, so the actual painting went relatively quickly. I did my best to stay loose, despite all the detail.

GARBAGE NIGHT UPDATE: March, 2014

Go to YouTube video

Since we made that audio/video a couple of years ago, Mark's gotten pretty good at garbage night. He can ask for the newlywed bag back in Chinese, and they will actually return it to him. He knows to wait until the garbage truck music is really obvious before going out to stand in the heat hoping the mosquitoes don't notice him.

He's also learned:
  • The old ladies will beat you to the blue kitchen waste bin. Every time. Get over it.
  • Line up across the street and toss the trash bag into the moving truck left handed. Otherwise, you get cut off by that super-fast kid from up the block.
  • Give big paper/plastic/metal items to the corner store owner who recycles them for cash.
  • The key to good kitchen waste disposal is the "Flick & Toss." Grab the bag by the bottom, up-end it over the blue bin, flick it, and toss the empty bag into the garbage truck. Wrist technique is critical.
  • Timing is everything when dumping kitchen waste if you intend to escape without someone else's leftovers all over your arm/leg/foot/shoulder.
  • Keep your elbows in; that way nobody gets hurt, including you.
For Mark, the best part of garbage night is when the driver of the recycle truck waves at him on the way by. That's what really makes him feel like "a regular."