Sumi-E!

Sumi-E is a Japanese/Chinese style of painting that is a lot different from the Western style of painting. It's very unique and beautiful because it's not so much about capturing a likeness or showing a scene, but more about bringing to life the spirit of the subject.
I've never been an awfully brilliant artist, definitely not in Western style art because I was never good at perspective, or drawing people, or really any kind of realistic detail. But I took to Sumi-E, and am semi-competent at it. Here are some of my paintings that I'm very excited about because they don't look terrible. :D

So first off, here's a frog (in case you couldn't tell XD). I like this guy. I'd like to try him again and see if I can do it better, but for now I'm happy with him!

 Here are some grapes, I'm very happy with how this one turned out!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird... I'm happy with this one too. :D

 

Here' a wonky cat. Cats and Butterflies are often painted together in Sumi-E. Cats represent good luck and long life, and butterflies represent love.

 

 And finally, here's a Tiger Lily, my favorite flower. :)

 

 

Thanks for looking!

A Day in Carmel

So, Wednesday is music day, where my sister has violin lessons, and I have orchestra on the rich part of the county. Oops, was that out loud? (Yes, yes it was.)
Anyway, Carmel, where the violin lessons are, is a real cute town. Except for the bizarre art and sculptures. Ahem. Oh with the pictures!

 

Violin lessons are inside the basement of a Methodist Church. I felt so weird typing that sentence. Anyway, when She In the Hello Kitty Hat is at her lesson, me, Dad, and He In the Bobble Hat go walking around town.

 

I call it 'Misery Upon the White Things'.

Saw some... bizarre sculptures. Really no words on this, there are just too many questions to ask.

There's this candy shop called Cottage of Sweets, and as the name suggests, they have a lot of candy. We usually buy some sour belts, but they sell some pretty weird stuff. Like giant Smarties, Humungo Jaw-Breakers...



Behold... The wall of Gummy!

Yeah. Lots and lots of candy. It smells so awesome in there.

 

After that we like to go to a little shop called Tea Rose Collection. Sounds really prestigious, but the lady there is really nice and helpful. It's a pretty shop, and even has a second story.

It was about this time that we noticed it was raining.

 

I like the back porch.



Upstairs...



Looking down from upstairs...



Me wearing a 1920's hat. And making a stupid face.

 

I got a lot of pictures in the tea shop. XD



 It was almost pouring, and we totally had the foresight to bring an umbrella. Not. So yeah, we had to hike back to the car until it was time to pick up She Who Wears the Hello Kitty Hat from violin.

I tried to get all 'artsy' and photograph my hand in front of the raindrop-py window. Not sure if I succeeded or not.







So yeah, Carmel, won't you? :D