More mini works of art...

The werewolf is my favorite on this one...

A bit of Halloween

These tiny pieces only measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches!
I know, Halloween's already over...but before you know it'll be right around the corner again
Each drawing took about an hour or two to complete, enough to keep me sane from the craziness of my work schedule :) I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Alice in Wonderland meets Dali

Hey, it's been a while. Life got hectic so my art had to take a back seat for a bit.

I have this sudden fascination with Alice in Wonderland...this piece just kind of evolved on its own. I hope that you like it

Time heals all wounds

Experimenting with watercolors

Feeling a bit sad lately; think it's time to go to San Diego to recharge

Opposites

Hot and cold, fire and ice, light and dark

Inspiration was courtesy of Katy Perry's song Hot n Cold

I'm continuing to experiment with pastels and loving it!

Turtle Serenity

The creativity is bountiful and overflowing!

Sea turtles are my favorite animals...they are the perfect example of serenity, endurance and longevity.

This was one of the fastest creations I've completed...(under 30 minutes) I was actually agitated by the time I came home from work; it was only Monday and the week was off to a bad start. I started to brush color onto the paper with pastels and was surprised that I didn't use more forceful, abrupt and staccato strokes; the blue was very calming; long, flowing strokes became more smooth and round...before I knew it I had completed a background! The little turtle was created with watercolor. Take a deep refreshing breath...serenity now.

Honey

I was having pancakes for dinner the other night...yes, pancakes. My inspiration for this multi-media piece came as I slowly poured syrup over my pile of fluffy, delectable eats. Either I was sleep deprived or overcaffeinated...the slow gooey ribbon that dripped its way to my plate held my attention.

I really like this piece because it is composed of water color, pencil and acrylic.

GREEN DAY ON BROADWAY!

My favorite band and Broadway. Throw in good friends and good food = TOTALLY AWESOME TIMES!!!!

The show started out with such great energy and it continued all the way through. My friend who isn't a big Green Day fan like me enjoyed the show very much too!

My favorite part was actually at the very end where the cast all came on stage with their acoustic guitars and played Good Riddance. It was astounding.

My favorite arrangement was 21 Guns -- it was a true kleenex moment

Bluebird

Imagine a smoky lounge filled with people who came to drown there sorrows in whiskey. Then a blanket of silence falls upon the crowd as the curtains pull back and the Bluebird appears, glowing in the halo of the spotlight. The music starts and her voice fills the air. Everyone falls under her spell and for a few brief moments all their troubles fade away.

As the curtain closes, the Bluebird cries. Who's there to listen to her sorrows?

Bird or hat?

Hey, um should someone tell the lady that she has a bird on her head?

This is mixed media piece: colored pencil, ink and pastels. I'm experimenting with different pastel backgrounds.

My inspiration for this piece came from being pleasantly awaken by singing birds in the morning as the weather is warming up.

Tiptoe through the tulips

What a wonderful, most fantastic day! I received great news...after a battery of bloodwork and tests, I am in "picture perfect" health. I do NOT have to travel down the path of chemotherapy. It's really like receiving a second chance, all packaged and wrapped up in a beautiful bow.

I've been reminded that life's too short and precious. Yes we all have to face trials and tribulations, that's the exciting journey of Life. But we still have to take it easy, take time to enjoy the journey, and....tiptoe through the tulips! Peace and Love. Namaste.

P.S. more good news...Sal's CD is due to be released soon! CAN'T WAIT!

An apple a day...

An apple a day keeps the doctor away...

I love drawing apples because they bring back a lot of fond memories. It's one of the first fruits I learned to draw and study how lights and shadows work.

I remember how I always came home from class always covered in one medium or another; paints, pastels, charcoal...my roommates always said I was a colorful mess :)

Richie's Painting

My latest project for one of my youngest "customers". It's going to be an underwater scene where Disney characters search for buried treasure. A work in progress that will eventually be displayed in the lil dude's bedroom. Will keep you guys posted!

Under the Sea

This is just a glimpse of the third mural (which happens to be on mounted canvas) that is on a wall en route to my bedroom. I started this piece almost 5 years ago when I was still living in Westchester. Then I moved and this came with me. It's been on the backburner since. A writer gets writer's block and unfortunately, my muse forsaked me on this one. Translation: PURE FRUSTRATION, seeing how my favorite animal is the sea turtle....

This is oil on canvas with other mixed media; still trying to complete it. Let's see what happens. But for now, I'm working on another "portable mural" for my friend's son, Richie.

Flowers and Butterflies

This is another mural in my apartment that was done about two years ago. Once again, acrylic was used and I incorporated decorative flowers and butterflies to make things come to life.

I was walking around the city when the purple flowers caught my eye. So I bought them and took them apart to be put into the painting. The butterflies were an afterthought when I felt that the piece was too "flat".

I love looking at this wall on rainy days :)

Flower painting

This is one of my older pieces from when I first moved here to Long Island about 5 years ago. At that time I was obsessed with Matisse's textile patterns (actually still am).

This is one of the very few pieces that I created without any sketching involved...it's all alla prima. It is acrylic on canvas, some parts are even painted with my left hand. I love color, color, color! It's nice to walk by in the morning to see a burst of color.

This is one of three murals in my apartment. Hope you like this as much as I do!

Desert Rose

I woke up every morning with a cup of coffee and stared out the windows at the beautiful mountains. Yes, I was in the middle of nowhere, but it was a truly welcomed quieting of the senses. Gerri always made sure that we were all well fed:) I loved sitting out back in the cantina that she built and just draw.

Her house is very beautifully decorated; everywhere you looked, there was something interesting to look at. I drew inspiration from all her decorations and incorporated them into this figure's body art.

Happy Easter!

Just came back from a trip to Vegas and Arizona. What a refreshing break. Went to go see a show in Vegas then I spent the majority of my time in Arizona just admiring the scenery and drawing.

Hope everyone had a good Easter weekend:)

Cake Fashionista

Marie Antoinette was ahead of her time. I love her bold sense of fashion. I was actually watching Ace of Cakes on Food Network when this popped into my head :)

Time

Cinderella meets Surrealism...my inspiration came when I accidently dropped an opened box of those valentine's day candy hearts and watched them scatter across my carpet. (Better them than my cup of coffee!)

We spend way too much time in a hurry, always in a rush to do the next thing. Sometimes we just have to slow down and appreciate the good things in life before you wake up one day and wonder where all the time went.

Moonshine

Jess and I had the wonderful opportunity to see Sal perform at open mic at The Cup. Good ambience, great people, coffee and music. What more could I ask for? Then, inspiration hit. Have you ever heard a song for the very first time and it just grabs you? I sat there and listened as Sal and Sean performed "Moonshine", it was hauntingly beautiful.

The making of Moonshine

Progression of Moonshine...


First the figure is sketched


background details added


then the magic of color brings everything to life
(click on image for larger view)

Mouse out of the Guitar Hole

The following is a true story...

Sal and I were having our usual Wednesday evening guitar lesson, when I saw from out the corner of my eye something scurry from one corner of the room and out under the door.

We both stared in stunned silence...we had a little visitor.

Well, we're going to have to be careful with our stuff or we'll have little critters residing in our guitars. Sal coined the phrase "Mouse out of the Guitar Hole" -- would be a cool band name :)

Rain, rain, go away

Today would be one of those days where you just want to curl up with a nice cup of coffee and a good book. It's a dreary, windy and rainy Monday morning. But, look on the bright side, it's a free car wash courtesy of Mother Nature. I actually worked on this piece while at work. I drowned out the clinic surrounding with my iPod and the first song that played was Rihanna's "Umbrella". It was my "feel good" song at the moment...reminded me no matter how busy or bad my day was going, I have the world's most awesome friends!

Tree Hugger

Meet Daphne. She is the object of Apollo's urequitted love. She turned into a laurel tree in her final attempt to escape her suitor.
But, the story was not my initial inspiration. I was driving down Old Country Rd and was waiting at a red light near Eisenhower Park.
I saw this tree with outstretched limbs as if it was going to embrace the tree next to it.

And so here she is....

This is the beginning of a beautiful dream....

Hello there and welcome!

This is my beautiful dream...to find a place where I can share my work, thoughts and inspirations.

Art has always provided me a means of expression and escape from the everyday stressful world. Here, there's nothing I can't be. No boundaries, no limitations -- how awesome is that?!

I've often kept these pieces to myself and rarely showed them to my closest friends. They keep telling me that I should do something with them...but what? Well, here it is: my virtual gallery.

I am an AVID coffee drinker. I like mine black. This is me embracing my "inner coffee self".

Comments, suggestions and critiques are always welcomed as they will help me grow!
Please kindly note that all images belong to yours truly, Mary Kwok. Please do not use these without my permission, thanks!