Flint Hills' Trip 2007

Our adventure starts. We arrived in our own car at around 2.20pm after about 2 hrs of driving. At that point we were waiting for the bus to arrive that carried all the kids. This year we have over 40 students plus 20 instructors and organizers combined. It was exciting to see all of them arrive and together with the beautiful breezy and clear skies, I knew it was going to be a great day. Thankfully it wasn't hot and humid. This weekend was one of the best weekends this summer. We gathered and the kids were assigned to each instructors. I had about 4 students. Half from Paseo Academy and half from Pembroke Hill. Here we go.


After we gathered for water bottles, snacks and supplies, we drove to the site which was 3 minutes away from our original meeting ground. We were told to come back to the same spot by 5.30pm. Off we went.


Thats Richard on the left and Jose on the right walking to our first vantage point.


Here are some of my students sketching and collecting images to help them create final pieces for the exhibition in two months.


Steph took this picture of me.


We stopped here for our first sketch site. The best view was behind us.






After 20 minutes, we were off to climb this hill to get to the top of the hill to get a better view. It was a hike with shorts because of the tall grass that left my legs scratched up but the view was rewarding when we got to the top.


This is only one view when we got up to the hill.








Heres Steph having fun outdoors!


Heres the group that was with us on the hill working away.












Talented Richard Raney working with his student. An artist and teacher, this is something he does for a living. Only difference is, its outdoors this time.


My honey reading a book!


One of the students with an instructor working away


Saw myself!


Richard and I in the picture. We had a great time.


This is Max painting away.


Yampi, one of my students from Pembroke Hill. Hes from Bolivia, an exchange student having a blast. He didn't want to leave.


This year was filled with even more inspired students and instructors. The suspense builds as we parted and wishes everyone a great job and excited to see the students again back with their finished pieces at the Leopold Gallery this Fall. What a success!!!!!

We were tired from being in the sun. I was ready to drive home, have a glass of wine and just relax. The ride back was a blast having conversations with Jeremy Collins, one of the instructors/artist, Paul, Richard and Steph. The sunset behind us was incredible as we departed. We wished we could stay a bit longer but it was getting dark. Let me tell you, the warm light hitting the hills made the grass radiate and glow red orange all around.


Heres one of my interpretation of the land. I finished this last week in preparations for my solo exhibition next Month.

Broadway Bridge

A painting for the exhibition next month. One down and many more to go!!!

River Market

We are here at the river market. Needed some coffee to wake up on a Sunday afternoon!!!


Cold Storage??? Hmmm. Cool composition and color.


My beautiful!!!!


We decided to have a hot pot for dinner so we are shopping for last minute ingredients here at the market hoping to find something.


Heres a nice view of the city from the River Market. Perhaps theres potentially a future scene for a painting. I am always looking out for opportunities.




Just getting started with the hot pot.


We prepared some angus beef on sale, napa, gai lan, shrimp, fish, pork and beef balls, wontons, eggs, noodles and much more to keep us interested. I was sooo full at the end. It was so easy to prepare and sooo good!!!

Paintings in Progress

In Sketch stage but it is a scene from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Bridges in Kansas City in progress.


Pulau Redang.


A beach scene from Pulau Redang.


Flint Hill series in progress.

Here you are sampling some paintings that I have finished and/or working on for the show next month. I am in full speed, filled with motivation and inspiration to try to finish 20 paintings in two months. The most I have ever done!!!!! Desperation in this case is my advantage not to mention pressure. Gotta love it!!!

Off to work.

Ethnic Fest in Kansas City

So we decided to head out to the Ethnic Festival held at swope park in Kansas City. Its an annual event and everyone is excited about trying food from different countries. I believe there were more than 40 booths. Each representing a country sharing their authentic food with others.

Here is the entrance as we approached the entrance.


There were flags so of course I would find my country's flag and take a picture.


My sweetie walking towards the event as I messed around with the camera.


Heres just a view of the crowd from inside. There you will not only find food but performances all day long entertaining the crowd.


We wasted no time but walking around sampling food from different countries. We tried Indian first. Sadly we skipped Malaysia since we had Malaysian food this summer in Malaysia.


Heres Mexico. Its odd that the booths that I took pictures of, we didn't try. Well we had mexican food not too long ago. So we tried food from Laos, Philippines, Jamaica and sweden,....


Approaching another booth.


Here we are at Greece. Those of friends of Steph and I. Peter whom I am friends with at Tango class and Theo whom I just met. Both are great people. We had some dolmas (grape leaf wraps) and spinach pies. They were delicious.


What should we have next.


We are almost full and happy.

Broadway Bridge

On my way home from dropping off a painting at the gallery, I decided to stop at this place just by the bank of missouri river underneath Broadway Bridge. This is one of few ways I cross the bridge to get to the city from my apartment North of the river.
The broadway bridge opened thru traffic on Sept. 1956. This bridge used to be a toll bridge until 1991. It replaced the Hannibal Bridge that was once a two level bridge where motor vehicles operated on one and trains on the bottom level.

Driving Around

This evening, my great friend Paul and I drove around to find some inspiring places of Kansas City for me to paint. Here are some great shots I took with my new Nikon D40.

First, we went to vantage point where an old round house in the foreground can be seen.


Perfect timing! Sunset on some railway tracks. It took some climbing to get where I was standing.


Finally, a great shot of Kansas City Downtown at night. I wish i had a tripod but I was able to get a great shot just by resting the camera on the railing.

Progress.

Well, 5 days later and after many many layers of thick oil paint,here is what i got so far.



Here is the next step.


As I have completed filling up the canvas with some paint as its' under painting, my next step is to figure out what other colors I would like on the bottom layer. I intend to build it up with layers of colors. There is usually about 4 to 5 layers of colors by the time i am done. The layers give my paintings its' texture.

First Painting after Trip!

This painting is my first for my next exhibition in October. I have been waiting for a great opportunity to paint figures in my paintings. I think you'll see many of them in this show. I believe figures naturally draw people in. Anyway this is the first step in to finishing this painting. I have just glazed it with some burnt sienna and turpentine.

I will reveal what this painting is for and what its about later. But for the most part, its pretty straightforward. For now i better get back to work. Deadline is on the 24th. I have 18 other canvases to fill by mid September. The race begins. I am READY!!!!

My Homeland

This is where I am from baby!!!! Well my trip to Malaysia ended on Tuesday afternoon on July 17th. I miss my family, friends and food the most. Even though I have been away for a long time and I am not sure when I will be going home again, I always feel like I never left when I get there. Its nice being in the citizen line during immigration at the airport. I hope to see my family and friends again soon!