MTangDesigns

Happy Halloween! I drew Chocolat from a Japanese anime, Sugar Sugar Rune.  When I used my fountain pen to outline the character, the fountain pen had irregular flow which caused excess ink on some areas.  I was a bit upset the fact that it kind of ruined my drawing.  However, I decided to use another pen and fixed it up the best I can since I don't have time to draw another one.  I used to be perfectionist!  The old me would not show a lot of my drawings because it is not perfect.  As I get older, I realized life is not about being perfect all the time which is impossible.  It really is doing your best, be kind to yourself and keep on learning! If your costume or makeup is not perfect, who cares!  Just go out and have fun! "Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing" -- Harriet Braiker #mtangdesigns #happyhalloween

When I walked into Starbucks one day, I saw the anniversary blend package with the starbucks logo siren on.  I love the design of the package! I could not resist.  I have to draw her because she is so beautiful!  I changed her from two tails to one tail.  For my personal preference, I love the one tail mermaid better! Although this is not a drawing of a coffee, I hope mentioning of Starbucks mermaid will spike up your energy a bit! I love the following quote!  Don't forget to shine even it's Monday and you don't feel like it!  Happy Monday, lovelies! "The sun  is a daily reminder that we too can rise again from the darkness, that we too can shine our own light."  -- S. Ajna #mtangdesigns #mermaid

My daughter is going to the Fall Out Boy concert this evening with her friends.  I can't wait to hear all the details about the concert.  I am so glad that she got to make some memories with her friends. "Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable." -- Leonard Bernstein #mtangdesigns #falloutboy

I wanted to buy a pink harness for Niffy but it was sold out.  Since I did not want to wait for the pink one to be restocked, I brought the blue one.  After I put the harness on Niffy, I realized she looks like Peter Rabbit. Walking a rabbit is very different from walking a dog because my bunny spends a good amount of time eating grass.  Let me say I did not get to go far with her. "Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest." -- Beatrix Potter #mtangdesigns #peterrabbit 

 When you see a beautiful chinese brush painting, the painting always has beautiful calligraphy by the painter.  Honestly, chinese calligraphy is my weakest link.  Since I love drawing so much, I really don't like to practice doing calligraphy.  A teacher always knows his/her students' weakness.  After I was done with my first drawing, I tried to draw another picture.  My teacher nicely reminded me to practice calligraphy if I have some extra time. "Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I remember.  Involve me and I learn." -- Benjamin Franklin    I am posting my calligraphy here to keep myself accountable.  I would try harder to improve my chinese calligraphy.    Can you tell which one is my handwriting and which one is my teacher's?  Yup!  The much better looking is my teacher's.    Are there any weakness that you are working on to improve? #mtangdesigns #chinesecalligraphy #calligrap...

    My chinese brush painting teacher instructed all the students to sketch a live orchards using sumi ink and bamboo brush!  It can be challenging because we were not allowed to sketch out the flowers using pencils.  If you made a wrong move, the painting would be ruined.  He taught us to be patient, to take the time to observe and think about the composition of the picture in the mind before we started drawing.  Every time when he wanted us to do something like that I always made me a bit nervous!  However, I am always very happy to dive in and take on the challenge!     "Bloomed where you are planted." -- Anonymous     I have been learning chinese brush painting for several years.  I was horrible at first.  I am glad that I had kept on trying and learning!  I am still not masterful with my skills.  However, I have come a long way.  Have you planted any seeds in the area where you want to see bloomin...

      One of my best friends invited me to do a paint night with her in November.  It's called "Painting with a Purpose"!  I found out it is a monthly fund raising events sponsored by Painting with a Twist.  Proceeds from Painting with a Purpose events are donated to local non-profit organization.  No.. I don't get paid by advertising it.  I am doing it for the love of animals!  Why not do something fun with friends and family for a good cause.     Happy Friday, lovelies! "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Mahatma Gandhi #mtangdesigns #paintingwithapurpose #paintingwithatwist

When I think of a renaissance man, I could not help but think of English poet, playwright William Shakespeare.  Below is Shakespeare's 18 Sonnet: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?  Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date:  Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;  And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st;  So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.  #mtangdesigns #shakespeare #renaissance

One of my best friends suggested going to a new Sichuan restaurant in the neighborhood.  I was pleasantly surprised with good food and tea!  It definitely is a plus when a good tea was served with a nice tea set! "You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."  -- C.S. Lewis #mtangdesign

"Memories the one thing that can never be taken away from us.  Make lots of them!"  -- Catherine Pulsifer    I enjoyed doing some silly doodles on the monthly layout.  Most importantly, it is a visual way to document about what happened during the month.     I hope everyone got to make some memories with friends and family during the weekend.   Happy Monday! #mtangdesign

My daughter got a sweet sixteen party invitation.  Ashley is very exited to attend the party with her friends.  Since she has been really busy with school work and all the practicing of piano.  I am so glad that she get to go out and celebrate her friend's sweet sixteen together. "Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art." -- Stanislaw Lee #mtangdesigns #hobonichi  # 手帳

Meditation is like diving into the sea and you will never know what images or memories will come up.  During my meditation session with my meditation teacher last week, an image of a Renaissance man appeared in my mind.  It is very interesting how our subconscious mind stores so much stuffs without our knowing.  A lot of time when I do meditation with my teacher, he brings me to such a peaceful stage that I learn not to cling to any memories or images.  I just let go and be an observer of my mind.  When one doesn't judge yourself or whatever comes into your head, everything just flows. The creative juice just flow much easier.  How do you get your creative mind? "The creative is the place where no one else has ever been.  You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What you'll discover will be wonderful.  What you'll discover is yourself."  -- Alan Alda #mtangdesigns #sketch #handdra...

Happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone had a great weekend and Columbus Day! I was invited to my best friend's housewarming and birthday party over the weekend!  I am very glad that to have a friend who is always very support of my artworks and me over all.  Of course, I won't miss out a chance to do some drawing for her. "Family is like music, some high notes, some low notes, but always a beautiful song."  - unknown #mtangdesigns

Happy Columbus Day! "You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore." -- Andre Gide Take the time unplug each day to be mindful with your sourndings.  You might discover something interesting! #mtangdesigns

Happy Friday, lovelies!   I'm very excited because I am going to my best friend's housewarming and birthday! "Good friends are like stars.  You don't always see them, but you know they're always there."  -  Old saying Take the time to make memories with your love ones! #mtangdesigns

Just a little update regarding about last Saturday!  I did not get to sleep in as much as I would love to.  My bunny decided to do morning exercise, running laps in my bedroom like a horse! I ended up to have get up a bit early because of my meditation session with a kundalini master.  My kundalini teacher has such a peaceful energy.  I enjoyed working with him very much!  I am really grateful for all the great teachers, masters and human beings out there passing their knowledges. "Life is a series of unexplained events, unplanned laughter, unexpected tears, occasional sorrows and overwhelming joy." -- Susan Gale #mtangdesigns

This little bunny, Nefertiti, has joined my family since August.  We call her Niffy.  My daughter loves having Niffy climbing all over her.  They are just too cute together! "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."  -- Anatole France #mtangdesigns

Tadaa!  My finished September monthly layout! "Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." -- Stanley Horowitz #mtangdesigns

"October is crips days and cool nights, a time to curl up around the dancing flames and sink into a good book." -- John Sinor Happy October! #mtangdesigns