Photo: This is my first attempt at painting with Chinese watercolors. Summer 2004. My Chinese name can be read on the right hand side of the painting from top to bottom. My seal is stamped at the bottom of the painting as is the custom with Chinese artists.
Painting is an art that I never dreamed I’d be good at. But I discovered with the right attitude and a patient friend who also happens to be an excellent teacher, I was actually successful at my first attempt at painting with Chinese watercolors.
Vivian and I met in China during the summer of 2004. She’s an art professor at a university in Northern China and since we both share a love of art, we hit it off within a few minutes of meeting each other. Vivian became a close and respected friend. She eventually moved in with me and we lived together for a year before I left China to move to Taiwan. I like to think of her as my family in China. I miss her terribly.
Vivian is a very talented painter and she became determined to teach me how to paint before I left China. These photos are the result of my first attempt at a watercolor painting. I worked on it for four months under her careful attention and guidance. We spent hours painting and chatting in my sunny living room in China. Needless to say, I am thrilled with the results and I can’t pick up a paintbrush today or look at art without thinking of Vivian. I wish we were still able to share these special times together. I started painting again this year in Taiwan and I still enjoy it immensely. Vivian passed on a wonderful gift, but I find it a little lacking without her here beside me.
After I finished my painting, Vivian and I had it mounted on a traditional scroll. I took it home last year to keep it safe and it’s one of the first treasures I pulled out to look at when I returned home this summer.
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That’s pretty cool Carrie!
Wow Carrie that painting looks absolutely amazing!
You spent four months painting it? It is spectacular for a first painting.
Yes, you should continue to paint. Watercolor is the most difficult form of painting. It is very meticulous and every stroke counts. I wonder what you would be like with acrylic or oil……
wow Carrie! That is beautiful. such a talented girl. how are the wedding plans going?
omg! i can really relate with this. i mean, i studied in a chinese school for some parts of my primary education and we did this for art class. my dad is half-chinese hence my surname. although i dont look like it. i love what you did by the way. thanks for posting the picture. great job!