Sunny Apinchapong's Class at 3 Kicks Studio

Here are paintings I did at Sunny's Class. I had a great time getting back to oil paintings with a discipline that allowed me to push colors and create a sense of surprise.  

Cocoon Tower in Tokyo

It's a school for fashion and design. The building is one of the coolest I have ever seen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_Gakuen_Cocoon_Tower

In Japon

 I bought some snacks here.

 A view from Taikanso, where a renowned artist, Yokoyama Taikan, used to stay.

 A quiet temple. I actually painted inside the property:)

Nishi-Honoji. A big temple.

 Togetsukyo. A famous bridge in Kyoto.

Bamboo walkway. I imagine China will look like this, and there will be Panda in between bamboos.

San Gabriel City Hall

I was interested in the architecture as much as the vertical composition. I was going for the rhythm that spirals up. I like how the stairs go up through the arched hallway.

From Griffith Park.

Fantasy Art Contest Result

I participated in Fantasy Art Contest. I wasn't able to win, but it was a good experience. Here are the winners' work. http://www.kfsnet.co.jp/contest/win/2012/fantasy/?id=2 The top winner's work looks like Pixar's upcoming short La Luna, but I guess that's what's interesting about art. I am still not able to figure out the secret after all these years.

Rose Bowl

The hardest thing to paint near Rose Bowl is to find a good spot. I was able to paint on one of the tables on the field right after soccer match finished. The strong sun light was on the hillside garden and the houses.

A Noise Within Theater?

I am not sure what this theater is called, but it is across Americana and pretty big. The emergency exit stairs are so rusted and wimpy that makes me wonder if any one have ever used.

Valley Village Park/ North Atwater Park

I painted on location and touched up in my studio using photos I took. I like to get the mood or impression on location, but something photos are helpful to figure out the relationships of each color.

LA Historic State Park

This is a nice view from the park looking towards a bridge and a mountain behind. The bridge is Broadway Blvd going over LA River. I just watched the movie IN TIME, and the bridge was in the movie.

Happy New Year!

I wish you all have a great year:)

2011 is almost over

We have about two more weeks to go until we welcome the year of the end, 2012.It will be interesting to see the apocalypse not from a movie screen but for real. How the light will look like then? Of course, I don't wish the end to come. Honestly, I don't think it will happen.

Rose Bowl

I did another painting near Rose Bowl. The hardest thing about painting there is to find a good spot where I can quietly paint and not worry about the joggers or dogs... I found nice stairs no one uses, so I sat there and painted this scene. Originally, I just wanted to paint the house, but I ended up including the area around it. The house is barely visible at this point, but the idea is to show how it is a part of this big hill.

Pasadena House

The house was built right on the edge of the hill, which was covered with trees and bushes. The sunlight was also hitting the house straight on. The setting was perfect to make a good painting.

North Hollywood

Victory/Vineland Recreation Center.

North Hollywood Regional Branch Library

It's a historical building I believe. The sytle is mixture of Art Deco and Spanish. It has very nice interior as well. The low ceiling gives an antique feel to the space.

Panorama Vista

St Paul's First Lutheran Church

I did this during lunch time. It was fun to paint the light pattern on this beautiful building.

http://www.stpaulsfirst.org

Santa Monica Pier

3pm. Great lighting. Yet Monday Pier was a bit deserted.Glendale Power Plant. 6pm. The structure is interesting that it almost look like a theme park. Compare with the image above and you will find the similarity.

Glendale-Metro Region

I liked how the center tree sat in the middle of the grass, and everything else looked as if they were surrounding it like Shrek's tree house in the swamp. The trunk had interesting twist as well.