January Artworks

Who doesn’t like a steaming hot coffee or chocolate in the morning especially in the current chilly weather that we now enjoy in the Philippines? This art was inspired by another one by JoelDeJong Art. I liked the way he painted the steam coming out from the cup and I tried to duplicate it.

A few days ago, while enjoying my coffee, I decided to create a monochromatic painting inspired by the moment. Using burnt sienna, I captured the scene on-site as sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm light across my brown table. I was struck by how the sun reflected off my steaming mug, and I wanted to preserve that quiet beauty in watercolor. This simple yet meaningful study became a reflection of a peaceful morning and the warmth of the everyday. The steam was of course exaggerated on purpose.

I have a book about how to create stunning acrylic art and saw this jar painted using the medium. I painted a watercolor version and though I was not able to duplicate exactly as in the photo, the flow of watercolor on my paper resulted to a textured appearance of the base. I liked how the shadow of the vase granulated on this one using French Ultramarine blue mixed with iron oxide brown.

I love going to the beach. If you search this blog site, you’ll find several articles about our local travel to the different beaches in the Philippines. My kids and I would sometimes look for shells and arrange them on the sand so that hermit crabs will be able to go in groups and change into the shells – like a group of athletes changing clothes in a locker room. Haha!

The start of the year has been mostly quiet for our family. My kids have settled back into their school routines, and Ian and I have resumed our hands-on activities together. We’ve been focusing on practical skills, like selecting fresh vegetables, caring for our betta fish, and learning how to propagate plants to add to our small fish tanks. I’ll share more about these activities with Ian soon, but for now, here’s a glimpse of our latest watercolor project: halo-halo!

In case you’re unfamiliar, halo-halo is a beloved Filipino dessert made with crushed ice topped with an array of treats—sweetened bananas, yam, gelatin, red mung beans, kidney beans, leche flan, jackfruit slices, rice crispies, and ice cream—all drizzled with milk and sugar. To enjoy it, you mix everything in the cup, creating a delicious medley of flavors and textures. While halo-halo is especially popular on hot days in the Philippines, it’s so delicious that it’s perfect any time of the year!

I’ve had the reference photo for this one since last year but only got the chance to paint it last week. I tried to capture the reflected autumnal forest beyond the bridge and the reflection of the arching bridge. Reflections on a flowing water are hard to paint!

My friend Jayson, who is currently pursuing his PhD in Belgium, recently shared photos from his trip around Europe. Among them was a stunning shot of a gorge in Denmark that immediately caught my eye. I asked for copies of his photos and his permission to paint them, and he kindly agreed. Here’s the first piece in what I’m calling my “Europe Series” of watercolor artworks, inspired by his incredible photography.

Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to photos of old and abandoned houses. There’s an inexplicable charm to them—a quiet beauty that feels steeped in mystery. These homes were once warm, vibrant places, sheltering lives, laughter, and countless stories. Now, in their state of abandonment, they seem to hold whispers of memories long forgotten.

Why were they left behind? Perhaps their inhabitants moved on, choosing to leave the past behind them. Whatever the reason, these houses once stood as silent witnesses to lives lived within their walls—moments of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. Their weathered facades seem to tell fragments of those untold stories, and I can’t help but imagine what they might have seen. This artwork features an old farmer’s house that one might see in the rural areas. You can see where there are already holes on the wall; some planks have oxidized to orange; and the overgrowth of wild grass and trees around it. Some may find a house like this ugly, for me it has a certain charm that appeal to me.

I referenced this one from an AI-generated photo of skeleton flowers which according to cursory research thrive in countries like China and Japan. The delicate white flowers looked pretty against the rocks.