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I ordered about 30 wood panels for Life Lessons exhibit. Mounting rice paper onto panel is not easy job. Wrinkles might develop if there’s humidity in the picture. So I take three steps to avoid wrinkles as follow: firstly, I glue a sheet of rice paper as base layer on the wood panel with clear gesso. Secondly, glue a thin sheet of polypropylene to avoid water absorption. Leave it one or two days until it has fully dried . Thirdly, mount the fished artwork onto the layered panel with neutral pH glue and mix it 2 to 1 with distilled water. Spray UV coats when it’s completed.

Another street festa in Cabbagetown South community today. I participated just for fun. There’s only five craft maker’s tables, one food vendor, face painter for kids and clowns, and Elvis impersonator (!). We all gathered in the middle of Stanton St, between Dundas and Gerrard so peacefully like a whole family reunion. Elvis was great! He changed his costume three times and his son also performed like young Evlis with teddy cut. I played Elvis’s Suspicious Minds loud when I get studio.

Did some commission for….I can’t mention the name of the company but the most major Japanese company for all the time. The subject is Bon Jovi. No matter how Jon Bon Jovi change his look, he’s still my king of rock since my high school years. I played my old “Access All Area” bootleg DVD while I’m on my work. I actually met JBJ in person three times in my life. First was in Shinjuku, Tokyo and I got his autograph. Second was at Hard Rock Cafe in Roppongi after their Tokyo Dome show and I enjoyed their secret acoustic set. The last time I saw him was on 5th Avenue in NY and I shook his hand. Will there be fourth?

I’m a part of Cabbagetown South community since I moved my work space in 2010. This weekend was my first Cabbagetown Arts Festival and it has successfully finished. Saturday was rain, obviously I’m a Rain Man. Although we made some sales, prints of Audry and she’s totally a star in my tent. In the next day, we had a beautiful clear sky and gained more customers awareness and sales. Oh outdoor show, Ah outdoor show. Once I told myself “No more outdoor show” I was fed up with outdoor shows for many years because I’ve done too many in the past, like four or five outdoor shows per summer that was too much. I don’t remember when my last outdoor show was…but probably I haven’t done anything in the past 8 years or so. Now I could enjoyed it much like musician’s back on the road. It was fun for me to setting up a tent, sitting under the sky and chatting new friends. And of course, food vendors hopping is one of my excitement. I look forward to my next.

Former Mayor of NYC, Bloomberg once said “We Are New York is a terrific example of what makes our City so vibrant – a great diversity of people working together towards a common destiny,”
Now I’m working on a series of drawing for Nuit Blanche. Drawing portraits of people from all across GTA area including Mayor Rob Ford, city cuncilers, company presidents, festival organizers, critics, writers, artists, musicians, curators, local business people and students that reflects Toronto’s vibrant diversity character. I’m pretty much enjoying for all the process of this art installation, discovering who is who, knowing history of Toronto is so much fun.

One of my best friend and great artist, Harvey Chan is returned Toronto from his homeland HK. Tonight we gathered for a special exhibition for him. More than thirty artists has participated and collaborated with him to create an art piece. It was a great night, a cerebration of our history of friendship.

I attended two gallery openings tonight. One is the ArtBarrage‘s Guest Room show I’m participating with three new drawings, the other is Gary Taxali‘s showcase at OCAD gallery. I was able to talk with at least a dozen of friends and the artists, and so enjoyed the conversations.

The ArtBarrage’s Guest Room show is still up to July 29th featuring 37 Canadian artists. worth to see it!

 
Breakfast at Starbucks
:case of Dylan

Breakfast at Starbucks
:case of Hepburn

Breakfast at Starbucks
:case of Lennon

Archival ball-point pen, Acrylic, Washi-paper, mounted on wood panel.
8 x 10″ 

I’m working on a new series for group show next month. It is a mixed media piece with archival ball-point pen, acrylic on Washi(rice paper) mounted to wood panel. It is not easy to mount thin rice paper onto panel. I didn’t want to lose texture of the delicately beauty of Washi, so I sensibly mixed a rice glue in the traditional manner and stretching out a piece of starched paper onto a board for “Hirabari” which is also traditional way of mounting Washi on board.

I’m happy to announce that my second batch prints of Life Lessons, a portrait series of historical icons has arrived. And tonight was the night of 2nd annual summer solstice, private gala party at FMI where my studio located.


A talented jazz singer Janet Elizabeth released her 1st demo and performed in the gallery space. She is so stunning. The gallery is also represent collected artworks by Jay Richardson. These works represent some brilliant examples of contemporary art in Canada. 
It’s been two years since I got my own work space under FMI. I appreciate their generous sponsorship and friendship. And I really honoured to be a part of FMI family.