Breezy Summer Picnic

iPad drawing

It was only recently that my husband and I started having a picnic at the park. We were more for trail walking and hiking that we forgot the joy of relaxing outside. We went to a nearby park some time ago and decided to sit under a tree to cool down. It was mostly for our dog, Dingo, because he’s not so great with the heat. We ended up staying there for a while.

After that accidental picnic, we’ve been planning for more. For the last few weeks, our area in Washington was affected by wildfire. Smoky air came and went, preventing us from enjoying the outdoors. Finally, the clear sky was back, and we decided to have lunch at the park.

I made some Korean rice rolls called ‘Gimbob’ and a Kong toy snack for Dingo. We sat down under a short but wide tree that created more shade. Having a meal outside always excites me. It feels like going on a field trip as a kid, especially with Gimbob, a must-have for Korea’s field trips. Dingo also enjoyed his little lunch, smacking his Kong around trying to take the food out.

After a simple but delicious meal, we laid down to enjoy the relaxing afternoon. The summer breeze was gently shaking the leaves, playing peekaboo with the shining sun. There was a construction site next to the park, so it was not so quiet. But every time the loud machine stopped, the birds chirping and the tree leaves clapping amplified.

Dingo’s nose was busy picking up any fun smell in the air. He was a bit alert with all the beeping and banging sounds from the construction but eventually calmed down and fall asleep between my husband and me. I fall asleep briefly, too. It was the sweetest nap in a while.

If you haven’t had a picnic for a while, how about this weekend?

My dog came to comfort me

iPad drawing

When I read a book or watch a drama, sometimes the stories make my eyes watery. Then, I’d whimper. My dog, Dingo, who was sleeping comfortably, wakes up so fast and comes over and comforts me. I’d pat and hug him, saying thank you, assuring him that everything is okay. He lingers a bit before going back to his previous spot to lie down again. But the tears don’t dry up quickly, and I’d whimper again. Dingo hurries to come over to me again. And this whole thing would happen a couple more times before my tears successfully disappear.

I’m not sure if other animals are so loyal to their human feelings, like dogs. Every time my heart gets heavy and hard, Dingo will come and melt it for me. So I decided not to get mad at him. It doesn’t make sense to get angry at him, who always tries to ensure my happiness.

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According to my husband, the drawing doesn’t quite look like Dingo but looks just like him. He has these bright brown eyes looking through you, and when he does that, his head gets so long. I enjoyed making this drawing very much. I even laughed at it many times throughout the process. I captured one point that it looked like Dingo was wearing a mud face mask.

I wonder what other people see in their dogs that outsiders don’t see.

Weeping Giant Sequoia and a Red Car

iPad drawing

It was a cloudy morning. The sky looked like it would drop rain any minute but never released the water. Hot summer morning got so humid bring the sweat from me instead of the cloud. Everything felt so drooping, even this Weeping Giant Sequoia tree. It looked like looking around for some water. Probably I saw it that way because I was thirsty. When I got closer to the tree, I spotted a red truck parked next to it. That intense bright color lifted my mood. I walked the last bit of walk rhythmically to my oasis, home. Dingo also sped up with my changed footsteps.

Later that day, we finally got some rain, just enough to see the ground got darker. I hoped the tree got a fresh shower that it deserved. And I hope everyone had a good morning.

Morning Sun and Sprinkler

iPad drawing

Every weekday morning, I come out with my husband when he goes to work. Then, after waving at my husband driving away, I walk with our dog around the neighborhood. Our route starts from big roads with some office buildings, and less than halfway, I reenter the residential area. I let our dog, Dingo, sniff enough and do his business before entering the neighborhood, so he doesn’t need to step in other people’s front yard.

It was still pretty early in the morning, around 6: 30 a.m. A few cars passed. A loud bus surprised busy sniffing Dingo a bit. I laughed and assured him to continue on his serious investigation in the grass. I turned around, just making sure of my surroundings. Then I saw the rising sun was hanging in the middle of a tree across the road. Sprinklers were refreshing the thirsty grass. I love watching the sunrise. It always gives me hope for the day. Just these two ordinary things made my not so special morning so special.

I hope everyone is having a good morning.

A tree with yellow flowers 노란 꽃이 핀 나무

Recently, I made a crochet bag for my iPad mini that I bought last year for making drawings. I always wanted to start plein air with it, and it’s an excellent excuse for making a bag.

On a warm Saturday, I went to the park next to my place with Dingo wearing my newly made bag. I walked around the park a few times so Dingo can stretch his legs a bit. After the walk, I took a spot under a large tree facing a smaller tree with tiny yellow flowers.

I started drawing with some lines then applied colors. Drawing with a digital device with a new program is like dealing with an unfamiliar art material. I’ve been drawing Dingo with the program called, Procreate a lot, so I’m comfortable with it in that sense. However, the landscape is a whole different story. I started like I’d draw Dingo, but I felt pretty awkward on my hand. It got better, but I was very hesitant, and I didn’t like the feeling of me not knowing what I was doing. Although I like how the drawing turned out, I definitely need to practice more to be comfortable.

The sweet scent came and went with the summer breeze while I was drawing, then I realized that it was an acacia tree that I was looking at.

There is a children’s song in Korea called ‘Road of the orchard.’ The song starts like this:

Acacia flowers are burst into bloom on the road of the orchard in the outskirts of a village.
The petals of white flowers are blowing away like snowflakes.

So all this time, I thought acacia flowers are only white! The candy-like scent brought the childhood memory that my friends and I used to suck the end of the acacia flowers to eat their sweet honey. It was a lovely feeling of nostalgia.

Do you have any beautiful memories of acacia flowers?

최근 코바늘로 작은 가방을 떴다. 작년에 산 아이패드 미니로 야외에서 그림을 그리고 싶다는 것을 핑계삼아 실을 사고 디자인을 찾아 신나게 만들었다. 어느 따듯한 토요일, 새로 만든 가방을 매고 딩고와 집 옆 공원에 나갔다. 딩고와 공원을 몇바퀴 돈 후, 작은 노란색 꽃들이 만발한 나무를 마주하고 있는 큰 나무 밑에 자리를 잡고 앉았다.

라인들로 그림의 틀를 잡고 색을 입혀 나갔다. 전자기기로 그림을 그리는 것는 처음 사용하는 드로잉 재료를 대하는 것과 같다. 아이패드의 프로그램, 프로크리에이트로 딩고를 많이 그려봤기 때문에 거기에 맞는 편안함이 있었지만 풍경을 그리는것은 많이 달랐다. 딩고를 그리는 것 처럼 시작 했지만 손끝에 어색함이 있었다. 그 낯설음이 점점 좋아지긴 했어도 멈칫거리며 어쩔줄을 모르는 느낌은 좋지 못했다. 마음에 드는 그림이 완성 되었지만 망설임 없이 그릴 수 있도록 많은 연습이 필요함을 느꼈다.

그림을 그리는 동안 달달하고 향긋한 냄새가 여름바람에 실려 날라왔다 가기를 반복했다. 그 냄새를 맡으면서 내가 그리는 나무가 아카시아 나무라는것을 깨달았다. 어릴적 듣고 부르던 ‘과수원길’ 노래의 가사는 동구밖 과수원길에 하얀 아카시아 꽃잎들이 눈송이 처럼 날리는 이야기로 시작한다. 그래서 였을까, 난 지금까지 아카시아는 하안 꽃만 피는 줄 알았다. 달달한 꽃 냄새를 맡으니 어릴적 친구들과 아카시아 꽃잎 뒤에 있는 달달한 꿀을 빨아 먹으며 놀았던 기억이 났다. 아름다운 향수였다.

당신에게도 아카시아 꽃에 대한 아름다운 기억이 있나요?

I used this design to make the bag. 제가 참고한 가방 디자인 입니다.

Sleeping Dingo under the cushion on the couch 쇼파위 쿠션 밑에서 자는 딩고

I was stuck on my art with thoughts that were wandering around in my head like drifting clouds. I decided to read the beautiful new book on my favorite artist, David Hockney, for refreshing. I buy few types of books without hesitation, and one of them is books about Hockney. Reading his stories and thoughts always helps me think about my work and be an artist. It’s my self-prescription for myself when I have difficulties with my art.

During weekdays I try to have a regular schedule for working on my art. So from morning to late afternoon, I’m in my small fenced area that my dog, Dingo, can’t come in. He usually sleeps near the fence or on his cushion in the same room. When I grabbed the book and sat comfortably on the couch, I could tell Dingo was happy that I was out of the forbidden zone. Then, he brought his blanket, telling me he wants to come up. When he hopped on, he pushed the cushion I had for supporting the book and lay half under it.

It’s been two and half years since Dingo became our family. I don’t know how possible, but I still find him so cute and lovely every moment I look at him. I loved the warmth of his body against my leg, and it amplified my love for him. I opened my iPad and started to draw. Thankfully he didn’t move until I started reading.

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머릿속에서 뜬구름처럼 떠다니는 잡념들로 작업에 진전이 없었다. 그 생각들을 바꾸고 싶어 얼마전 배달받은 기분 좋아지게 예쁜 호크니 책을 집어 들고 쇼파에 앉았다. 호크니에 대한 책들은 내가 아무 망설임 없이 사는 책들중 하나이다. 그에 관한, 그리고 그가 해주는 이야기는 언제나 작업과 작가로서의 삶에 대한 생각을 다시금 하게 도와준다. 호크니의 책들은 내가 작업에 어려움을 느낄때 내가 나에게 내리는 셀프 처방전과 같다.

혼자서 작업을 하는 나는 월요일부터 금요일까지 규칙적으로 작업시간을 엄수하려 노력하고 있다. 그래서 아침부터 늦은 오후까지 대부분의 시간을 작은 작업 공간에서 보내는데, 이곳에 딩고가 들어오지 못하게 낮은 팬스를 둘러놓았다. 그럴때면 딩고는 팬스옆에서 잠을 자거나 근처에 깔아둔 녀석의 쿠션위에서 휴식을 취한다. 내가 책을 들고 쇼파에 앉았을때 딩고는 내가 닿을 수 없는 곳에서 나온것에 기뻐했다. 그리고는 바로 침실에서 자기 담요를 끌고 와 쇼파에 올려달라 신호를 보냈다. 쇼파에 올라온 딩고는 내가 책을 받치기 위해 놓아둔 쿠션을 밀어 올려 그 아래에 자리를 잡고 누웠다.

딩고가 우리 식구가 된지도 이년반이나 지났다. 어떻게 이것이 가능한지는 몰라도 나는 아직도 녀석의 모든것들이 귀엽고 사랑스럽다. 내 옆에 딱 붙어누운 딩고의 온기가 내 다리에 옮겨지며 그 사랑스러움을 증폭시켰다. 나는 책 읽기를 미루고 아이패드를 열어 드로잉을 시작했다. 고맙게도 녀석은 내가 드로잉을 끝내고 책을 펼때까지 가만히 잠자는 자세를 유지해 주었다.

Sleeping Dingo Dreaming Of The Hiking (and more)

iPad drawing 2020

Early fall last year, we went to Mount Lillian Loop trail of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington. The beginning of the route was a bit hard to find. Thankfully we met very nice people at the campground who showed us a map and the direction.

It was about a seven-mile trail, but it got longer because we kept going out of the path. A couple of sections of the course didn’t have enough trees to protect us from the sun. Because of these unexpected hiccups, the hike was more difficult than we imagined. In the end, we had to stop pretty often, and every time we did, Dingo lay down next to our feet.
But I loved the trail. Burnt trees from the fire back in 2012 made the forest feel eerie. Occasionally We met a bunch of colorful flowers. Intense-colored flowers on mostly dusty roads made it surreal.

When we finally finished the hiking and spotted our car, Dingo was ready to hop on. He started whining and pulling the leas so hard towards the car.

The road to the trail was narrow, and one side was next to a cliff. Many off-road vehicles were coming to the trail when we were leaving. We had to wait at a corner to be safe. It was a bit of a wait but fun to look at all the different cars.

When we got home, all of us took a nice long nap. After my husband and I woke up, Dingo followed us but decided to sleep more on his bed. I was looking at him, wondering if he was dreaming about the hike—so many smells to sniff for him from the trees, flowers, dirt, and small animals. I enjoy taking Dingo to mountains or flatland trails. I can see him being extra happy in those environments. I’m not sure when, but I’m already looking forward to our next hiking.

Dingo walking on a narrow path surrounded by pink flowers, 2020
Acrylic and pencil on clay board 8″ x 10″ (20.32 x 25.4 cm)

After a couple of days from the hike, I made this small painting of Dingo walking on a narrow path surrounded by pink flowers. This scene was the most memorable area for me from the trail.

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Gouache on Paper 4″ x 6″

I also made Day Color paintings about the hike. I fear height, so I couldn’t go close to the cliff to take a good picture or video at the peak. But I took a nice picture of my husband. Drawing and painting only from the memories have a charm that making art from a photograph doesn’t have.

I hope everyone has a beautiful week!

Sleeping Dingo on the couch while I’m reading

Whenever I decide to read for a while, I like to make myself comfortable on the couch. When it’s a bit chilly, I put cushions all around and cover myself with a blanket. When I about to start reading, Dingo brings his colorful dotted blanket to me. He wants to join me on the couch. I put his blanket between my legs so I can still stretch out. When I tap on his spot, Dingo jumps on and circle around a few times before lying down. After a while, I start hearing his snoring. I slowly put my book down and grab my iPad very quietly and start drawing him. I sketch him first just in case he changes his position, which he does a lot. After done sketching and adding colors, I carefully put my iPad down and open my book again. Even though reading is a very private activity, his company just makes it better.

Game playing husband and Dingo

Whenever my husband plays video games, our dog Dingo is always paying attention to him. When the game doesn’t go well for my husband, Dingo is there to support him. Any small sign of frustration, Dingo will put his paw on my husband and look at him with eyes as mellow as possible. One time, we all sitting on a couch. I was watching tv, and my husband was playing a game with a handheld console. All of a sudden, Dingo jumped off and went to my husband’s side to comfort him. I didn’t hear anything from my husband, so I thought Dingo was miss heard or something. My husband told me that he was getting frustrated and rolled his eyes without any sound. We laughed at our funny conclusion that Dingo heard his eyes rolling. Nobody can get mad at games under Dingo’s nose or ears.

Garden of the cabin in Monroe

Early this year, my husband and I and our dog had a short trip to Monroe, Washington, for our anniversary. We rented a lovely cabin with a good-sized garden. Early morning the next day, I went out to the porch with some hot coffee. The rain was drizzling. The cold, wet morning made my coffee tastier. I sat at a table watching my dog exploring the new place and certainly had an urge to paint. I set my small painting kit up and painted the center of the garden. While I was painting, my dog kept asking me to throw his ball for him. I always have a hard time ignoring my dog’s play invite; it’s my weak spot. Thankfully he moved on to sniffing, and I could manage to finish the painting. Painting outside is pretty new to me. It quickly became my must-do thing when I go on vacation, especially if I stay at a quiet place like this. (Even though there was a helicopter hovering forever somewhere near us.) My husband joined me at the end of the painting process. Watching him playing with our dog put a smile on my face. Small memories like this will give me the strength to live day by day a bit happier. What memories do you have that help you to push through your life? I hope everyone can feel today as the day that will make the next day happier.

[iPad Drawing] Sleeping Dingo under my desk

I have an ‘L’ shaped computer desk in my workroom. I placed Dingo’s cushion under one side of the desk so he can relax more comfortably. He is like a shadow of me in the house. He follows me everywhere almost all the time. When I don’t move around, he tries to lay down as close as possible to me. When I sit at the computer desk and work for a while, he often sleeps right next to the chair, and sometimes I kick him by accident when I stand up to leave the room. I hoped putting the cushion under the desk would prevent that trouble. But for some reason, he still rests right next to my chair. So whenever I see him on the cushion chilling safely, it puts a smile on my face.

 

[iPad Drawing] Sleeping Dingo on his bed like baby

Have you seen your dog lying on a pillow?  I heard that dogs like to hide their bodies but their faces to watch the surroundings.  And the pillow is a useful object for supporting their heads.  It’s an interesting theory.  However, it still doesn’t explain why they sleep on it.  I wonder if wild dogs or wolfs have access to something similar to pillows, would they use it?  I think this kind of mysteries makes us anthropomorphize dogs.  Sometimes when I look at Dingo’s face, I don’t see a dog but a baby.