Blog

A tribute to the year of the dog and to my sister's adorable black lab.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/puppy-basket-alice-chen.html

Part of a series where I seek to capture the essence of the dragons from the Chinese myths and folktales I grew up with that have always been an inspiration to me. They were lords of the sea, kind and wise but also proud and strong.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/eternal-alice-chen.html

I drew this some time ago as a gift to my cousin when her daughter turned one. Children are the suns in their parents hearts towards which they turn, hence the sunflowers. ^_^

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-warmth-in-our-hearts-alice-chen.html

I really love butterflies as a symbol. With the way they go from something plain to something beautiful (that can fly!), they really are the perfect symbol of positive change. ^_^

FAA Link:
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/metamorphosis-alice-chen.html

A slice of this image was used as a banner in the story The Line Between:
https://www.wattpad.com/350629332-the-line-between-1-day-of-origins

The peonies are in bloom again and beautiful as ever.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/peony-dream-alice-chen.html

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/peony-dream-alice-chen.html

There are myths that say that, if you can catch the white hart, you can make a wish.

FAA Link: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/bearer-of-wishes-alice-chen.html

A part of this image is being used as a banner for this story: https://www.wattpad.com/387671482-the-line-between-7-crests-of-snow

A meeting of eyes and the beginning of something beautiful.

Link: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/when-our-eyes-meet-alice-chen.html

A play off the myths where the rooster’s cry is what calls the sun out. ^_^

FAA link: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/harbinger-of-light-alice-chen.html

A slice of this image was used as a banner for this story: https://www.wattpad.com/381858202-the-line-between-the-gold-of-hearts

This was inspired by a photograph my dad took on a family trip to the Rockies. He’s always been very proud of that photo, and I find it wonderful how delighted he is whenever he talks about it. That really was a wonderful family trip.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/memories-of-yesterday-alice-chen.html

Another brief venture into abstract art. :)
I was thinking about a quote from A Wizard of Earthsea that I've liked since I first read it years ago.

"Only in silence, the word. Only in dark, the light. Only in dying, life."
Forgive me if I got the punctuation wrong.

See up close at: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/pale-darkness-abstract-alice-chen.html

A slice of this image was used as a banner for this story chapter: https://www.wattpad.com/375069145-the-line-between-5-pale-darkness

I fell in love with peonies after I drew some for my grandmother (they’re her favorite flowers). Looking at them, I can totally understand why they came to be thought of as flowers of fortune.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/phantom-peonies-alice-chen.html

This image was used as a banner for Ch. 4 of this Wattpad novel: https://www.wattpad.com/story/94280500-the-line-between

These are a kind of children's toy called a bamboo dragonfly. You rub the stick between your hands and the 'wings' spin, carrying it up into the air. I used to have some when I was a kid. I wasn't very good with them, but I always thought they were cool. Simple but fun. I miss that kind of simplicity.

Image Link: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/dancing-on-the-wind-alice-chen.html

Used as a banner pic for this story: https://www.wattpad.com/story/94280500-the-line-between

Another tribute to the year of the rooster. They really are very striking birds.

A golden moment...

Another tribute to the year of the rooster that's coming around the corner. Let us march on forward, heads held high.

This is part of my quail family series. This one is dedicated to the holidays: the family reunion.

For the year of the rooster: a challenge to the sun.

A quiet moment together, secluded by the blossoms of our affections and dreams. I also wanted to study the use of white as a focus point.

Can you find all the hearts?

The flowers of fortune on the tides of our lives.

A cute couple of quail...

A split second between motions.

Though loud, there is something soothing about the sound of roaring waterfalls.

Blue orchids represent rarity because, well, they're rare. I rather enjoyed drawing the pot. All the little reflections...

The delicate balance between lives.

The vivid colors of a fire in the shape of a peony.

Sunflowers always turn their faces towards the sun. In some ways, I think that makes it the perfect plant for symbolizing our search not only for happiness but truth and hope and all those other things that might be considered guiding lights in our lives.

This is part of a series that was inspired by a real story I heard where the sight of a row of baby quail running in a line after their parents lifted a man's spirits and reminded him of the beauty of the world.

Part of a series in honor of the dragons of the Chinese folktales I grew up with—their pride and their grace, wisdom and strength.

That moment of expectation just before the flight. Waiting.

This cat is a lady! ^_^

I've always liked those super up-close pictures of flowers that really show off their petals and colors. So I wanted to try it myself with one of my favorite flowers to draw..

Butterflies have tea in the midst of a bed of flowers. :)
I'm particularly happy with the tea in the cup.

I've finally made up my mind to try and start using this site more. In celebration, here's one of my own favorites from my Quail Family series. :)

This image is half of a set, the other being based on the sea. Can you see the human profile? Or do you see the mountain?

The other piece, the sea one, is the piece that was selected for the "Sustaining/Creating" exhibition.

I'm very excited because I have a piece that has been chosen for the Sustainability/Creativity exhibition at the Smithsonian staring this September.

One of my relatives' favorite thing about this picture is the fact that the dragon is in the shape of a figure eight. In Chinese, the word for eight is pronounced "ba" which sounds similar to "fa", which can be roughly translated to gaining good fortune and wealth. Therefore the number 8 is generally considered to be a lucky number.