Redwoods, Muir Woods National Monument
2448 x 3264 - 4.6MB, Photograph, Jun 2013

Redwoods, Muir Woods National Monument
2448 x 3264 - 4MB, Photograph, Jun 2013

The park is located in Mill Valley, Marin County, California and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Jan 2008.  William Kent and his wife, Elizabeth Thacher Kent, purchased the land with the goal of protecting the redwoods and the mountain. The monument was named after naturalist John Muir, whose environmental campaigns helped build up the National Park system.

The trees you see from the two pictures are named Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as coast redwood, giant redwood, and California redwood. It's the major attraction of the Muir Woods National Monument. Such kind of redwoods can grow to around 380 feet. So far the tallest tree in the Muir Woods is 258 feet. Generally Sequoia sempervirens can live 1200 - 1800 years or more. Most of the redwoods in the monument are between 500 - 800 years old. Nowadays, the oldest is more than 1,200 years old in the monument.

When I saw the trees what Napoleon Hill had once said just came into my mind, “The strongest oak tree of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.” I thoroughly realized why the redwoods have lived for over a thousand years and are still living vitally. 

I always can get a great mental reflection, meditation, and inspiration from the nature. It helps me find out the essence of life as well as influences my artistic creation. I hope you enjoy the nature as well.

Self-Portrait - Oil Painting on Canvas   
40.5-inch x 23.5-inch, Nov 2011   

Flowers
2592 x 1936 - 2.1MB, Photograph, Mar 2011

It's my first time to try to have my self-portrait. If you ask me why I had chosen to do it, I think the answer is I want to find out the meaning of life to me besides who I am and what I want.

The meaning of life is a very well-discussed philosophical question that talks about the significance of life. Like most people, I often ask myself such kind of question. Actually, life for me is challenging just like others. 

Painting lets me learn how to have a good self-insight as well as to keep my focuses. For me, "Life is a song - sing it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it." by Sai Baba. I also highly agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall".

In the real world, life is not an easy matter for most people and we can't live through it without falling into disappointment and frustration. It is so important for us to learn how we can bravely face each falling and rise again during our darkest moments. Like the flowers begin with an act of confidence, courage and hope. Don't give up. Don't lose hope.

Wayfarers Chapel, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
3264 x 2248 - 2.7MB, Photograph, Apr 2013

Outside View of Wayfarers Chapel, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
3264 x 2248 - 2.3MB, Photograph, Apr 2013

Wayfarers Chapel is one of very impressive churches that I have visited. The distance between the church and my living place is around 2 hours of driving. It is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California and sponsored by the Swedenborglan Church designed by architect Lloyd Wright, son of the renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Chapel is already listed on the National Registry of Historic Places (The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation).

The glass church is along Pacific Ocean and surrounded by redwoods (a very tall tree that grows in California). The unique setting of ocean, trees, and glass structure provides people with a most original, nature and thorough communication with God. 

Sitting in a chair outside the church, you can enjoy an extremely impressive view, especially during the sunset. When I sat outside the chapel I recalled the words, "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence" by Helen Keller.

Mount Rainier National Park, WA, USA, Sep 11
2592 x 1936 - 2.4MB, Photograph

Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier National Park, WA, USA, Sep 2011
1296 x 968 - 615KB, Photograph

My family and I visited Mount Rainier National Park in September two years ago. We spent two days and one night enjoying the scenes. You can try to imagine how beautiful it was when the mountain is covered by snow under sunrise and sunset.

Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in Washington and Cascade Range with an elevation of 13,211 ft (4,027m). Climbing the mountain is quite difficult and climbers usually have to spend two to three days to reach the summit. There are around 8,000 to 13,000 people trying to climb to the top and around 50% of them achieved the goal. We were totally enjoying in the trip even though we didn't make it to the top.

Reflection Lake is behind Mount Rainier and is one of the major iconic views of the Mt. The lake is like a mirror, reflecting the mountain, trees, flowers, animals and each person who is touched by the lake. I went through a meditation beyond words when I was seeing the mirror. 

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." As what Martin Luther King, Jr., once said.

"Love and Hope", Sketch on Drawing Paper. 
15.0-inch x 10.5-inch, Sep 2011

"LOVE" Sculpture, Photographed at Taipei 101
390 x 421 - 98KB, Sep 2011

I drew the sketch in front of Taipei 101 (Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan), inspired by Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture. 

Robert Indiana is an American artist associated with the Pop Art movement. His work often represents an image of simple, bold and icon with short words or numbers. There are many versions of Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. 

I recalled the famous quote by Morrie Schwartz when I was drawing the sketch, "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."

Bridge of Hope - Oil Painting on Canvas 
40.5-inch x 31.5-inch, Apr. 2013

I have a science background education and I am very interested in oil painting art after taking several years of painting lessons. 

I finished this painting, Bridge of Hope, inspired by one of Monet's most famous compositions, Japanese Bridge. The bridge reveals the idea of nothing is impossible. Just like what Napoleon Hill once said, "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

My dream is to create my own style of painting as well as to hold my own exhibition in the future.