Sketch Street Scenary of Belize City

Sketch
Pen on drawing paper.  21.6 x 27.9 cm
( click the image to get a better resolution of drawings)

I did couples sketches of street scenery of Belize City this morning. It was drizelling and quiet. Somehow there were playful kids, men riding bikes and the homeless sick dogs... yes, those dogs caught my eyes. Two of them had skin disease. Like dreaming, they sometimes walked in the middle of the street, sometimes sit and scratched their ears. I still remember years ago, I tried to help a street dog that was severely hurt. His mouth, his jaw was almost fall apart. I took him to the vet and hopefully he got the care he needed. But, the vet, my fiend suggested to put him to sleep because he was too weak, too hurt and was under a lot of pain. He stopped breathing after a injection my friend gave him. Yes, just liked that, a life was gone. 

(Studio painting) Mangroves on a raining day

Studio painting
Oil on canvas.  60 x 80cm
(Click the picture to see a better image)

The actual painting looks darker than this picture. I like very much its mood... feeling very "grey". And I sense a fresh air when I look at it now. I still remember when I was working on this plein air couple months ago, it rained hard that I had to work with my umbrella and my back was all wet. Despite the inconvaince caused by the rain, I was so pleased because the work came out as I wanted. 

(Studio painting) Illusion of green sea

Studio painting
Oil on canvas.  60 x 80cm
( click the image to get a better resolution of painting)

This morning, after I streched two canvas, I began to work on this studio painting with my following plein air. There's something I'll never create again on my studio work is the spontaneous strocks and look from the plein air itself. Usually I modify a little bit of color o image and it depends on how I feel when I'm working on it. But I always try to feel its light and mood. 

(Studio painting) Morning Mangroves

Studio painting
Oil on canvas.  60 x 80cm

This studio work is based on the following plein air I did earlier this month. While I was working on this painting, my daughter came to my studio and asked me if I was coping the painting. I told her, " Not really. I am not coping my own work but I need to looking at it and trying to remember that scenery again. It's the same mood that I'm trying to create on this larger canvas. The plein air painting serves as an inspiration."

(Studio painting) Swirling red, pinkish flowers

Studio painting
Oil on canvas.  60 x 80cm

One of my friends complaines about the little figures on the background. I fix it today. Yes. It looks better. Thank you, Tony! 

Sketche with my little cat friends

Sketch
Pen on drawing paper
21.6 x 37.9cm
(Click the image to see a better picture)
Well, my little friends are my models today. They don't really stay still and there's no way I can ask them not to move. I want to go out to paint but my tripot is broken and won't support my bochet box. Last Friday is the day I brake it... Ayeee, I need to get a new one, a stronger one! I'm not sure when I'll get it. So, meanwhile, you'll see more sketches I do. 

(Poem) work and I

I need my solitude
I need my quietness
I need my breath in the air
Work and I

I need sun
I need colors, shapes and...
I need the excitments of light
Work and I

I need rain
I need tar-black cloud
I need different dimension
I need different temperature
of what it's like
Work and I

I need no time
Time scatters on my shoulder
While I'm dreaming
While I'm in love
With the ghosts of my life
Work and I



By Yaoling Lee

Sketch at the Battlefield Park

Sketch
Pen on paper

Ayee....I forgot to take a picture.
I did these sketches at the Battlefield Park in the downtown of Belize City this afternoon. There was a event called "Krismus eena di paak" and some of my friends from Spokenwords 501 have recited their poems on the stage too. 

Sketch on the streets of Belize City

Sketch 1
Pen on paper.  21 6 x 27.9 cm
(Click the image to get a better resolution of work)

I felt a need to work more after I finished the plein air at the boatyard this morning.  So I went straight to the downtown of Belize City and did those sketches. Next time, I will take a picture of where I draw to show you. 

Sketch 2

Sketch 3

(Plein air) A Boat at Boatyard

Plein air painting
Oil on canvas panel
15.5 x 25.5cm

I wanted to paint more construction site this morning but the light wasn't right. I drove around the hightway hope to find a good spot but... everywhere looked the same, looked flat. It was a sunny morning but it was different than yesterday's. Maybe it was the air,  I wasnt sure... felt confused. Then, I saw this boat yard on the road side. "No matter what I paint, I have to at least do one plein air today. ", I thought. 

(Plein air) Shadows on the Roadside

Plein air painting
Oil on canvas panel
15.5 x 25.5 cm

Shadows on the roadside.
Beautiful shadows but they are not real.  You can't touch them, you can't smell them and you certainly can't take them home and yet they seem so alive. They move, they change their colors and shapes when you are on the moon just for a second.
Oh.. Shadows.. 

(Plein air) Rain on Construction site

Plein air painting
Oil on canvas panel
15.5 x 25.5cm

I was afraid that I would forgotten to take a picture. So, that was the first thing I did before I dipped my brush into the paint. And that's why the canvas from the following picture looks white. Yes.  It rained and rained hard. I stopped painting and threw everything back to my car trunk and waited for the rain to pass. While I was waiting, I did a sketch. I love sunny days but I think I love cloudy, raining dsys more!!! Colors melt into each others....

(Plein air) Before the Rain

Plein air painting
Oil on canvas panel
15.5 x 22.5cm

This is how it looked before the rain. Water pured down from the sky after 15minutes I left my working site. Usually I don't mind to work under the light rain. Sometimes I even enjoy it. But this time I am glad that I finished early because it was too much and I knew that I won't be able to continue to work. Now I'm looking at it....yes, I like it's colors. It pleases me. 

(Plein air) Sea and Boats

Plein air painting
Oil on canvas panel
17.5 x 25.5cm

I wanted to paint construction site this morning but it was raining and there was no one working there. So I drove to the café by the harbour. Under a big umbrella, I worked peacefully. Feeling good. 

(Plain air) Reflection of the Red house

Plein air painting
Oil on canvas panel
17.5 x 25.5cm

I did this plein air by the swimming pool of Princess Hotel in Belize City on Sunday afternoon . I like its shape and the contrast between the palm trees and the it's luminous background.

(Plein air) Good morning mangroves

Plein air painting
Oil on canvas panel
15.5 x 22.5cm

Today is Sunday and I usually wake up late. But I was awake around 7 and wondering around, didn't know what to do. So,  I grabbed my painting kit, jumped into my car and after 10 minutes I was working already. It was quiet this morning. Only few cars passed by. While I was working, one of the drivers stopped and asked if I sell my work. I looked at him, hesitated a little then said maybe... Ayee.... men.. What was I thinking?.... I should've said yes I do! I need to learn to let go of my paintings! 😶

(Plein air) Orange Steel Fence

Plein air painting
Oil on board.  15.5 x 22.5cm

I did several plein air paintings around this corner. There used to have many franboyant red and orange trees. This was my favorite spot at this second of highway. Well... it still is but it doesn't look the same anymore without those magnificent trees. 

(Plein air) A Corner of the Road

Plein air painting
Oil on board.    15.5 x 22.5cm

I spent about half an hour driving, trying to find a spot I could paint this morning. What I notice today is ... constructions are making significant progress everyday. The place where I painted yesterday looks different today. I was very sad that many of the healthy tall trees have been cut down to expand the road. But, now I see they served a purpose. I believe that this part of highway will look as beautiful as it was.  And most important, it will be a much safer place to drive.
It sounds all good right?
You know that things always have both sides. What I notice too...is that people driving faster and faster because they feel so comfortable driving here...
So,  is it good? Is it safe?
Ayee.... I think too much.

(Plein air) Construction site

Plein air painting
Oil on panel.  15.5 x 22.5cm

Its a busy corner.
What I like about this work is the lines.. sky line, tree line, road line. And the focus that takes you to the very center of the image. Today I chose to work under the shade because I was cooked yesterday! I still smell the smoke. And sometimes I wonder ...would I turn into a beautiful dark chocolate African if I kept working under the lovely Belizean sun. I'm OK with that but I'm afraid that my parents won't regnize me... 😱

(Plein air) Light on Haulover River

Plein air painting
Oil on panel.   15.5 x 22.5cm

Yesterday morning, while I was painting around this area, someone came and asked me to do a commission with this scenery and it has to include the construction site. He told me he is an engeneer who works for the company that is helping to expanding the highway. And he wants an souvenir with the view of the river and the construction site when he goes home. I told him that I would try. Well...this is the first work from this morning.  I'll do about 4 plein air paintings with the view he wants.  Then.... We'll decide 

(Plein ai) Mangroves and its Dream Light

Plein air painting
Oil on board.  15.5 x 22.5cm

Although the sun was hot but it was a beautiful morning. I was painting right at this place last whole week and I had this image carved into my head since. The picture I took looks quiet but actually there are traffic with cars, construction trucks and swirling white dust. It was a second of luxury...  It's a small painting but I do feel it... I do feel the magic light of the mangroves when I look at it. 

(Plein air) Love for Mangroves

Plein air painting
Oil on board.   10 x 7 in (25.5 x 17.5cm)

This morning I painted at the same place as I did yesterday. It was a cloudy morning and it even rained a little. Of course, I didn't want to get wet so I worked with umbrella! Always, I'm trying to paint how I feel but it doesn't come out as I want every time. That's one of the reasons why I paint more than one time at the same spot. But, I do love this place. Dream like. 

(Poem) Amor del Mar

Soy la refleccion de la luna en el mar
Te abrazo
Cuando las estrellas me acompañan
Te beso
Cuando duermo en tu pecho de las olas
Y tu,
Me llevas con el ritmo de la naturaleza
El mar
Mi querido el mar
Todos tiempos te busco
Sin saber
Tu me amas
Como la profundidad del mar
Oh...
Mi amor
Del
Mar



By Yaoling Lee

(Plein air) Morning Mangroves

Plein air painting
Oil on board.      8.5 in x 8.6 in. ( 27 x 22 cm)

I haven't paint for days....
it's a strange feeling when I stop my plein air for days.. I begin to feel a sense of emptyness I would say. And then my inner voice will urge me to get back to my work again. I think what I enjoy the most working at plein air is that, I get to really feel the atmosphere from the place I work.  Sun,  breezes,  blue sky,  clouds and all kind of colors swirling around.  I can't describe the satisfaction while I'm working outdoor.  Yes, sometimes people come to greet me but I don't mind at all.  Many times,  people calling me, saying hello.... and I don't even know who they are.  I'm a nice person and I always greet them back with my smiling face. Quess that make them happy too! Despite all these human contacts, I still love to be alone and concentrate on my work. I do enjoy my solitude... I do need it to create my own world. 

(Plein air) Raining day on Harbour

Plein  air painting
Oil on board.  10 in x 7 in (25.5cn x 17.5cm)

It was grey and raining this morning.  Yes. It was my favorite weather.  I worked with my hat and raincoat and I tried not to get to too detailed. Hopely you feel what I felt this morning! Its all about the mood. 

(Plein air) Afloat

Plein air painting
Oil on board.  10in x 7in (25.5 x 17.5cm)

Most of my work look darker than the reality.  Guess it's because I work with my sun glasses and straw hat. Is it good? But, I cant work without them when I work on plein air paintings.  Aye... I'm not very happy with the result...somehow, I tried so hard.