Recently I dreamt of seeing a night rainbow. It was so beautiful.
I often see bizarre but also magnificent scenery in dreams, they had given me so much inspirations during the years. Especially when I was going through some tough times, woke up after dreamt something like this always seem be able to cheer me up.
The storm
Sometimes I see light spell break through the gap between the heavy clouds, patches of light and shadow quickly sweeping past across the golden fields. One side the sun shine with glory, the other side sky so dark as war-like.
Excitement and fear mixing into the unknown.
The storm is approaching.
There was a little gift/stationary shop I often go visit during my school age, it was call " NONO the rainbow house". It was truly indeed a wonderland for me.The things they sell in the shop to me now might seems quite ordinary or even bit childish, but the warm comfort memory of passing it by, with or without going in after my evening lesson, was always one of my most precious memories. Sometimes I would bought some little bits and bobs like pen or stickers, most of time I simply just wonder around inside for hours and hours.
By then I was very broke and just living my normal student life, however you feel you were always on top of the world. I can only afford very little thing per visit but I was never upset about my limitation of choice. I had hope within myself, within life and within the future." I can always come back and get it , good things waits me ahead. " What an extraordinary feeling of being a teenager. Ridiculously optimistic about everything.
I missed there once a little place on earth had given me this enormous unconditional satisfaction and confidence. So here I made a little drawing from my memory. It was always had this glowing in the dark image whenever I think about it and It always make me very happy.
Freud's Chair
I've been listen to Alan Watts' lecture on YouTube these days, really inspired by such wise master mind, and how come I only discovered him after 29 years of existence on earth. It's also really a coincident that the state of me now really need some different thinking force interruption, in order to free myself from this self-unaware- build loophole of pressure and fear of freedom or challenges.
It's my birthday today and really happy to received wishes from some new friends I made during past years. I don't like the idea of heading towards 30 cos I never feel like almost being 30, not even 25 to be honest. My mind set was still in my late youth , after graduate from high school. Therefore I decided that I'm going to celebrate whatever age I feel at the present about myself. So happy 19 years bday to me , hell yeah !
Anyhow, during listening to Alan's lecture I start to think about one of the idea that I always wanted to draw ,which is the chair of Sigmund Freud. I've been to his museum in London 2 years ago, it's a small but rather interesting and very peaceful place to visit, really loved the bright big rooms and the back yard garden. The museum also provide cake and drinks.
So I did this little drawing. I like the fabric pattern which Freud throw on the long armchair. It reminds me that when I first saw his study room , a familiar sensation raised inside me when I saw the dark red heavy curtain. I can't remember whether the fact of knowing this scene was from any of my old dreams or childhood memories. It give me a certain amount of comfortableness but also lonesomeness feel.
The final drawing came out nothing like I pre-planed (as usual) but I'm still quite happy about it.
Christmas At Sea
Inspired by the song Christmas At Sea from Sting's 2009 album If On A Winter's Night... , which the beautiful lyric was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1888, I did this painting of a sea scene. First time I heard this song was when watching a documentary about the making of this album, winter is not my favourite season ,specially in London as it's always depressing and wet. However this song ( the whole album) changed my feeling, it made winter tough but magical, it make me able to feel the power of belief not only in the religious sense but also in the spiritual way, that could bring up hope though the darkness.
It absolutely became one of my favourite album of all time and surly the best songs to listen to during winter.
All day we fought the tides between the North Head and the South
All day we hauled the frozen sheets, to 'scape the storm's wet mouth
All day as cold as charity, in bitter pain and dread,
For very life and nature we tacked from head to head.
Thograinn Thograinn
Thograinn thograinn bhith dol dhachaidh
(I wish we were going home)
E ho ro e ho ro
Gu Sgoirebreac a chruidh chaisfhinn
(To Scorrybreck of the white-footed cattle)
E ho hi ri ill iu o
Ill iu o thograinn falbh
Gu Sgoirebreac a' chruidh chais-fhionn
(To Scorrybreck of the white-footed cattle)
E ho ro e ho ro
Ceud soraidh bhuam mar bu dual dhomh
(The first blessing from me, as is my right)
We gave the South a wider berth, for there the tide-race roared;
But every tack we made we brought the North Head close aboard:
We saw the cliffs and houses, and the breakers running high,
And the coastguard in his garden, his glass against his eye.
The frost was on the village roofs as white as ocean foam;
The good red fires were burning bright in every 'longshore home;
The windows sparkled clear, and the chimneys volleyed out;
And I vow we sniffed the victuals as the vessel went about.
The bells upon the church were rung with a mighty jovial cheer;
For it's just that I should tell you how (of all days in the year)
This day of our adversity was blessed Christmas morn,
And the house above the coastguard's was the house where I was born.
And well I knew the talk they had, the talk that was of me,
Of the shadow on the household and the son that went to sea;
And O the wicked fool I seemed, in every kind of way,
To be here and hauling frozen ropes on blessed Christmas Day.