Janice M. Chau

Koi Pond, 16 in. X 20 in., acrylic on canvas, April, 2019 I know it seems like I’ve slacked on the 52 week creative challenge, but trust me.  I’ve been painting every week this year.  I have to wait patiently before I can post the ones from the last month and half.   This week I went with my big sis Alma to a paint night hosted by Color Your World Designs!  My first paint night that I have participated in.  Usually, I am the host/facilitator.  It was so neat to be on the other side of participation.  It was very relaxing and a really great way to get my arms moving in a wider range.   Paint night was at a small sushi restaurant in Compton called Kumi Ko!  Sushi and paint, two of my favorite things in this world. The sushi and tempura was really fresh and on point.  The staff was wonderful and hospitable.  Their vegetable tempura was extra fresh!  I was informed that they source some of their vegetables locally from Compton Garden.  This ones for my grandma who recently

Deep Blue, 9 in. by 12 in., watercolor, 02/14/2019 I totally missed the last week of the creative challenge I set out for this year.  I thought to continue on rather than look back and dwell on the fact that I missed a week already. This week has been tough playing catch up to all the structured responsibilities that I have.  Traveling out of town two weeks in a row was really fun and awesome, but it did take quite a bit of effort and energy.  Not to include that there have been some hard conversations and quite a bit of transitions on the team that I work with at my part-time job. I needed to sit and paint to let loose and let go of all that structure.  All the tension, worries, and "suppose to" went into letting the water and colors work on my behalf. Deep blue • flood • running river • flow • calm storm • abstract • letting go • defender • love is war • oceans • move • let justice flow • mercy • grace • waves : these were all the words that came to mind. On

Joyful Sigh, 9 in. by 6. in.  watercolor (calligraphy:Kristoffer Ramos) During MCYA retreat I opened a free flow session to paint Words of Affirmation.  Each year I like to chose a word that would bring cheer into my life.  A group of 8 of us gathered to paint together.  They didn't know I literally meant that we would all paint together.   In this reflective, fun, and active painting session each person chooses one word.  I specifically asked them to choose a word and a verb that brings them cheer.  We each wrote the phrase on the back of our paper.  This phrase was concealed to the group.   Every minute or two we passed down our pieces until they returned to our hands.  I guided the session by saying to dot, splash, wash, or drip the watercolor.  Stop, pass it on.  At the end we announced our phrases and saw interpretive outcome of our collaborative painting session.   My friend Kris is a jack of many trades, especially laughter.  The last few months I haven&

Perceive, Mienh Christian Young Adult Retreat, Redwood Christian Camp, Boulder Creek, California January 17-21, 2019 Irrigating Your Faith Workshop Conversing on ideal faith ideology vs. the reality of faith that we face on a daily basis.  Everyone got to share their comparisons.  I asked for one observations.  Below are some words that were spoken about both ideal faith and the realities of faith. Ideal Faith Some words from Ideal Faith: Happy Complete Lush Abundant Fruitful Light is all encompassing Community Centered Calm Watered Colorful Hopeful Concrete imagery Reality of Faith Some words from the Realities of Faith: Darker Less colorful Distorted Lack of clarity and consistency Higher contrast Separation (more white space in comparison to the ideal faith) Less healthy Shadows Higher walls Smudges Imperfect Chaotic, less organized and structured More abstract This workshop was an open conversation about

Fly Freely v.2, 9 in. by 6.5 in. watercolor and ink, January, 15, 2019 It's 2019,  I entered with a season of sadness.  But 3 months ago, when the saddens began, I had a dream that told me a new season is coming.   I was in a random park sitting at a picnic table in front of a scenic lake with my friend Maylee Chang.  She happened to have brought her pet ostrich with her.  She was telling me how annoying the ostrich could be, but somehow it became lovable.  We sat to catch up when all of a sudden a sapphire/emerald butterfly flew down and rested onto my arm.   I began freaking out because I am afraid of bugs, but at the same time I froze with excitement.  I somehow ended up Asian squatting by the bench.   I wanted a closer look, but due to my visual impairment (lack of acuity and focus) I couldn't see the detail of the butterfly.  I just could see the vibrant gradient of sapphire to emerald colors on its wings.  I swiftly and as still as possible told Maylee

Happy New Year!  Can you believe it is already 13 days into the year??  January is already almost more than half over.  The first two weeks of this year flew by like a flash....I keep asking myself, "Is this what time feels like as you get older?" I wanted to spend this year to really take what I gained last year and investing into them even more better, and with better management. One of the things I did to begin this better habit lifestyle was put up a white board dry erase calendar under my work schedule calendar.  Each month I get to reflect on my progress, all the while looking forward to a clean slate of better habits and behaviors.  Some things on my list of habits and behaviors to improve upon are such as:  Watering my plants more consistently, changing my contact lessons more consistently for the benefit of my eye health, floss more,  go for a nature walk or hike, bake more, appreciate art on exhibit, and start the week off with creative time to self with ins