Taiwanese and Persian Happiness
A personal gift to celebrate my cousin’s wedding and to welcome my Persian sister. I combined 快樂 (happy in Mandarin) with happy in Farsi. The ending strokes of traditional Chinese characters begin the strokes for Farsi in seamless transition to symbolize their union. The goal was to convey their beautiful relationship and unbreakable bond. Living in the United States has given me the privilege to witness so many wonderful inter-cultural unions and I am so blessed to have my Persian sister in the family.
Gold Paint on Paper
Support & Growth
Private commission incorporating the couple’s respective names in Arabic and Khmer languages. Creating this piece was honor and privilege. Their partnership is an inspiration and model for me to follow in all my relationships–one that is full of love and unconditional support.
16 in x 24 in. Watercolor and paint.
Double Happiness
Traditional Double Happiness symbol (囍) hand painted on a wooden tray for a wedding tea ceremony. Tea is offered as a sign of respect and peonies were added to represent royalty and virtue. The Double Happiness ligature is composed of 喜喜 – which are two adjacent copies of the Chinese character 喜, which means joy. Commission.
Paint on acacia wood. 2 inches high x 15 inches diameter
Lucky Cat
These Lucky Cats are here to wish you good fortune. The character 福 means Lucky and Good Fortune in Mandarin. I was inspired by the waving lucky cat commonly seen at Asian restaurant entrances.
Watercolor and Sumi Ink on Watercolor Paper
Fish
The fish are here to wish you abundance! 魚 means fish and is an important dinner dish. Since Mandarin is a tonal language, homophones play an integral part in our culture. The character for fish sounds like the character for abundance 餘. Therefore, we eat fish to wish everyone abundance during holidays – especially during Lunar New Year.
Watercolor and Sumi Ink on Watercolor Paper
Rooster
Rooster for Year of the Rooster
Sumi Ink on Watercolor Paper
Dragon
Drawing characters and its meaning together. 龍 means dragon in Mandarin. In Chinese mythology, dragons traditionally symbolize strong and auspicious power with control over water, rainfall, lightning and thunder.
Gold Paint on Paper
Phoenix
Blending traditional eastern and western meanings for Phoenix (鳳). In Chinese culture, the phoenix is an auspicious creature that symbolizes high virtue, grace, and peace. In western culture, phoenix symbolizes rebirth. In this piece, the virtuous phoenix is breaking free from its confines.
Sumi Ink on Watercolor Paper
Dragon & Horse Home
This piece celebrates a couple’s son (born year of the dragon) and daughter (born year of the horse). Auspicious dragon and horse idioms are drawn to resemble a house structure to symbolize the couple creating a home with their children. 馬到成功 is an idiom meaning instant success; mom was pregnant at the time and this idiom was used to encourage a smooth delivery. 龍騰虎躍 is an idiom that means dragons and tigers leaping in prosperous and vigorous fashion. Commission.
Ink on Watercolor Paper
Between Heaven & Earth, there is a Journey
We all have our unique journey (路程) between Heaven (天) and Earth (地). I was inspired to create this piece when I finally realized I was free to carve my own path instead of following my family’s footsteps and expectations.
Ink on Watercolor Paper