Dreams of tigers

Dream 1

When I was conceived, my dad had this dream. On a particular evening, he sat down to eat. While eating, he suddenly noticed a large tiger sitting next to him, looking the other way. My dad instantly wrestled with the tiger by grabbing on its shoulders, but the tiger instantly shook him off and bit his hand, causing it to bleed. He felt the immense power of the tiger when he grabbed its shoulders. The tiger then proceeded to eat all of the remaining dinner and then went somewhere nearby to sleep.

Dream 2

The night before I was born, my dad had this dream. On a particular afternoon, he was hiking on a mountain trail. He saw a large beautiful rock such as seen in a East Asian landscape painting. He was about the proceed on the trail when suddenly a little tiger jumped out into the view, from behind the large rock, with arms stretched out as if it were blocking the path. My dad saw the tiger's face, which smiled and revealed that it had human teeth. My dad and the tiger spent time playing in the mountain, running around joyfully.

Dream 3

When my brother was conceived, my dad had this dream. On a particular day, he was near an old home near the fields. He sighted a ferocious tiger running around in the fields. Determined to catch the tiger, my dad looked around for a weapon and found a feeble and long stick. He tried to chase the tiger, but the tiger was too quick, running in one direction, then another, then another, then another, while my dad just stood by, panting heavily to catch his breath. Later, winds rose and caused the fields to catch on fire, which surprised the tiger and caused it to run in the opposite direction.

Dream 4

When I was very sick as a baby, my dad had this dream. He saw a baby in its cradle, and a mother tiger was circling around the baby, in a very worried manner.

Dream 5

On a certain night in 2015, my mother had this dream. She was lying down next to a white tiger, which was very playful.

Dream 6

After I visited MOMA and before painting the "Ideal Passionate Space", my mother had this dream. There was a magnificent and beautiful creature like a horse in our home. Suddenly a tiger came and killed the horse-like creature, ripped off the hide in one clean sheet, and laid it to dry on the sofa. Then it went away and disappeared. The hide glistened like a very expensive fur coat. 

Ripe Fruit

Oil on canvas. April 12, 2011.

raw from camera

The optical truth is somewhere inbetween.

I worked on it mostly in class with a nude model who was pregnant. Professor Paul asked me to work with a single color, so I used pthalo blue and white which were my most abundant. Because my mom wanted to give it to her friend who was moving away, I worked again yesterday night and today in class to finish it with additional colors and layers.


Like my first returning experiment with oil after a year of acrylic, I suspect some parts of the work look better when I squint my eyes. - . -

I will admit that I may have overworked the piece with too much thick paint. My mom had a dream today (or last night) in which she picked a dark fruit from a tree and was disappointed that it was too ripe - not spoiled - but she still ate it. It may have to do with the painting.

Today is April Fool's Day

This is not a joke.

I had a dream.

I accidentally spilled orange juice.

The liquid traveled across the table.

I hurriedly grabbed a roll of paper towel and went to the other side of the table.

Right before the juice spilled off the table, I blocked it with the paper tower.

I was able to submit my last application literally right on the deadline. 12:00AM.