Confession: I am quite obsessed with finding street art. I have a love for public art. Murals and street art are always a fun thing to photograph. It’s something I do in every city that has street art. Any travel day that I end up photographing multiple murals marks a truly successful day of travel photography, in my opinion.
 
In the past decade, there has been a surge in popularity of one particular type of art in Singapore, the mural. Murals improve the urban landscape around them and create a sense of community through shared visual experience. Much like the flowers, trees, and plants maintained throughout the city, murals provide a splash of color in parts of town dominated by brick, concrete, or limestone. It is no wonder that murals have become popular and they will continue to provide color downtown and throughout the city.
 
In between the sleek skyscrapers of our Housing Development Blocks (“HDB”), creativity blossoms on the walls of housing estates, in quiet alleyways, and within bustling neighborhoods, bringing with it a flutter of radiant energy and charm. I explored the whole of Hougang HDB town to hunt down as many artworks as humanly possible so that I could break down the works of art by neighborhood. I realised that they are a great addition to our sense of place and offer ‘belonging’ for the residents staying in Hougang, as well as for the arts community.
 
Here are some of the cool and creative designs I saw along the way, from edgy graffiti to retro scenes. I think the photos in this collection have done a pretty good job of photographing murals with some good results. I hope it helps you chart out your own course to see these sights up close.

10 years ago, I hit PUBLISH and my life changed. Today I am celebrating my 10th year blog anniversary, i.e. blogiversary and I am feeling a bit emotional. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world, I am not able to celebrate this special milestone with an overseas trip. Instead, I decided to virtually connect and reflect on what it means to have dreams and values which they continue to shape my path.  
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I cannot believe how much I have learned in the last 10 years (and I know everyone says that but it is soooo true). I started this journey with such limited knowledge and only a dream. I set goals for myself that I thought were lofting and have met a few. If I told you all the late nights and hard work that goes into writing this blog, then I think you would agree that it is time to pop the cork on the chilling champagne in the fridge. It has been a W I L D 10 years.

I started painting for relaxation a few years ago and in the recent months I found that I most liked painting hats. I love colors, and I love seeing what's going to come out on the canvas. These paintings were done with acrylic paint on 16” x 18” canvases. Each brings a different level of emotion to the painting. None of them look the same except for one pair of paintings (you'll know what I mean when you browse the collection). It's like they take on their own personality, and I begin to outline and sketch. It seems like the colors come to me and it's like dancing on the canvas.

As a kid, i was always fascinated over hats. Ladies in England and Wales wear hats of all kinds, colours, and styles. And it seemed always one of the ladies would try to outdo the others by wearing the biggest hat at a fashion event or in an congregation. I was always enthralled by the sight of women wearing over-the-top, colorful and sometimes sequined hats. Hats have always been a complementary part of a woman's attire. It's just a very beautiful, colorful expression of one's self. Real-life people and movie scences would inspire the majority of my featured works as well.

If you’ve seen the movie "Titanic", you’ve seen the beautiful hats of the time. They had the wide brim and were large and covered the face. One of the hats I loved in the movie had a touch of lace stitched lightly over the crown as though the lace was blown by the wind onto the hat. Kate Winslet was stunning in her navy straw as she reluctantly embarked on her bittersweet fateful journey. 

​新冠肺炎疫情当前，大家都尽量减少出门，而随着时间的推移，最近在家办公、学习也成了人们生活的常态。但是宅在家里时间长了可能会产生新的问题，比如会觉得生活缺乏味、很无聊等等。其实，宅在家里也能把生活过得精彩。因为只能宅在家里，我们有大把的时光做自己喜欢做，却一直没时间做的事情；因为只能宅在家里，我们能舒下心来，听听音乐、望望美景，好好享受慢节奏的生活。这段时间，朋友问我什么时候心里最慌，怎样有效地缓解焦虑，并提升和丰富疫情时期的精神生活，我就建议不如我们可以学画画，但并不是所有人都接受过画画技巧的训练。我发现这并不是问题，恰恰相反，如果方法得当，人人都可以是艺术家。为此，我想出了一个最简单的办法，那就是裁一块包装盒的瓦楞板作底板。准备一些旧杂志、废报纸、废包装盒，可以从这里找图像。随便找些笔可以涂涂画画。好了，接下来我就可以创作了。
 
看似简单的创作办法，背后并不简单。因为这只是一种方法。但艺术创作一定不可缺少这三步：首先，艺术是表达思想的，美术创作也一定要有一个中心思想，这跟写作文一样；其次，收集素材，要想办法把与你的思想有关的图像和素材画出来或者找出来；最后是组合，把这些图像素材按照一定的艺术规律拼起来，主题图像突出点，其他图像做辅助。我的作品就完成了。​为了激励其他的初学者，我在个人IG社交媒体@jenniferteopaints 也贴出了用自己所说方法创作的几幅戴着礼帽的女性的油画，自已的家也因此成了一个小型“画廊”。 这大概是我出于对欧洲国家的仰慕和对印象画的喜爱，也感觉是个学习帽子的机会。

Everything has a shape, right? But what exactly is a shape? Shape is a flat area surrounded by edges or an outline. Artists use all kinds of shapes. Geometric shapes are precise and regular, like squares, rectangles, and triangles. They are often found in human-made things, like building and machines.

Have you ever wondered how artists actually create art? Once they've chosen a subject matter, gathered their supplies, and picked up a paintbrush for the first time - what happens next? Sometimes starting with a simple circle or square  or other geometric shape - is the answer.

The shape of things is something we tend to take for granted. Reproducing exactly what is in front of us is fine if all we are after is a likeness, but to extract more from our subject and to make the painting say more, we can modify and rearrange shapes to amplify what we see.

Ever since discovering this inspirational style, I knew I wanted to adapt it a bit. It is fun and kind of high-energy, but the contrast for each geometric painting is a little too much for me. So my foray into painting reminded me why I love painting so much (as much i love travel photography and journaling). I love the imperfect lines and painterly brush strokes and the varied shades of the same few tones. I am a human being after all, not a machine. I allow some humanity to enter into my straight lines and geometric shapes and l discovered that geometry is actually a human value. Precisionism is a philosophy, not an equation.

Do you enjoy geometric coloring pages, rather than having to color in something concrete and formal? If you said yes, I am right there with you. 

When many people think of adult coloring books, they think of pictures of flowers, or whales, or mandalas, or inspirational quotes in fancy fonts. But as it turns out, geometric coloring books are actually one of the my most favoruite kinds of coloring books out there. Geometric Coloring Books are coloring books that have geometric patterns of all shapes and sizes. They are the ultimate in meditative coloring.

The thing I love about this Geometric colouring book is that it has 25 unique designs with different degrees of difficulty. This book is perfect for experimenting with colors & explore different color techniques and so create different shades. With these coloring pages, I was able to color however I liked, & made into a truly unique coloring design. I had total creative freedom. 

Ever since I was a little girl, Geometric Coloring Sheets have held a special place for me in my coloring time.  Even to this day, as an adult, I love to sit down and just color sometimes. On top of the enjoyment simple coloring brings it also develops a vital skill for geometry studies. This is the skill of visualizing a problem.  The Celtic art is extra special for this reason, as all of the art at some point 'weaves'.  The strands of different colors start to go over and under each other.  If a child can learn what is happening, and follow it, they are fine-tuning their spatial sense.

Scroll down to see what I have done for a wonderland of geometric shapes and designs. Color with Fuzzy! Enjoy.

I have been painting circles because I love circles. Love the serendipity of them. I shared a story on my circle painting journey previously, but if you have missed it and now have a moment, go check it out HERE.
 
Well, I do love polka dots, spheres, and most any roundish pattern I find (or make), as you might know. And painted circles can be done in a couple of thousand different ways. There is no end to a circle, and I don’t imagine there is any end to the many ways you can vary them. Think about this simple pattern, how it could be varied ad infinitum (forevermore). You can vary this particular pattern in size and color combinations, right? Or you could make it neater, or even messier. You could fill a wall with circles, or a little post-it-note. Thinking about it makes me want to paint all day, every day. Painted circles ad infinitum.

This is a new series I'm currently working on, exploring new techniques and styles in circle art. I have been experimenting a lot with abstract painting. I love painting abstracts in so many ways, and each time I dive in I learn new stuff. New stuff about myself, new stuff about color combinations I enjoy, new stuff about art. I want to share it here, and will try to take more photos of these paintings soon. I have been painting, but not photographing the paintings much. My camera has been resting a lot this year. Too much really due to the current pandemic situation, I can’t travel overseas for the time being. It's actually a rare opportunity to be able to work from home and spend more time at home nowadays to do more things that i enjoy doing, be it painting, journalling, reading, blogging etc.

​As such, I've named all of the paintings in this new series that correlate to the term "VITALITY", which has a few definitions such as: the state of being strong and active, the power of enduring and the capability to live and develop. I hope all of you are keeping well at home during this pandemic period, be safe and continue to be connected in the virtual world.

​The shape of the hot air balloon is something I am drawn to. I can’t help wanting to draw and paint it. There is so much to love about their generous curves. Like an upside down pear. I love the way they let the air fill them up so completely, no reserved hidden corners

I always like to see hot air balloons. It is just the sort of extraordinary sight in an ordinary day that makes me happy to be alive. Even in the most routine tasks there is the odd touch of whimsy to be found. It makes you breathe a little deeper and a smile a little more. Up in the quiet expanse of blue under a glorious colourful bulb. Staring at those bright generous shapes in the sky you can feel the sense of freedom. Freedom is a state of mind.
 
Even though I am not a huge fan of heights, there is something a little magical about a hot air balloon. They seem to have an energy of anticipation about them that is so inspiring. For it does take some energy to fill that balloon and get it air bound. All the heat and drama required to lift that balloon is a fascinating contrast to all the peaceful, silent floating.
 
So true to life. There will be moments of heat and fire. Passion and drama. But there will also be moments of ease and serenity. Perhaps one is not possible without the other. I’m not sure what the collective noun is for hot air balloons, or if indeed there is one. But for me there is only one word that describes them en masse. To see a sky filled with hot air balloons, what else could you call them but a celebration?

If you follow my blog, then you already might know that one of my favourite things to do is to explore a new place as walking aimlessly and getting lost in it. I love when one discovers new and unexpected travel gems and The Hague (a.k.a. Den Haag) in The Netherlands was a great surprise. You can easily travel from Amsterdam and trains from Amsterdam to The Hague Centraal take roughly 50 minutes. It’s very easy to get around in the Hague and explore on foot (and public transportation is quite expensive). I love the Hague because it has such an international spirit, but still a vibe of a small town. The Hague doesn’t have the same scale as Amsterdam, ie, Miles of canals and multiple historic districts. The Hague’s Center City charms are impressive but concentrated in a very walkable area.  Also, the architecture in Den Haag is very beautiful. I have a thing for big windows, bicycles and beautiful and big doors. The typical Netherlands picture.

The Hague is such an important city in the Netherlands. The Hague is home to the International Court of Justice, a center of justice associated with the United Nations, which is located in the Peace Palace. The International Criminal Court, which is responsible for prosecuting international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, is also located in The Hague. In addition to these international courts, the King and Queen of the Netherlands live in the center of The Hague. It’s quite an important city, not only for the Netherlands but the rest of the world.

荷兰一直是个神奇的国度，它总是不断刷新人们的认知，就像大家都知道阿姆斯特丹是荷兰的首都，但却不一定知道荷兰政府其实不在阿姆斯特丹，而是在另一座城市：海牙 (The Hague)。海牙曾是皇室贵族的猎苑，直到16世纪成为了荷兰的政治中心。这里是荷兰中央政府和议会的所在地，荷兰的皇室也在这里，因此海牙是荷兰名副其实的皇城。
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虽然这座城市充满了皇家贵气和政治的肃穆感，可偏偏最令我铭记海牙的，是那一抹令人心颤的纯净翠蓝。从小到大，一直很喜欢蓝色，总希望能找到一个只有蓝色的地方，静静地徜徉其中，就像在天空中漫步一样。对蓝色迷恋至极，我的旅拍画面里时常记录纯净湛蓝的天空和深邃宽广的蓝色海洋，每次旅行，我的镜头不由自主地追寻着蓝色的影踪。这一趟荷兰旅程让我邂逅一个千年古老的蓝色海牙，一路探寻它昔日的辉煌，旅途中真正的蓝色艳遇。

Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go. I fell in love in Amsterdam. Not with a person, but with the city itself. It was instantaneous and mutual. Amsterdam was made for me and I was made for Amsterdam. Amsterdam is for everyone – the extroverts, introverts and everyone in between.
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Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world. I love its brick buildings, open skyline, rich history, and relaxed, easy going attitude towards life. I love the beauty of the canals and historic homes (as I keep saying over and over again), the friendly nature of the Dutch, the museums, the parks, and the quality of life. I love the international feel of the city, the cafe culture, the art, the exploding entrepreneur scene, and the rise of good beer bars! In short, I love it all.

一到阿姆斯特丹，心情就好像能随时随地飞起。阿姆斯特丹实在是精彩绝伦，我喜爱它的文化多样性和美丽的建筑物。它是古代航海时代的商业传奇，现代人性化基建和城市规划，超乎想象的别样体验，数不尽的惊喜和温柔，走过上百座城，阿姆斯特丹尽乎完美。穿行在这座城市，常常让我觉得恍惚，是那种掉进了名信片里的感觉。在这座城市里散步闲逛，是络绎不接的游人们在这座城市最迷恋做的事，在运河边漫步也是一种独特的体验。

It was a perfect winter day. The day started beautifully with a blue sky and the sun kept me warm. I love this winter weather. Winter had relaxed its grasp on the Amsterdam city a little. There was a lack of snow in December last year, and wispy clouds raced along a blue sky. It was a fine day to go exploring. There’s nothing finer than a walk around an European city on a crispy, windy morning; things were quieter than the morning before, but the sun streamed in between the narrow houses, reflecting off calm canal waters. 

The Dutch sky is well known for its beautiful clouds. The Dutch love their skies. Many famous and lesser known painters illustrated the spectacular views of the Dutch sky in their work. Personally I think that the real Dutch sky is to be seen on the fields, in the countryside (and with the obligatory windmill in the background, of course). But in the few winter days the Amsterdam sky can also be spectacular, not only for its clouds but also for its deep blue colour. These are a series of cityscape view of the canal of Amsterdam in winter with a blue sky, house boats and traditional old houses. 

荷兰之旅首站，阿姆斯特丹，这里的蓝天白云给人印象深刻。这么多年我走过了很多地方，也看了许多地方的蓝天，但阿姆斯特丹的天是最蓝的，像是一块湛蓝色的绸缎布接在了地平线边。单看蓝天白云作为背景的这些照片就可知当时的天气有多好。冷冷的，却不失暖和的阳光。当我一进入荷兰阿姆斯特丹境内，蓝天白云真是美不胜收。​我喜欢在这样的冬节看天空，看那蓝蓝的天，看悠闲的白云点缀天空。

My visit to The Netherlands was perfect. The Netherlands are nothing short of spectacular, everywhere you point your camera you get postcard quality shots. I loved every minute I spent in The Netherlands. Amsterdam has always been on my list of places to visit. I spent many days in the Amsterdam with trips to enjoy other lovely cities such as Haarlem, Utrect, The Hague (a.k.a. Den Haag) and Rotterdam. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a magical place. As a tourist, you’ll never have enough sightseeing, canals, and beautiful adventure that will help improve your experience. You should also try walking the streets and have a taste of the wonders of Dutch architecture. I wouldn’t say I’m a massive architecture buff, but I’ve always had a fascination with old buildings and their history, and my favourite thing to photograph is interesting structures, archways, and houses. Amsterdam, unsurprisingly, lends itself very well to this little hobby of mine. You can’t walk anywhere in the city without seeing a row of gorgeous houses, often leaning slightly forward, slightly left or right. I hope you fall in love with Amsterdam like I did!

I took many sepia photographs in The Netherlands and I really liked the results. The sepia tone seemed to "warm-up" the image, and change the mood for the better. Photographs can be thought of as tangible memories of the past, providing a lens to reminisce and revel in nostalgia. I’ve always felt like I’m traveling back in time whenever I see those warm, brown-tinted old pictures. I, personally, find that sepia can be a softer, more delicately muted medium than black and white, even in high contrast sepia images. I should mention that high contrast and low contrast sepia are far different from their counterparts in black and white photography.  

阿姆斯特丹被称为欧洲北方的"威尼斯"。城里，是一圈一圈环绕着的运河，整个城市有一千多座大小桥梁。缺少水的城市，总是让人感觉缺少了一份灵气，而水的存在，同时也让阿姆斯特丹拥有了一种从容。这是一个平坦的没有坡度的城市，于是，河里的水总是平缓的流淌，远看，甚至感觉是静止。与威尼斯不同的也是，今天的阿姆斯特丹并没有过分沉溺于月光小夜曲的甜腻与往日时光，它的每一条街道，每一块砖瓦，无一不透露着古典与现代共生的气质。很难说清楚，阿姆斯特丹到底是岁月静好的小城，还是纸醉金迷的华丽都城，它就像一颗被精心打磨过的钻石，瑰丽，并且多面。它是一个谜一般迷人的多面体。

阿姆斯特丹就是这样一座复杂的城市，它像谜一般令人困惑。时而它是个浪漫雅致的文化中心，时而它又是一个光怪陆离的后现代都市，你可以说它自由而包容，也可以说它放纵无度。这恰恰是其魅力所在。鲜有城市能将这么多截然不同的气质融合得如此恰到好处，而阿姆斯特丹正是这样的一座。 
 
不少人都喜欢拍摄单色 (monochrome) 的照片，而通常也是指“黑白色”，但也有人会喜欢上图这种棕褐色 / 深褐色调 (sepia tone)。我用了棕褐色拍摄这系列的照片，因为它带有一种怀旧、温暖的感觉，也有一份历史的味道。

Hello everyone, it has been a while since i last updated my travel blog. I hope all of you are well! I've been very busy before Christmas last year and I travelled to Amsterdam and other parts of The Netherlands for almost two weeks before returning to Singapore on New Year's Eve. When it comes to travel, there are some destinations we instantly fall in love with, others that we become fond of in time, some just remain in our minds forever.

Visiting Amsterdam is a life-changing experience no matter what time of year you go. However, the city dials it up a notch over the festive season and New Years. It’s not known as one of Europe’s merrymaking capitals for nothing. ​Even for the most world-weary traveller, there is something very special about Amsterdam. #iloveAmsterdam #iamsterdam