pilarcat’s

Cute dolls make me happy!

I did this sketch in one fine afternoon. The setting was what my dad already had in his garden. The colorful pumpkins bought for celebrating the past Chinese new year day were carefully laid in a wooden nest. The chair was a simple one, very old and worn out with years of sunlight and wind. While I was drawing, it occurred to me  that this chair had been in our garden for, perhaps, almost twenty years and I had been living in such natural environment for too many years that I took it for granted. It seemed like I suddenly noticed things around me. The different tones of birdsong. The various shapes and shades of tree leaves. The fresh breeze in such ordinary afternoon time.
I wondered why I never see this kind of things before…
I wanted to color this sketch but thought better of it and took this photo instead.

I took flash class at school years ago and, without practice, I lost the skill. Now coming back to refresh it, I still find it enjoyable. A sample of my little work.

This Candlewick’s Treasures edition of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost  has rested quite peacefully on my bookshelf for years. I can’t remember where I bought this book but I surely know why I bought it. Its beautiful illustration by Inga Moore. The book was made to be more like a gift book rather than a fiction book. Nice pocket size with beautiful hard cover.
As for the story, I have to confess that I got mixed up the name of Canterville with Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer from the 14th century and I wondered why the language was quite modern, how stupid of me! Anyway, it took me years to actually read it. The story is funny and quite cute.
The old ghost of Canterville Chase had been haunting the place for many years. He had done a successful job until an American Family moved in. That’s when the ghost got haunted himself by the simplicity of the American family who never got spooked no matter how unnerving the ghost tried to do.
I especially love Inga Moore’s illustrations. They are so beautiful and it keeps me reading it through the end. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to read and stop to look into details of the pictures and appreciate both the author and the illustrator.
In all, I really enjoy the story and glad to have such a beautiful book on my shelf.