2008 - This, and it's companion painting, were the result of spending the day at the Los Angeles Chinatown New Year's Celebration in 2008. Having spent over 9 years in Southeast Asia and much of that in Taiwan, I've always had a passion for all things Oriental. I often see the influence seeping into my work. I studied Mandarin at the Taipei Language Institute, but reading and writing Chinese characters is daunting. The dexterity required to use Chinese calligraphy brushes is quite a challenge for an Occidental... I was extremely gratified when a Chinese friend of mine understood and complimented me on my effort. However, I have no ambition to write lengthy novels in Chinese.