Another DIY work done before the end of 2021. This little singing fellow is transformed from a wine cork. Painted with acrylic.

May your new year be filled with songs of LOVE, JOY and PEACE!

Decorations on my Christmas tree

This is the very first Christmas that I celebrate with my family in our new house in the UK. We bought some very simple matte balls from our little town’s charity shop and then hand painted some decorations on them with acrylic paints. 

Hope, Love, Peace, Joy…wish you all be blessed by the love of God in Christmas and the new year to come!

聖誕樹上的裝飾

今年，我和家人在英國的新房子慶祝第一個聖誕節。 我們從小鎮的慈善二手店買了一些非常簡單的啞面波波掛飾，然後用塑膠彩在上面手繪了一些圖案和文字裝飾。

 希望、愛、和平、喜樂……願你們在聖誕節和新的一年裡都得到上帝的愛的祝福！

My Christmas Card for year 2021 is out ready sending to my friends!

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Wish you all have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Due to the fact that terrariums require less time to take care of than other planting methods, it is becoming more popular especially to busy city dwellers in recent years. I fell in love with terrariums since I made my very first one two years ago. With a little imagination and creativity, you can build your own mini eco-world in any glass container. Without leaving home, you can let your imagination run wild in your own created wonderland. Why not join me and try making one for yourself?

玻璃盆景 (terrarium) 其實在西方國家已經有很長久的歷史。早在18世紀，英國人Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward 偶然地發現在一個密封的玻璃瓶裏，植物的循環系統可以持續自行運作，形成一個天然生態環境，即使久不澆水，植物仍可長時間維持生命。自此，喜愛室內植物的人們，就開始探索各類玻璃盆景的設計了。

璃盆栽景由於較其他種植方法需要較少時間照顧，所以極受生活繁忙的都市人歡迎。我也自從兩年前成功地佈置了第一個玻璃植物缸，便深深愛上了這種栽種植物的方式。只要一點點想像和創意，便可以天馬行空地把大自然的美景縮影在玻璃缸之中。足不出戶，便可讓心靈馳騁在自然的懷抱裏，怎不教人喜悅？

玻璃盆栽的佈置

其實不論是那種尺寸的玻璃缸，都可以參考以下的佈置方法 (＊插圖 Agnes Leung)

鋪設植料的順序，由下而上分別是：

1）石子層 Stones / Pebbles

可用各類天然的小石子。除非瓶子真的很小，否則我建議石子層的厚度至少有二至三厘米。因為玻璃瓶沒有排水孔，所以這一層最大的作用是把灌溉後過剩的水，和泥土及植物的根部分隔，以免浸壞植物的根部，也可保持瓶內的濕氣。石子的大小，可按玻璃瓶和植物的比例，自行判斷。我習慣只需觀察石層有否積水，來判斷是否需要澆水。澆水的要訣是慢慢澆，直到石子層開始積了一點點水，就要停了。

2）活性炭 Activated charcoal

作用是淨化空氣和辟除異味，鋪薄薄的一層就可以了。選一些比較完整的小塊會較好。

3）水苔 Sphagmum moss

就是栽種蘭花所用的介質。要先洗淨及弄濕，揸乾水份之後薄薄的平鋪在活性炭層上面。作用是分隔泥土和下面的其他材料。

4）泥土 soil / compost

可以選擇比較乾淨的培養土，以栽種蕨類植物。若是多肉植物，就可以多添一點赤玉土。基本上這一層可以用你平常慣用的泥土，只要是泥土沒有異味和清潔就好了。

5）佈置各類植物、苔蘚、石頭、貝殼或枯木等擺設

我所選擇的植物大致分為兩大類：

－ 需要較多陽光，耐乾旱的，例如多肉及仙人掌類

－ 需要較少陽光，喜濕潤的，如苔蘚、蘭花及蕨類

注意：

－ 以上兩類植物不宜混合種在同一個缸裏，否則植株不可能健康地成長。

－ 苔蘚可在花墟的園藝店購買，買回來要洗乾淨，苔蘚的底部可按需要修剪一下。我最慣常的做法是，把一整片苔蘚在水龍頭下輕輕的洗一洗，儘量保持其完整，修剪好後一整片直接放在泥上。苔蘚是不用埋在泥裏生長的。另外我在行山的時候，也會收集一點苔蘚植物，只要面積五角硬幣般一小片就足夠了，採下之後用濕紙巾包好再放密實袋。請盡量不要在顯眼的地方採集，以免破壞美麗的自然環境。在較陰暗地方生長的青苔，拿回家之後的存活率會比較高。

－ 若是栽種蘭花，就要在泥土的表面挖一個小洞，然後在蘭花的根部下方包一些微濕水苔，再放入泥土之中，在根部的上面也包一點濕水苔，不要壓得太實。那樣蘭花就可以比較穩妥落腳，而不會搖搖欲墜。

－ 個人覺得一些生長得很快的植物，不是很適合種在玻璃盆栽培養的，因為要修剪得很頻密，否則造景會面目全非！

－ 雖然有不少玻璃盆栽是密封式的，但經驗告訴我，若缸內的環境太潮濕，一不留神，會很容易帶來很多問題，如害蟲或植物枯萎等。所以比較理想的做法是，替玻璃缸配一個有氣孔的蓋，氣孔的大小可按每個缸的情況而按觀察調節的，可以用厚身一點的透明PVC膠片來自行做蓋。比如說，一般缸的內壁是不應該積有水氣的，若充滿了水氣，就是太濕了，那就要再把氣孔弄大一點；若不足一個星期就水份太乾，就是氣孔太大了……就這樣透過觀察，可以知道氣孔應該開多大了。

總括而言，在玻璃缸內種植了兩年的心得是：照顧實在比一般盆栽省時與簡單很多！每星期只要清理一下枯葉或修剪一下生長過盛的植物，再稍為添一點點水，基本上植物都生長健康，不用特別費心照顧。
你也為自己打造一個玻璃植物缸，來為家裡添一點綠意和生趣吧！Happy gardening！

……

以下是我的網上剪貼簿 Pinterest board (Indoor gardening)，當中有不少我搜集的室內園藝參考資料（特別是玻璃盆景的）是很好的靈感來源，歡迎follow：

https://www.pinterest.com/agnesleung/indoor-gardening/

……

照片拍攝資料:

Canon 5D mark II + Canon 100L f2.8 Macro

My interpretation of a soya cafe named Soypresso in Taiwan, I added a bit of personal touch to this piece of Visual Diary. I really like the colourful wooden stripes table top, the hanging green plants on the wall and also the geometric radiant shape wooden light hanging from the ceiling.

在Soypresso豆品店內部的寫生，加了一點自己的詮釋。 真的很喜歡那彩色的木製條紋桌面，掛在牆上的綠色植物以及幾何發射狀的木製天花燈。

I am honoured and privileged to be one of the Artist commissioned by Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) to provide Artworks for the study of Genesis in 2021.

I have joined BSF for over 10 years, and deeply nurtured by the word of God and the love of BSF members. More of my works and the works of other artists can be find in their Art Gallery.

Created with Photoshop and Procreate.

You can also see my work from their Facebook page, as follows, too :)

“常存喜樂 means: May you always be filled with joy and happiness

主愛常偕 means: may God’s love be with you, always…”

Tomorrow is the year of the Ox, I wish all of you have a blessed abs fruitful new year full of love

…stands FOREVER!

//

photo taken with canon RP + 100L at Taipei Rose Garden

hand lettering & photo editing: Procreate

Reflections of this week’s BSF study:

Isaac’s family story, about how Isaac wanted to give Esau the blessings of the firstborn out of favouritism despite the fact that he knew of God’s prophecy regarding His choice of Jacob, not Esau. Rebekah, on the other hand, plotted with her son Jacob to deceive Isaac for the blessings, is also filled with deception, scheming and brokenness, yet this dysfunctional family is at the center of God’s plan to save the world. Even people intend for evil, or with a deceptive mind, God can use for good. God chooses and uses flawed people in His perfect plan.

本週BSF研經的一點反思：

經文：創世記27：1－29

有關經文記載了利以撒（Isaac）只憑己意，要把長子的祝福賜予以掃，完全漠視了神已經啟示了祂要揀選雅各的心意；另一邊箱，利百加（Rebekah）與兒子雅各（Jacob) 密謀欺騙以撒以獲得長子的祝福，當中也充滿了詭詐及私心。 即使人們往往以不義甚至邪惡的心去策劃充滿私心的行動，但上帝仍可以使醜惡的動機與行為變為美善的事。（耶穌基督道成肉身，沿自以撒的後裔）

上帝絕對有主權選擇和使用有缺陷的人，去完成祂完美的救贖計劃。

These are the works of my students, they are a group of Secondary School students, very talented teenagers who love to create. They have unique taste and style, and they are really inspiring. I enjoyed the interactive process of teaching and learning with them so much.

以上的都是我教了差不多一年的學生畫作。

他們是一群中一至中五的學生，都是熱愛畫畫的年輕人。我很喜歡和他們授課，雖然他們的性格和畫風各有不同，但總是很努力、很認真的上課，也勇於提問和接受新挑戰。所以我很享受和他們的相處，那種教與學的互動過程，很單純，也很令人滿足。

I have been collaborated with Gowld Art Centre (GAC) for over a year, the founder Kaisha Woo (now become my good friend =) and other teammates are amazing Art teachers and Artists who really have passion in Art Education. These photos are taken on their newly opened Art Studio in Tai Koo, during and after my Visual Journal workshop held at the studio. 

I really love the vibe of the studio! It is very bright, spacious, airy, well layout and fully equipped with various drawing and painting tools, they even provide musical instruments and books to enrich students’ creative process. It is a very colourful place, all students are encouraged to create in a very relaxed yet well organised setting.

It is a very challenging time, especially the past few months, for the creative industry to survive in the midst of the pandemic, but you did it Kaisha! I am really proud of you!

I believe and hope that the centre, with such a meaningful vision, “be enlightened through Art”, will win the hearts all Art lovers and continue to bloom and nurture many souls, young or mature, with their wonderful all-rounded lessons and programmes.

Photos taken with a Canon RP, with a 40mm 2.8 STM lens, edited with Photoshop CC.

This is a really FUN & INTERESTING workshop to help you develop a life long habit of making visual journal, and be INSPIRED & CREATIVE EVERYDAY!

I am thrilled to collaborate with the newly opened Art studio – Gowld Art Centre to organize this workshop!

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

1. Contents

This course will cover the following topics:

• What is Visual Journal? Why is it the foundation of all kinds of Art creations? What are the benefits of making & doing it? 
• Understanding your creative style
• Types and examples of Visual journals
• Materials & tools needed
• We will go through the 2 most common methods of creating visual journals together:
  • A. Sketching & Painting: both indoor & outdoor; from still objects (e.g. food, plants & flowers) to urban scenes and landscapes;
  • B. Collage & scrapbook making: e.g. travel journalling: using photos, magazine prints, colour paper, rubber stamps, stickers & colour tapes to create visually appealing contents

2. Date & Place

Dates: from 23 May 2020, 6 weeks.

Workshop location:

Room 1101, 11/F Eastern Centre, 1065 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

3. Enrolment & Enquiry

You may leave a comment below or send me an email:

agneslth @ gmail.com

As a little kid living in the country side, I was very blessed to have parents giving me the freedom and opportunities to explore the beauty of nature, to be adventurous. I always believe that parents should encourage their children to get their hands and feet dirty with sand and mud, letting nature be their playground.

The story is about his journey of overcoming fear and anxiety, to explore the world around him, with the love and support from his parents.

All illustrations created with Photoshop CC, Sketchbook (Mac version) and Procreate (with an iPad Pro 2018).

My original Children’s book “If…” received the “Award for Hong Kong Creative Writing (Children’s Book category)” and was published by Methodist Book Room at 2013.

2019

As the illustrator of the Children’s book “May I explore the world…?” Written by Shirley Loo, published by EVI Publishing Limited.

替兒童繪本《我去看看，好嗎？》繪畫插圖。故事：羅乃萱 / 插圖：梁翠霞 / 愉快學習出版社出版。

《我去看看，好嗎？》

文／羅乃萱

圖／梁翠霞 (Agnes Leung)

責任編輯／黃靜蓮

出版／愉快學習出版有限公司

購買：

基道書樓網站

Photos for Golden Lamp Stand Magazine, March 2018.
替《金燈臺》雜誌（2018.3月號網上版）配置的攝影作品。

Photos for Golden Lamp Stand Magazine, January 2018.
替《金燈臺》雜誌（2018一月號網上版）配置的攝影作品。

Photos for Golden Lamp Stand Magazine, November 2017.
替《金燈臺》雜誌（2017.11月號網上版）配置的攝影作品。

Photos for Golden Lamp Stand Magazine, Sepetember 2017.
替《金燈臺》雜誌（2017.9月號網上版）配置的攝影作品。

Photos for Golden Lamp Stand Magazine, March 2017.
替《金燈臺》雜誌（2017.3月號網上版）配置的攝影作品。