I was recently introduced to the most complicated Chinese character – biang!  It has 57 strokes!  It is fun to try writing it, though quite hard to get it square and stable.

This character is only used to describe biang-biang noodles, a speciality of Shaanxi, and was probably invented – it doesn’t appear in standard Chinese dictionaries.  Another clue is that the videos showing how to write it vary in their stroke order:

• Clear printed character
• Good Japanese brushstrokes

There are other credible candidates for most complicated character.  If you fancy trying some more, look here.

I have been mounting paintings.  I love painting ancient bronzes, especially the Gu:

More bronzes, including a bell, plus leafy sea dragons!

Autumn and winter:

Cloud Dragon inkstone:

I found this video writing standard script with good brushwork.   The phrase being written is

 清遊暢詩懷

This is the second part of the expression

 道學通正事，清遊暢詩懷

Dàoxué tōng zhèngshì, qīngyóu chàng shī huái

The whole expression means  Study Confucian principles to understand the political affairs;  Leisurely travel lets you write poetry to your heart’s content.

My ink mice to wish you Happy New Year.  Can you find all six?

Inspired by Qu Leilei and the Eight Brokens, I had a go at collage.  Rather fun.

I painted this postcard to show the bitter icy winds we have had here recently.

At a recent local art exhibition I sold 2 pictures – humorous frogs!