“Gong Hey Fat Choy”

Happy Chinese New Year!

February 19th 2015

Chinese Symbol for Happy Chinese New Year (恭禧發財)

The most common Chinese ways of saying Happy New Year are Gong Xi Fa Cai(Mandarin) and Gong Hey Fat Choy (Cantonese). Even though the pronunciations are a little different, both are written the same.

Ever since I was young I have been fascinated by the Far East. I used to go with my Mother to visit “artsy” Lila L. She had her hair bound up with chopsticks and black lacquered furniture inlaid with Mother of Pearl. Chinatown was my favorite place to eat and I loved getting those prize balls at the gift shop and unwrapping yards of paper strips to find the tiny toys inside.

Little did I know I would “marry” into the army and live in the Orient. This amazing experience has increased my delight in all those memories and many new ones; like the Chinese Lion dance (always thought I’d draw this but haven’t yet!) , Sizzling Rice Soup and playing the Kayagum (like Koto). Subsequently I’ve drawn a number of popular Chinese inspired patterns. I’ll include Japan and Indonesia too! So for the New Year I’m passing along the celebration to you!