Time cannot fade the streets in memory's keep,
Though youth may scatter, the first glimpse we'll always keep.

With a paintbrush, I rebuild that old street,
Returning to the days of youth, bittersweet.

Finding the light, the scents of that time,
Clouds like cotton candy, sublime.
The dappled light of plane trees so deep,
Balconies with greenery, secrets they keep.
The bustling "Sparrow Bar," laughter and cheer,
Never a moment of silence, year after year.

The iron gate, by vines half-hid,
A gentle push lifts memory's lid.

Parting is a signpost on growth's long road,
Youth bids farewell, a sudden, heavy load.
Yet in our hearts, blossoms gently unfold.

In these pages, you’ll discover that what truly resonates with people isn’t just technical skills. What they really want to know is the story behind each painting. So, over the years, I’ve been thinking: what if I included stories within these painting tutorials? Could that make what’s otherwise dry and boring more interesting?

Mimo loves old alleys and memories of the past. Her paintings all revolve around themes of nostalgia.
Besides documenting the painting process through photographs, Mimo also tells the stories behind each painting using handwritten comics.
She imagines herself as a comic character who appears throughout the entire book.
She chats with you, jokes with you, and shares earnestly her unforgettable experiences during her first trip to the seaside.

Mimo is a freelance watercolor illustrator who regularly shares her artwork across multiple platforms and collaborates with numerous commercial brands on illustration projects, including Pizza Hut and Wuhan Tiandi. She has published “Painting Quiet Places I: Mimo’s Watercolor Picture Book,” which won the Crystal Shell Award—the highest honor in the 2016 Cross-Strait Book Design Competition—and “Painting Quiet Places II: Street Corner Log.” Both books have each sold over 50,000 copies.

1. My Friends (Painting Tools)
2. Index of Memories (Detailed Explanation of Watercolor Techniques)
3. A Simple Life (Detailed Explanation of Watercolor Techniques)
4. Mimo’s Story: A Journey by the Sea