Drawing

This paper is not blue. My phone camera just have a problem with taking a close-up with white background. I'll research more about it.... Anyhoo, I've been spending more time drawing than painting now. I guess I would take a break from painting until I'm inspired to. This drawing is based on my observation from a reference photo.

Anyways, thank you for browsing my blog and Merry X'mas.

Figure

A piece of demo I did for a student. 

Feels good to be able to draw figures again. 

Colored pencil on brown paper.

The real reason we paint.

By Pamela Michelle Johnson

Had a class just now for painting and I asked one of the beginners did she like her painting? Her answer was a definite and undoubtedly  "YES".

What I've learnt from teaching art is that many have the fear to begin... but in a relaxed environment, after a few strokes with a close guidance, they can't get enough. Some even called in an "addiction". I began to see a pattern.

At first, I theorized that human have a long desire to create. But maybe, this article might have a better explanation...

An interesting article about the real reason we paint.

"Our visual experience continues further, becomes richer, deeper and fuller as we paint it. A dialogue, a conversation begins. Our marks on the canvas are our response to the voice, the tastes, and the touches we see." Quote from this article.

Click here to read more

Up. Oil and acrylic on canvas

Its been quite awhile that i have not painted on canvas and finally I've completed one. I am not very happy with it... but its worth knowing that I've learnt something along the way... this work took me quite along time to complete considering its an experimental piece. Its been erased and redone about 3-4 times. And just when I thought I'm done, there's always something crept up. But anyhoo... I'm quite happy with the results. Hope you are too... :)

Swim in watercolor

I am on a journey to master watercolor.

Figure movement

Done this for a demonstration in class about figure movement... makes me miss figure drawing. Spontaneous; took me about a minute to complete. 

Ayatul Kursi

 

Ayatul Kursi which is translated to "The Throne" from the holy book Quran. Custom-made for a client who wanted to hang something on her wall but have to be Islamic and purposeful. So she decided that she wanted Ayatul Kursi; which is taken from Surah Al-Baqarah verse 255. This verse is believe to be ultra special for the Muslims as it is supposed to repel any acts of evil and bad luck. It was surprisingly enjoyable for me to be able to explore the realm of arabic scripts. And be able to experiment with fonts and curves of the calligraphy. I am thankful for the privilege to be able to create this original artwork for her.

Its been awhile since I've done still-life so I suddenly inspired to paint a stack of jars in the studio using dead-coloring method. Although not so detailed and time-consuming as the real dead -coloring by the old masters like Vermeer, I decided to incorporate fast paced contemporary elements into my still-life...

Monks in watercolor Cambodia

Monks in watercolor

Found a photo in the studio belonging to a student. I was so captivated by that photo that I suddenly had an aching urge to try to paint this in watercolor. I'll upload the photo soon so you'll get the idea what it looks like in a photograph.

I admit I am not a master at watercolor, but attempting this was an excellent challenge I appropriately needed. Comfort zone is sometimes a witch with a capital B... haha. Just sucks you right in the safe zone. Safe zone in the arts is like a "no-development zone". So I'm trying to stay away.

A critique of my own work I would say, amateur. To much things going on in the background... and unlike oil painting where its so easy to manipulate and re-correct, watercolor sometimes put you in a no-mistake area.... or you'll have to learn from your mistake and create a better one.

Have a cuppa

Indulged myself to a cuppa. Watercolor on paper.

Highlights

I've said this a thousand times till my lips are numb and my spit over-pouring.... CONTRAST, CONTRAST, CONTRAST. Without contrast, the image we draw or paint or express wouldn't have the 3-Dimensional, realistic illusion we all want out of our still-life painting or drawing or anything... actually. Many forget about contrast. Wherever there's dark.... there ought to be light...  vise versa. So I made a point to educate my students about the importance of highlights..... chalk on black paper.... this is my demo....

Just with highlights on black paper, astounding works can be achieved. Its all about the fundamentals.

If you are in Singapore and want to know more about contrast and how you can manipulate them to your advantage in creating an art piece, visit us at www.arthaus.com.sg

Cracked Oil and Acrylic on canvas 24 x 36

A piece I made for a filming set... a sequel to Swirls.

Swirls in translation

Sorry didn't update for quite some time... mind-block... but ultimately no excuses. Well, I had a hard time on this one. Remember I said in my previous blog that I'm gonna try to push further.... using colours out of my comfort zone??... I tried with this one... took me awhile to get it right. I ventured into the GREEN horizon.... and sprinkled it with bright red in e beginning.... but it looked too bloody raw and tasteless... like sashimi... so I pondered and lingered and decided to give a white swirly wash over it... looks ok to me.... at least better than that wash. Peace.

Older works

Visit

 www.flickr.com/photos/artkugallery/ 

to view my older works. Peace & Love.

Crushed. oil on gauze paper

Had the impulse to just paint with less control... blurred boundaries. 

But I realized now that I have a comfort zone that I stubbornly attached to. 

The colour red..... white.....and...... umber.........zzzzzzzzzz

SERIOUSLY??!!

I haven't notice it till now.

Right now I'm still stretching my under-painting manipulations which I enjoy tremendously... but unfortunately I'm developing a pattern on my palette. Which is NOT good. I should be pushing boundaries in every way possible. Ok next work... I will deal with colours that I hardly use. Maybe it'll develop an acquired taste... eeek

D'un Monde A L'autre by Karen Charmoille and Carine Juget

Karen Charmoille is a humorous and gracious French lady who trained under my studio partner Carolyn Law for a few years. She still frequents our studio ARThaus. Never would I figure that she would be an aspiring artist. Totally inspirational, Karen Charmoille is a passionate painter who fell in love with oil painting... and being French, from her experience working in the perfume industry, which is an art by itself, I could tell that it's in her "blood". From her works, I could tell that she is evolving from a classical painter to a more daring knife painting. Progress is always good and I salute her for her courageous en devour.

The title of the show means "Of a world to another" at Volvo showroom Singapore 7th June 2012, I can sense her capturing her experience from living abroad from her motherland and her travel wonders. Karen Charmoille is an inspiration to all amateur painters. Congratulations Karen!

My favorite work from her titled "Red Tiles" 

 Oh and that Carolyn Law (far right) my studio partner.

For art lessons, visit us as www.arthaus.com.sg

Brushing up my watercolor skills.....

Aaaahhh... watercolor. Pretty daunting medium to use. I still remember my first time attempting this medium. It was a still-life grapes based on a photo. And it sucked. Haha. Then I tried Milla Jovovich picture from 'Herworld' magazine. Didn't turn out bad but it wasn't excellent either.

Just relaxing and had the urge to lay my hands on watercolor again... these are based on photographs on some National Geographic magazines. Taking a break from oil painting...

Serene, tranquil, soft, gentle medium that can turn manic, moody and unpredictable in a blink of an eye... that's watercolor to me. But I love every minute of it.

Anyhoo... will continue practicing the "medium-with-the-mood swing". Let's see if I end up battered or victorious...

 

Livid Tinder Oil on Canvas 30x40 

Ok... shamelessly I wanna announce that this is one of my favorite. I layered a classical technique of the old masters over experimental under-painting to achieve a quite interesting translucent background layer. With added sgrafitto etching and expressive spread of whites, umbers and blues, the painting gives an uxexplained fleeting stillness and movement harmonious marriage... if that makes sense... hee. Cheers!

Oh anyways, certain alterations have been made to this work eventually. FYI. Just a tiny bit. :)

Made this custom-made for someone. Fishing kitten slumber. Oil on canvas. Awwww...

Silver-lining

Can u see the silver-lining in this painting?

I just completed this one this afternoon... after much "putting-on-hole" time. I love this work the most. Ever since I started abstract the past 2 years... I think with this work, symbolizes how much I have discovered. Personally, I find it refreshing, and depict whatever I wanna feel. I love this work.

So naming it "Silver-lining" perfectly portrays my discovery and newness. I've come to to the next stage of abstract.

Swirls

I did this work in conjunction with the new experimental workshop I'm running at the studio. Its painted without brush at all.

When I started I was amazed by the beautiful impromptu effects that I achieved... but later on... I started to dislike it. Then I shared it with some adults students over dinner and they told me they love it.... that I was being too hard on myself.

Oh well... but just this afternoon I had a private art session with my student Jasmine.... she said that it's awesome.... with the bright smile on her face. She's ten and believe me... she's bloody talented. I love teaching her. And so my heart changed again... I figured that its not that bad. :)

My new "Pen-pal"

I've always wanted a fountain pen. I'm a geek for classic looking things that are practical and most importantly functional for everyday use. I love the elegant and shiny tip, the weight in my hand, tilting it to a certain angle to write, the ink just flows smoothly without much pressure and it just remind me of the quilt pen people used to use during Victorian times. And I must admit that I'm a sucker of movies set in Victorian times. Most of all, Fountain pens are a piece of history which has been used for since century ago....

 Trying my "pen-pal" by sketching a self-portrait.

Finally I got one!! And I must say I am super duper happy with it. Its Parker the Premium edition with a fine tip.
I was contemplating it with the Urban edition. But the latter looks too modern and too light for my liking. And it also only comes in medium tip. So i opted for the one I got now and even got it engraved. Super awesome pen and thank you Universe for creating such a beautiful pen such as this!!

Oh... and that's me in e background. Teehee!

"Midway" Oil on canvas 2012

I posted previously regarding my incomplete painting used for a set in a film shoot. This is the complete version. Very different I know... Took a break from my experimentation and decided to tranquilly paint an image on an experimental background. Enjoyed painting this very much. Its been awhile since I did the traditional blending. Painting this feels like I took a short and abrupt vacation.... but relaxing nonetheless.

My friend as well as a colleague, Carol, said that she finds this painting creepy. Its like bone-chillingly quiet. But for me its just silent. Silent is definitely golden don't you think?

"Wounded sunset" oil on canvas. 18"x24"

This is it...

Close-up shot:

"Ruins". Oil on canvas. 18"x24"

Finally completed after much contemplations...

Close-up shot:

Midway

One of my paintings borrowed by Norman (art director) for his set. Extremely new and frankly incomplete. Since its already used for the set, guess I'm just gonna leave it for now... and re-look it in another eye.

I absolutely adore the table lamp. Grrrrr.

For Fatin

Shhhhhh... was secretly sketching her while web-camming. 

Pen on paper....my fav doodling tools :)

Watdoodlex

Having relaxing time doodling with water color and marker pen. Weeee!!!

Baby Penguin

For Fatin...

Ida Aplebroog, the American artist

Ida Applebroog was undoubtedly my hero when I was in college. Her style reminded me of Francis Bacon, but not as dark with a comical tinge. Her use of monotone color and sketchy strokes to reflect mood and expression made her works look more like an unfinished old-school poster. For me, there are 2 words to describe her work; simple and drama.

I don't know why... but this particular work gives me the creeps. Reminded me of the disturbing movie "Human centipede".  Its about 3 people who were abducted by a psychotic surgeon who used them to make a "human centipede" by attaching one person's mouth to another persons ass....hole. Yes you've got it right. Definitely not for children and blatant warning for the adults. Extremely disturbing and once you've watched it, you'll be forever tainted by darkness.

Tube

Indulging in the simple pleasures of sketching once in awhile...

Experiment with textures...

See more of my works at   

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artkugallery/

Thank you for visiting. Cheers!!

Who the hell never heard of Picasso, Degas and Da Vinci?? My favourite quotes by them...

“The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?” Pablo Picasso


 So he decided that he would evolve from this style: 

to this style:

Ooo I'm so hot!

 “Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things” Edgar Degas

Some artists have mastered the art of "not-knowing".

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen” Leonardo da Vinci

Aaaaahhhh, the Renaissance and their sophisticated language.... and their corrupted Church. Oops.

Decked in Ruins (incomplete)

I really think I've come up with something with this experiment. Inspired by the temple ruins in Cambodia I visited last December. Guess I just have to create something out of the trip to make it worthwhile. So this experiment is dedicated to the temples due to its concreteness. I was playing around with structure and form with this one... one of my favourites at the moment. Can't wait for the inspiration to say "it's a wrap:" for this. Teeeheee!

Wounded Sunset (incomplete)

This is one painful lookin work I must say... more pronounced on photograph. If you take it literally. Ouch!! Its supposed to be rainy sunset behind a mound. Just experimenting with colours, paint consistency, composition and texture. Kinda took me forever and its still incomplete. Just somehow need a last layer to be complete. Just waiting for it call my name to nurse the wounds I guess... I'll bring the first-aid kid along too.