Mini exhibition in ARThaus Singapore

This Mini exhibition in ARThaus is to showcase works of our adult students who spent at least 1 year with us. Some with an honorable cause for charity and raising funds for to aid tsunami victims in Philippines.

The artists with us are Claudie Chassat, Karen Charmoille, Gauri, Shernaz, Kathrin Rehde, Ruth Ng, Leong Yiat Teng and Pathma.

As an art educator, I am thrilled to see these very artistic people find their own path of artistic journey. As you can see... we at ARThaus can show you the path, but you are the one who have to walk through it. Through practice, perseverance and passion...  Follow your guts...

And of course some showcases of the educator of ARThaus Carolyn Law, Maria Filatova and Aisha Ramat (me)

Literally and seriously funny

Something happened today that I least expect. Its funny that when you're just having fun and try to be funny, people take it seriously. LITERALLY!

 

 Oh the little bubble that says, 

"$200 please *slash* must buy"...

is not meant to be taken seriously too...

do you see the grinning face?

This is title Scissors, paper, stone. I did not have the title there but my painting says "LOM CHIAM PAS".
Ok my European friends did asked me what it means because duh... they're European. Then another local lady said,"  My daughter wants to know what that means. I said," Lom chiam pas" with a hand gesture showing 'scissors, paper, stone'. She slapped her palm on her forehead and said," Ooohhh... lom chiam pas!" Probably thinking why she hadn't got it before.

I just realized how comical it is... when I put certain text that is blatantly local, with a painting that looks like the hand of God from the Sistine Chapel, people thought I was writing in Latin or some "vavavoom" words.
But actually the message was simple... God playing Lom Chiam Pas ( in a  Chinese dialect) scissors, paper, stone ( in local English) ... or rock, paper, scissors ( in American) with Man.... and God wins. Thank you ladies and gentlemen and have a good night. :)

Samudera: Ribut (Storm) 24x30" mix-media on canvas

 

Since I have done loads of watercolor and sketching teaching in the studio, I have had enough. So for my Samudera theme for took a left turn. (since I'm right handed... so I would wanna go somewhere I have least been)

Preparation of the background is crucial. I dreamt that i was shot in the head... and somehow I can feel the bullet passing through my brains... when I woke up, I somehow have the urge to paint a storm. And at that right moment, I have a storm painting 24x30"  I have never completed. 

I added other mediums and with scumbling technique.... I think I've got what I wanted. 

Samudera: ombak, 20X24" , mix media on canvas 2013

I've came back to my Samudera project as I have that hollow feeling deep in me as when I know I've had somewhat abandoned my Samudera project in the midst of chaos of my work life. But there is no excuses.

I've worked with texture and layers with this one. Got to get it done in a spare room in my home which I've called "Da Studio", haha. Useful space for me... a place of creation for me. Although, I was scared to go in that room for a year because my grandma passed away in that very same room. I'm brought up in a superstitious culture... so forgive me if I seem " koo-koo". But yeah... have to stay rooted to my culture coz I can't brush it off....

But anyhoo, this work makes some up what  think is a step forward. What do you think?

Figure drawing 4

 

This the 4th piece of drawing I conjured from my break in-between classes. Charcoal and white chalk on latte colored Murano paper, the mediums just slides in synchrony, and added some negative space to balance out composition. 

Gave more details on the interlinked fingers in contrast to the figure itself.

Really enjoyed this session. 

Special thanks to the model who was willing to tolerate long exhausting poses. 

Hope this drawings do you justice.

Figure drawing 3

I used sienna dry chalk for this one. On cream colored murano paper. Just as I was hoping, it turned out quite to my expectations.

I've been practicing using this chalk at home during the commercials on tv, using pictures from my mobile phone. The thing with this chalk, I've realised, is there is no need for light tones coz the dark tones would not be dark enough ( because its sienna colored). So it's kinda like a balancing act from what I used to. I really enjoyed this drawing because it kinda reminded me of the classical masters sketches.

Figure drawing2

This is the 2nd drawing I did, finally I feel the tension released from my bones as I know I'm beginning to get the hang of this. My sweat soon dried out from my brows.

In this drawing, I realise that I made her look more mascular and toned than she is... its because the light mostly come from skylight. So tones looked washed out and I was perplexed as where should I add tones to make the drawing to have more depth.

So adding in what I've learned about muscular anatomy, I added subtle touches of tones to areas like muscles around the shoulder blades.

Figure drawing1

 I was at the studio at 9am and left the studio at about 9pm. Apart from the classes I have to run, I did figure drawing in between my break-time.

Up-close and personal, its just me and the model. Kinda nerve racking coz its been awhile I've done one-to-one figure drawing. I was slowly finding a way to work effectively with charcoal on cartridge. Not as smooth as I thought. And midway, I was actually perspiring as panic sets in as the charcoal doesn't smudge smoothly. So it gives this sketchy and primal look to the blending I did. So I followed my instinct, I gave a sketchy negative space to even out the subtle outline I couldn't give.

This drawing was the first drawing I did for warm-up. Not perfect I know, but I know I could do better. But for warm up, I guess I have to accept whatever I have created. Done with charcoal on A2 cartridge paper.

Portraiture month

I love portraiture.

It captures the life of a person from their faces. And I love teaching it as well.

Since its portraiture month in ARThaus, I just wanna share some rough demos I did with some of my students. Since we, the Arthaus team, work very closely with our students, close-guidance and demonstration is very crucial to spread fundamental knowledge of creating art. Although we highly value each students' own style, creativity and how they perceive and make sense of their art creation, we also highly encourage fundamental skills. It is a foundation we cannot ignore. Just like we have to learn the alphabets before we can form a word.

These are the rough sketch demos:

 The assassinated one

 One of my fav pieces from Vermeer done in pastel

One of my student's cut out from a magazine in watercolor

Commissioned work. Swimming man, Oil on canvas 30"x36" 2013

This is one for the few commissioned painting I enjoy doing!

The most realistic commissioned work I have done since 4 years ago. Done with oil on canvas. A lot of blending and layering techniques implemented. My client provided me a photo for me to interpret. Her photo is with saturated color. I told her with this I would like to wash out the color a little because I wanted to emphasize more on the figure's movement.  And I added hints of complimentary colors even tho it is not in the photo to add more drama. It took me 7 days to finish this work, working and re-working until I feel its finished. And I am grateful she loves it.

Commissioned works are the hardest works for artists due to constraint of ideas, limited time and wanting to please the clients. Luckily with this one, I had time to explore and experiment and think through what she wants out of the artwork. Understanding me as an artist and let me have the time and freedom to interpret her  photograph to an artwork the way I feel. Thank you Meryl. (shipped to Adelaide Australia)

 Mock ups 

Samudera. Burn Flowly. Acrylic on canvas 24x36" 2013

  

This is my acrylic translation from a photo by Nolan Nitschke. I was just in love with the dynamism and colors of the photo that I just need to satisfy that itch to paint it. I did not intend to copy the photo inch by inch but somewhat express it through texture and experimental application to show movement. 

The title, 'Good vs evil', was inspired by my friend's interpretation of the painting when I asked her what do you think? She said it gave her the impression that cool water over gushing forth to vanquish fire. Like peace overcoming anger. And around this time coincidentally, I am trying to overcome a struggle myself that have plagued me for more than a month now and the sprained ankle I'm dealing with the past week and half.... but I shall not elaborate further. 

Anyways....I was so amazed by her words that metaphorically I decided to name this painting inspired by what she said; Good vs Evil. Thus: Burn Flowly Time of completion: tonight. Peace!

Another Samudera painting. Samudera or Samudra is a Sanskrit term for "ocean", literally the "gathering together of waters" (saṃ- meaning "together" and -udra meaning "water". Dictionary meaning of samudra is ‘confluence’ and ‘ocean/sea’. I am of Javanese descendent which I am proud of... because of our history and invasion. So with this water series, I name it Samudera Series.

Samudera1 acrylic on canvas 18x24" 2013

Acrylic on canvas. This time I tried blue on white canvas. With as touch of glaze of complimentary colors. From my previous blog, I'm supposed to elaborate on why I want to work about water and movement. One of the reasons is; water is formless. it takes e shape of any form. Two; its a symbol of perpetual change. Its like a thumbprint... no two are alike at any moment. That's why I'm intrigued with water... there is no right or wrong... only infinite possibilities...It represents life.

Dive01 unfinished

Decided to create a series of Dive this year. The objective is to explore the dynamism and movement of water and figures. No models or picture references used for this upcoming series. Just a test and trial of my understanding of figure movements and observation of the perpetual moving water against skin and flesh. I will elaborate more on this project in my next blog. Thank you for browsing. 

Sky Sea Oil and acrylic on canvas

 

Had this done impromptu. Had it primed with ochre and intially had the intention of painting something else. Well this idea came about as sudden as when you are happily on the way to somewhere when you realise that your favourite sandal's sole were gaping open at the front like an alligator's mouth waiting for prey. I kinda thought it looks rather unfinished, then I re-looked and re looked, somewhere inside me made me believe that I'm happy the way it is. I believe nothing inspires more than the sky and the sea, especially when you know that the storm is coming.

The Great Wall an impression

Had a vacation to Beijing, Tianjin and Xian recently, a good getaway to an awesome winter in China. This painting is just a direct impression of the Great Wall, done with acrylic on canvas without any reference images. Just somethin I get out of my mind and my experience climbing it. 

Well the long stairway reminds me of the strenuous climb to the to the astounding view so I gave it a little more detail. The colors, I basically use dead-coloring method as to capture the gray winter in Beijing. And not to forget the ever shocking air pollution in January 2013 in Beijing which is the worst air pollution ever experienced there. 

Added a bit of crimson glaze over at selected areas and dark glaze over the distance. Might not be my best piece, because I feel making this painting is kinda too controlled for my personal taste. I will try to be more free for the next piece. Cheers!!