Poison apples

This is done without any still life observation. Done with old master's style, dead coloring technique. 

Here is the video of the process.

Forgot to mention.

In my previous blog, I forgot to mention that another valid excuse I have was I was painting residential mural. Took me in a total of about 34 hr in a span of 8 days.
Here is the video

New works and excuses

Have not posted in a while. Well I can list down the excuses I've made up but honestly, I hate to write. I do not have the focal capacity and sit down to translate my brain juice into words. I type slow and my handwriting looks like an abstract line works. It is gonna be a problem when I aim to further my studies in art education next year as I need to write essays and stuff. But, I'll deal with it when it comes. 

Oh one valid excuse, I think is, I went for a vacation to Maldives at end of September to beginning of October. Maldives is BEAUTIFUL and I'm so grateful at least I went coz it might sink due to Global warming in the future... I heard. Then, I was in a holiday mood for the rest of 6 weeks.

Ok these 3 works are the ones I submitted to the UOB painting of the year competition and obviously, I didn't win. Oh well, but at least I tried. And will try again next year. I wanna win money man! *stupid grin*. People say money is the root of all evil but it is definitely motivating. *another stupid grin*

All these paintings are done with acrylic under painting and textures and foreground in oil. 

I love mountains, the ocean, mother nature. So lots of my works are base on that. I love mountains especially as to me, it represent goals, virtues, hope, perseverance, determination and success. So I paint mountains symbolically rather as a form of landscape. While working on "Anticipation", I paint what I desire in my life as one symbolic form and also a reflection of what I already have and a reminder to be grateful.

I particularly enjoyed the process of making "Pleasure in Descent". It is like planting a seed and watching in grow. With a more experimental approach, I have discovered many useful accidents that will definitely benefit me in future creations. Peace!

Apologies for not being able to publish new works at the moment.

Sorry that I am unable to publish 3 new completed works at the moment until end of September or early October.

It is because I am sending them for a competition and one of the criteria is the works should never been published before. But I hope the " work on progress" ones shall pass. I posted the finished works on facebook though as the criteria for the word,"published" is not in there. We "post" stuff on facebook. Emarite??!!

Oh well, just to pass the time and adding on to this blog with no meaning what so ever, I shall post this.

Peace!

Work in progress. Acrylic and oil on canvas. 40" x 30".

Just started the foreground this afternoon in the break between classes. Had prepared the canvas with textures and under-painting with acylic just a few days before. Need to wait a week for refining. The disadvantage of oil... slow drying. Will update the progress soon. Peace!

Work in progress. Acrylic and oil on canvas. 40" x 30". Titled: Pleasure in decent.

Now that I have finished the custom-made works that was ordered from me, I can concentrate on my own artworks whenever I in between teaching and personal life allows me.

The first photo is the preparation of the acrylic base of the painting that I'm gonna paint over. I like some of the colours and textures that I prepare to show though the top layer. Then, using the acrylic pen, I render my subject with more structure. For the misty and blended look, I use oil paint over to give it a translucent glaze that I want. These are closed up shots. Will post the finished work soon. Peace!

Work in progress. Acrylic and oil on canvas. 40" x 30". Titled: Anticipation

This work is actually finished by now that I am typing this. I am so busy with teaching and doing custom-make artworks that I had to squeeze every bit of time left for my own art.

This was done at the spur of the moment. Was home and had some free time, just decided to do something with my canvas that had previously prepared for subjects. And the brush and palette knife just glides over like a symphony. This is one of my favourite moments. The subject just came pouring out, unstoppable. Was sweating with anticipation of what is gonna come. Thus, the title.

Painted over a black acrylic base with colored lines in relief, poured by using a squeeze bottle with colored acrylic mixed with medium. Clear gesso was applied over the base and the oil paint glazed the surface after. Will post the finished work soon. Peace!

Just an update about myself. Peace.

It's been awhile since I've wrote a blog so I feel that I should do it now. As this blog is about my art development, personal happenings is relevant as well, as experiences feed my art developing.

I finally started Instagram #projectwonderwall about a few days ago. At this moment while I am writing this, I only have 4 pictures. It's lame, but I wanna take take things one step at a time. And I am writing this without any plan or draft so I'm just gonna pour out whatever I can remember of the "chaos" that had happened.

Chaos, I mean, is not from a negative feel but more of neutral point. We are living a dual reality, where bad is as valid as good. Because without feeling bad, you wouldn't know what good feels like. There is no day without night. There is no happiness without sadness. It is what it is. Such is reality.

Chaos to me is like all the events and happenings, tussle and tumble of living. I am thankful everyday to experience all the ups and downs and learn to not regret the things I should have done. At this moment, it is what as it supposed to be. Life is such is.

Ever since I learned the full meaning of acceptance of what is, the moment that I realize my being and aliveness, the moment I learned how to quiet my mind from all the shenanigans that Life throws on you, and be aware of the energy that lives in you and in everything else, that is the moment when I feel inspired to take certain actions.And when I take action at that state, there is no regrets or worries. Because I feel that, that is what I should do, from the bottom of my heart. If that makes sense.

I am aware now that I am a late bloomer some sorts. I hated technology and change. I identify myself as being a quiet introvert which I still am, but I learned to accept myself unconditionally the way I am at this moment. Then because of that realization and acceptance, I am able to interact with people more efficiently. The way I feel, from the bottom of my heart, interacting with everyone in efficiency and honesty instead of trying to please others. I am able to overcome my fears of dealing and communicating with people. I accept that, in order to expose my art more, is to be updated on new technologies how to use them.

My decision to finally have Instagram comes from the heart. No more pretending and making excuses about " I will embarrass myself" thoughts. It is exactly the right time that I take action to share what I love to do, to the world. And as an artist, this is what I should be doing in the first place if ever I had overcome my self-limiting thoughts.

I have been hiding in fear for so long, but right now at this moment, I am not.

Peace!

Thank you for the teachers I hold in high esteem, my Dad, first and foremost, for all his support in my passion. Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth (book) I borrowed from my ex boss when I felt like drowning and asked for help. Ex-boss lent me this book which enlightened me. And Susan James. which I discovered recently about 4 weeks ago listening to an interview, reminded me, as well as, enhanced my knowledge about awareness and consciousness,

Intermission.

A lot has been going on lately.
First picture is another Blacknote, Larger scale.
Second picture is to experimenting portrait sketch.
Third picture is to implement fantasy drawings on experimental works.
Peace.

Oil on canvas. 24" x 18". "Gibson steps". 2016

Actually I completed this painting about the same time as "12 apostles lookout". Was very preachy in that post so I feel like I should write something more mellow today. *smiley face*

Well, I took my time posting updates to space things out instead of jamming everything like a can of sardines. And I learned today that, when I do things because I "think" I should instead of, I "feel" I should, I tend to rush to get things posted. Well, I am very grateful that I am able to receive new knowledge everyday and am ALIVE to do it.

I was feeling a bit down and out of alignment the past few days and I am so thankful that my "itchy fingers" googled about the best success coach. Found an audio by a blogger who interviewed Susan James, a coach for 'Self-mastery', which I listened to in the cab on the way to work and continued listening after my first class. It is about 60+ minutes. And boy, it was worth that hour. 

Feeling so energetic spiritually and physically listening to that and as a result, had an awesome day (and night since as my last class ended at 9 pm) teaching at the studio. Even made a doodle with he left over paint which I will surely post soon. *grinning*

Well I know that this post does not have to do with "Gibson steps", but this is what I feel to type.

Peace!

View portfolio of my works from year 2002 till 2016 at

www.flickr.com/artkugallery

24" x 18" Oil on canvas. "12 Apostles lookout" by Aisha Ramat

Momentarily taking a break from doing abstract and brush up the traditional. One of the reasons why I decided to u-haul to oil for awhile is because I want to test myself. To see whether I can still paint any representational subject, Another reason is, since I'm not a famous abstract artist whatsoever, is to add to my credibility.

Those who have been to an art school, are trained to render and understand things in a certain way (although we deny it and think we are individuals, but unconsciously indoctrinated ). We always have doubts about those whom, have neither been seen doing a traditional observational piece and whom, we observe, that does not have the technical skills in conforming to traditional observational art, making abstract painting.

Depending on the art school you go to, but I believe that technical skills are basic requirement to do abstract. Picasso, Duchamp, Monet, Cezanne, Freud, Mondrian, Hurst and many others who deserted traditional art, actually started out traditional. You can look them up.

I am not saying that you must go to an art school to be successful in making any art. Doesn't matter if you go to art school or not, as long you have basic technical skills which are naturally acquired or trained or both (for me its kinda both), is the foundation to more artistic en devours.

Sorry, don't mean to lecture because I am not qualified to. I am neither a typist or a speaker, but I feel like doing the exact, at this moment. So I did. Peace!

Accidental discovery. White series: Winds on rocks. Oil on canvas.

Started as an accidental discovery, on how white layers react to painterly under. This accidental piece was created impromptu, an adverse reaction to, how disastrous my initial painting was.

So I painted a layer of white and umber with the intention to modify the entire look of the painting, but I stopped. 'THIS' was the intention I was looking for.

Work in progress. Momentarily taking a breather from abstract and brush up the traditional.

Momentarily taking a break from doing abstract and brush up the traditional. One of the reasons why I decided to u-haul to oil for awhile is because I want to test myself. To see whether I can still paint any representational subject, Another reason is, since I'm not a famous abstract artist whatsoever, is to add to my credibility.

Those who have been to an art school, are trained to render and understand things in a certain way (although we deny it and think we are individuals, but unconsciously indoctrinated ). We always have doubts about those whom, have neither been seen doing a traditional observational piece and whom, we observe, that does not have the technical skills in conforming to traditional observational art, making abstract painting.

Depending on the art school you go to, but I believe that technical skills are basic requirement to do abstract. Picasso, Duchamp, Monet, Cezanne, Freud, Mondrian, Hurst and many others who deserted traditional art, actually started out traditional. You can look them up.

I am not saying that you must go to an art school to be successful in making any art. Doesn't matter if you go to art school or not, as long you have basic technical skills which are naturally acquired or trained or both (for me its kinda both), is the foundation to more artistic en devours.

Sorry, don't mean to lecture because I am not qualified to. I am neither a typist or a speaker, but I feel like doing the exact, at this moment. So I did. Peace!

Did layering with pyrrole red acrylic on top of green and gold background.
This is done layering with acrylic with medium the glazed on top of another with squeegee and acrylic pen rendering, similar to my previous Blacknote series. Borders are masked out by oil paint to get a soft look, which I decided to incorporate to get a soft border look. There are certain things oil paints can outdo.

Follow the lines. Acrylic on canvas. 16" x 18". 2016

This piece conjures a memory more than 2 decades ago where teachers were authoritative. I was 7, given a handwriting exercise as homework. I wanted to finish it fast so that I could go out and play with my friends. I hate following the dotted lines in which, I had to trace to create a "proper" cursive letter in the alphabet. Last resort, I scribbled. Next morning, I got my ear pulled and a smack on back by my teacher for doing that.

My handwriting is still horrible. But I can paint a perfect typo. For real.

Side notes: This piece also hints at absolute obedience, programmed by government to keep us under control in the 90s and early year 2000 Singapore. Though its is a little different now as everything is prone to change. But I am sure it still persist now. When I was in secondary school, express stream, girls had to take "home economics' subjects while boys, 'design and technical'. And this was mandatory. I am aware there were some streams that gives a lee way for transfer, my not in my school if you were in express stream. Sexism much?

4 layers of contrast. Acrylic on canvas. 18" x 16". 2016

4 layers of contrast is an experimental piece. Where I layered painterly subject with glossy, off-white texture. Then screened black, with insufficient paint. Then layer again with controlled lines. Thus, the title, 4 layers of contrast. Different approach to every layer yet, harmonize as One.

At the moment, I am having problems uploading images to flickr. Never had this problem before. But I always remind myself, " Accept the moment as if I choose them". But since I wrote this blog at the moment, I do not have such problems uploading in blogspot, which is GREAT! *savouring the positive at this moment*

There's a little upward curve at the side on my mouth... I think. Or if not, I'm trying.

I also realized that I am only mostly free on Sunday nights to update blogs and flickr. Peace.

Work in progress. Layering with Pyrrole red, white and gold.

Had gone insane with experimenting with colours and layers. I posted in my facebook page 2-3 days ago while waiting for layers to dry of some works I randomly, I, at the spur of the moment decided to partake.

These are the pictures taken when I am working particularly with an expensive acrylic pigment I bought, Pyrolle red, proffesional acrylic colour by Winsor & Newton.  Although the colour is magnificent, I am unhappy about how it turned out. Which is almost crimson. Anyhoo, since I already knew how unimpressive it turned out to be, I will mix it with something. No conclusion yet, but something.

With the down set, I definitely able to buck myself up and continue with the journey. Its fasting month now, and I have not a drop of water nor food since 5.30am this morning and to break fast is at sundown 7.12pm. The biggest challenge of it all is sluggishness, sleepiness, and lack of focus, mostly psychological, but it's hard. But the sunshine out of the dark cloud is, I am able to do it. It's not that hard once you decide and choose to abstain from necessity for a period of time. A great sense of accomplishment. Peace.

Turquoise on black. Acrylic on canvas. Addition to the contemplation series.

 This is a new addition o the contemplation series.
I did both this painting and the previous painting "Turquoise and aquamarine", simultaneously. This is also on a 14" X 18" canvas.  Had a lot of fun exploring different elements, glazes and ways to stretch out the idea. In this 2 paintings, I want to kinda sprinkle the essence of the experiences I had from my recent trip to Victoria, Australia. I am instantly inspired by the southern ocean. The crashing waves, white shimmering foam, the ochre, golden and sienna rocks of corroding limestone, unstable cliffs, barren and desert-y feel to the landscape and plants. It was beautiful.

Turquoise and aquamarine. Acrylic on canvas. Addition to the contemplation series.

This is a new addition to the Contemplation series.
I am very happy exploring other ways I can use the squeegee and to use wider range of colours. This is a small 14 x 18 canvas, it was pre-painted some time ago when I was studying foil for the contemplation series. I used the structure I already etched, to spread texture and glaze. The results I think could be better but I am very ecstatic to be  experimenting the  continuation of the contemplation series. Peace!

Coloured sketches. Study of elements

These are the coloured sketches I done with acrylic on canvas. Added a mis of pouring mediums on there. Had a lot of fun doing this but of course with a few heart wrenching moments when I do not know how it would turn out when dried.

Back to work! Sketches for support of my upcoming works.

Went to Melbourne and The Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia for a holiday with the family. Really had a mind-blowing, wonderful time. The scenic view along the Great Ocean road was so awestruckingly magnificent, that I almost feel my heart gonna explode with indigestion of too much beauty.

I love the sea. Looking at seascapes, the harmony of 3 main elements (sky, sea and land) altogether at once, is eternally inspiring for me. I grew up where the nearest beach is only 30 min away, the place of my most memorable childhood.

So these sketches above are somewhat a reminiscence of my experience being in Australia and how I felt during that time. Tried sketching outdoors but it was too windy to hold up any paper, and it rained for 2 whole days. So base on my memories and lingering feelings of that place, I picked up a charcoal pencil and just had to document the study of elements as soon as I got back.

Contemplation: Greynote Acrylic on canvas by Aisha Ramat

This one I added a mid tone. Hence the name, " Greynote". It is 20"x16", acrylic on canvas.

This one has a softer look to it as I reduced the texture in the black background. Has more flowy strokes compare to Blacknote II, where shorter and abrupt strokes were applied.

All the contemplation black and white series are similar in style but individually unique as each piece cannot be replicated.

Contemplation II ( 3 panel series) Oil on canvas by Aisha Ramat

I never gotten the chance to take a high quality photo except for the once I took at the Art Loft where it was displayed. The lighting there was a bit dim. So this time I managed to get some lighting to take a proper picture. Peace!

Contemplation: Blacknote II, Acrylic on canvas, 20"x 16" 2016 by Aisha Ramat

Yeah, so the piece I'v mentioned in the previous post about why I couldn't take a photo of at night, is here. Took it in the studio will natural lights from the window and florescent lights from the ceiling. Steadying my hands on the stool, on the table, to get a quality shot.

It's challenging to take a quality shot with this work as there are subtle textures that I want to capture.

So here it is. Contemplation: Blacknote II, acrylic on canvas, 20"x 16" 2016.