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!

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!

Working on the 2nd piece of Contemplation: Blacknote

Currently working a 2nd piece, a move on from Contemplation: Blacknote. So this one is the 2nd piece. This photos were taken when I was developing and fine tuning. But actually, I've already completed Backnote 2 but it's night time now. And working my camera at this lighting is a "dim" witted idea.

Working on another piece of the same series now currently. Waiting for the initial layer to dry. Wish I could work on it more tonight but I guess.... definitely not.

Gonna strum more tones to it... So it's a matter or waiting and .... seeing. Zzzz

Peace!

4 new mixed media pieces. As the previous 4 pieces of similar works got sold at the exhibition opening last Thursday at Volvo Art Loft, I decided to make more of these.

These pieces are very enjoyable to make as they combine certain of my favourite elements. Play and draw. I love the unpredictability of experimenting and balance it out with a little control of the charcoal pencil.

Acrylic is used instead of watercolour simply because I prefer the permanence of it. I use Cryla artist acrylic and Winsor & Newton professional acrylic, on Saunders 300gm watercolour paper. The paper is yellowish compare to the white canvas it is mounted on, and I leave the rough paper edges of the paper without trimming. The charcoal pencil was a gift from my student from Switzerland and its amazing to use.

New mix media works.

These 4 pieces of 12" x 16" each, was all sold during the opening of my art exhibition "Lukisan Gua" on 5th May at Volvo Art Loft. These are done with acrylic, charcoal, watercolor paper mounted on canvas. I didn't want to frame it like a normal watercolor, so I decided for it to be on canvas. Ready to hang and display, no framing needed. I'm making more of this due to requests.

The painting "Contemplation: Black note was also sold, along with my impression of mountain.

I'm going to make another blacknote but slightly bigger since I enjoyed making it so much. Peace.

New addition to the contemplation series.

These are some of the last pieces I did, preparing for the show. And hands-down, the most enjoyable. It's when I've come to a point of higher understanding of my concept together with the application of medium. These are done with acrylic on canvas.

The subtle texture and smoothness that I pleasantly discovered by applying acrylic and medium with no brush at all. The process somewhat feels like a Chinese painting.

The one at the top ( Contemplation: Black note) is my favourite. But I am too busy to make a bigger piece so I'm just showing the small experimental piece. But I'm definitely gonna make a bigger piece when I'm back from Melbourne end of this month. Peace!

For gallery view of my works:
www.flickr.com/artkugallery

Facebook me:
www.facebook.com/projectwonderwall

Under surface. Acrylic on watercolor paper. 16"x20" 2016

Another painting similar to"Underneath the ripples" posted earlier. Peace.

Underneath the ripples, Acrylic on watercolor paper mounted on canvas, 16"x20" 2016

Silly me... I've always watermarked my painting on the painting itself, which is kinda annoying I know. With just a little research, the marvels of internet ( which I'm sure is our downfall as well one day when electricity fails globally... come on.. a little pessimism is good to keep in touch with reality) I found another way to add watermark without compromising (a lot) the view of my works. Thank you internet! (Even if let say there's a global black out, you are fond in my memory)

Yup the figure for this one is of courtesy of Sarah Lee photography Hawaii. I emailed her to ask permission to use her works as reference and she emailed back with her thumbs up. Thank you Sarah Lee.

Yup did something like this ages ago with watercolour. The problem with watercolor is it is not stick-fast. It kinda smudges with a transparent glazing medium. But no problem with acrylic. So I used acrylic as I use watercolour. More vivid color and sticks. Permanently.

Yup, got a bunch of good quality acrylic paints and it gives the transparency of watercolor, without a hassle. ( If done correctly)

Addition to the contemplation series

Contemplation: Layers and Light II

Acrylic on canvas

40"x30"

2016

I've emptied 1 and half bottles of medium doing this. Definitely a challenge for me and I've banged my head against the wall 40 times (lame figure of speech I know, please forgive me) . I had an expectations in my head of what its should look like. This piece marked an uncharted territory for me personally and I think I've said to my myself,"WTF??!!" Twice every time I banged my head to the wall (lame figure of speech I know, please forgive me PART II).

Yup, but anyhoo I think this basically kinda resembles what I have pictured in my head. I'm a recovering control freak. So please forgive me.

Contemplation: Sky

Acrylic on canvas

40"x30"

2016

*watermarked

This one took me a long time to contemplate. And when I found my way, it is a blessing. And I could not achieve have this without working on other pieces meanwhile. Cause the more work I do, the more I discover and discovery, helped me preserver through this one. I have posted about the beginning stage of this work last year in this blog.

For gallery view of my works go to: www.flickr.com/artkugallery

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/projectwonderwall

Another addition to the Contemplation series titled, Layers and Light. White pencil and acrylic on canvas. 30"40". 2016

Was posted the day before yesterday in my facebook page and took me till now to post on this one. The BlogSpot app in my phone wouldn't upload my photos... uuuurrrghhh. Obviously, my work kinda moved away from the more painterly to more suggestive. Which I thankfully welcome with open arms.

Every time I make developments with my work, and at that moment itself it open up something new. I cant resist the adventure. Thus, I got materials that I wanna explore with and that material dwindled out so fast as I used... not so much I hope, but I need to get more definitely. Can't get enough of them at the moment.

Oh, I emailed Sarah Lee (an art photographer from Hawaii) on whether I can use her photos as reference and she emailed me back with approval. Which is effing awesome as her photography is an inspiration for me with the elements that I love. Thank you Sarah!

The Impression of the mountain I want to climb. Oil on canvas, 2016

On the floor, lay a painting of an impression of a mountain I want to climb. It's a fantasy mountain, where I lay hidden underneath the clouds. Heaving and panting as I take excruciating steps to reach an inch higher from where I had been. Where everything fades like smoke whereas breathing and throbbing legs becomes one. My eyes just fixed on one point in the horizon. Where possibilities lay unseen till the gap between the torture stretched out revealing the ocean. There, I shall jump.

Commisioned piece. Deep red rose. Oil on canvas

A commissioned piece. Traditionally painted in the beginning, palette knife works at the ending. Oil on canvas, 30"x24". 2015

Contemplation progress

These are the developments from my previous sketches. There are certain realizations I came upon, as my works are breaking away from observational study. I've decided to add some rough, blurry strokes as it adds some vivid reflections. So that the image is not too overwhelming visually. It adds highlights and "corner-of-the-eye" impression. So far I am please with my developments and this insight will will further evolve my art making.

The Afghan Girl realism painting project final

Steve McCurry's Afghan Girl by Aisha Ramat

Acrylic on canvas

16"x18"

2015

Finally completed the Afghan girl. The last time I posted regarding this painting was March 2014. Took a break a whole year before I decided to pick up my brush to finish this painting. I stopped mostly due to frustration blending with acrylic. It's bloody tedious to spend hours just to blend and layer with acrylic. And also, I was busy teaching and working on other pieces for the "Art for Arts' sake exhibition. So I ended up chucking this painting aside 75% complete.

Until recently, one of my students saw it and wanted to buy it. She thought it was completed. As I would never sell incomplete works, I told her I will complete it, varnish it for her and would be ready the next time she comes to class. So as of today, this painting belongs to her. Phew!

Thank you Ruby for appreciating this painting of Steve McCurry's Afghan girl and giving me the motivation to finally finish this. Hope you enjoy having it. Peace. 

Finally finished my 3 panels.

Contemplation 1, 2 & 3

Oil on canvas

36"x 24" (each panel)

2015

Contemplation: Experimentation Oil and acrylic on canvas 36"x24" 2014

This is the finished form of my experimental work. You can scroll down this blog to see the developing stage. Thank you for browsing.

To see more of my works, go to: flickr.com/artkugallery

Contemplation: Rose 2014 Oil on canvas 36"x36"

Contemplation: Rose

Oil on canvas

36"x36"

2014

by: Aisha Ramat

To see more of my works, go to: flickr.com/artkugallery

Project 15. Journey, experiment and trials part 5 ( Oil on canvas 30"x 24" unfinished )

A bigger painting of the foil I paint from observation; 30"x 24" oil on canvas, took me 3 sittings which accumulated to about 6+ working hours. There was only so much I can do with oil before highlights and low-lights get blended in. So I had to wait a few days before I can do the dry brush techniques which I love.

The top half was dry enough ( from 2nd sitting)  for me to add the details, illuminate highlights and colors and draw contrast.

To paint when the paint is dry enough is such a pleasure. I love it thoroughly. Seeing textures from the canvas I am painting on and the texture marks my dry brush gives is just superb. I feel so fluid and at ease working on the image.

*The foil I placed for this project is without any color interference, I just paint it how it reflects at the given moment.

Foil: Yellow and red. Oil on canvas 18"x14". 2014

 Finishing this painting is joy as all the main structure and color is there. What's left for me to do is glazing a bit of dark tones to add more depth and stronger highlights. 

As I said the the beginning of this project, my study of foil is observed real life. The day I completed this, the window was right behind me illuminating the highlights; sparkling. By now because I have to store my foil, it didn't look exactly the same. But I use the idea of how the light reflect and shine on the folds of the foils and try to express that on this painting. I absolutely love this ever changing quality. 

a warm up sketch

I absolutely loving my journey in this project. I've tried painting my observation of foil in both acrylic and oil, and I've discovered and learned many things. When I compare my oil painting and acrylic one, I like the acrylic one better. I approached both paintings differently and progressing in acrylic is a bit more challenging but I love the more expressive brush strokes and texture the acrylic gives. Whereas the oil one looks softer. 

My next work is going to be on a bigger canvas and I can't wait although I have not decided on the medium yet. Well see when the time comes.

Project 15. Journey, experiment and trials part 4 (oil trial)

Had my second sitting on my oil painting base on real life observation of my aluminum foil set up today. Did some glazes of yellows and reds on my initial under painting of cool greys.

Such a pleasure to glaze over warm colors over cool greys. Thin almost transparent colors gives way for the under painting to project itself through that layer and compliment each other. Also added darker even cooler greys to bring out the colors and some warm white for contrast.

PROBLEM:
Light changes instantly without me knowing. The moment I look again, everything is different.

SOLUTION:
Keep on adding what I see at the moment. Areas that I feel is sufficient for today's sitting will be left alone for next time.

As this project is about change and fleeting moments, I feel excited and privileged to observe this things closely and try to portray that fleeting moments in a blink of an eye. Pure beauty of life.