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?