Project 15. Journey, experiment and trials part 1

Project 15 is a documentation of an my artistic journey towards an exhibition organized by ARThaus which is probably going to be held somewhere around Mar 2015.

My aim is to create a narrative work about my personal worldly and spiritual views, my aspirations and desirable objects. I will not share yet what how I visualize my work outcome would be... but I will share my thought and technical processes.

Non of these documentations is edited except for cropping. The lighting is mainly from natural lights through the studio's windows and florescent lighting in the ceiling.

This is done with acrylic on canvas. I painted this from real-life observations on light reflections on still-life crumpled aluminum foil on the right, which is not shown in this picture. My purpose of this is to study reflective surfaces and contours according to different lighting and reflected color of objects around it.

This was my first step on starting this journey. I only use primary colors and I achieved this colors only through mixing.

The best things I realize from this first steps of my project is the constant light changes through the windows. The foil becomes a perfect documentation of mood and lightings, constantly reflect change. So it makes my painting process ever changing according to the object's reflections.

As I got on with it, the next thing I painted is never consistent of what I've painted just a few minutes before. Challenging, but super fun as I got to exercise my observational skills as well as paint characteristics as I move along.

Guess what I've found while clearing my closet...

I'm so pleasantly surprised at what I've found while clearing my closet, which desperately needed to be cleaned, my sketches from 5 years ago which is in 2009! How awesome is that? And I found my first 2 watercolor paintings when I just started to learn it which I assume is from the same year because they were piled up and folder together, hence the middle crease on the paper.

The portrait sketches, if I can recall, were done during boredom sessions when I was working in a shoe shop. Yes! I worked in a shoe shop part-timed while teaching art in another studio P/T as well previously before full on art-teaching ARThaus.

My watercolor works are amateur and quite embarrassing but I was learning, so, no fault in that. Cheers!

 Guess who?

 Guess who too??

Portrait sketch

Had an itch to sketch a portait. Base on a reference picture.
I have yet to fin my Afghan girl portrait... yes I know!

Just managed this, at the moment ya... cheers!

The Afghan Girl realism painting project part 2

Got some time between classes so might as well get on with it. This time adding second layer mostly on the right side and correcting areas that needed to be corrected. This was done yesterday.

Today, did some glazing and dry layers to add texture to skin. I find that it works pretty well and I have a new found respect to acrylic paint. Even though its a nightmare to blend, even when I used flow medium, some dry layering actually gives much better texture effect than using oil.

I've added more details on the eyes, eyebrow, lips and hair. Still need to edit some tonal values on the face and give it more layers and texture. Head scarf on the right side still mostly undone. Maybe I'll tuck in the chin a bit more. Its great to see my painting though a photo. Helps me look at my painting more objectively and can clearly see areas I need to improve. Lips too dark I think... she looks like a heavy smoker. Will add some color soon. To be continued...

The Afghan Girl realism painting project part 1

Who doesn't know the Afghan Girl photo by Steve McCurry. One of the fine example of how a picture can say a thousand words. A young refugee from a war-ridden country, opened a window for us to take a glimpse at her life, though those green piercing eyes.

Been busy teaching people how to paint, but its been awhile since I have painted. So I think its about time I should refer, reflect and realize. Decided to paint photo-realistic of The Afghan Girl. To challenge myself further, I decided to paint it with acrylic.

There's many ways to approach this work. Alla prima method, grisaille method... but I decided this way...

On a 16"x18" canvas, I started with a sketch then glaze a layer of sienna. Once dried, did an under-painting of almost flat colour. Only hints of tonal values applied so it would give me a rough hints as to where the dark areas are. Once I've finished this, I can get a clear view of areas I need to adjust.

 I continued the second layer a few days later ( which was yesterday) when I had spare time after teaching. Now I gave it a little more details on the tones on the left side of the painting. As you can see the right side have not been touched yet, except for the eyes. I love painting eyes... when it turn out well, it gives me the motivation to move on... like I can't wait for it to be finished. Just painting this portion took me 2 hours. Blending is a nightmare with acrylic. I know I know .... I can use the retarder. But I didn't use it on purpose just to see how much I can do without it. Just be simple, add water.... and super hard. Maybe I'll use the retarder next time to save my frustrations.

I don't know when I will continue again but hopefully anytime soon. To be continued...

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. :)