Going Home

This is a sketch of what eventually became a piece in oil which I painted recently. It depicts the scene at the Sarawak river during sunset. The boat you see is the Sarawak water taxi, shaped like a floating hut and has a curved roof.

Low Tide at Port Dickson

This is my depiction of low tide at Port Dickson, Malaysia. This section of the esplanade is at the side of town. Some harbour hands were cleaning up this dinghy when I arrived and I did the sketch when they left the place. Colour fisnishing was done at my studio.

Art Friend is moving!

If you have been frequenting Art Friend (art shop) in UE3, you might like to know that it is moving out. Last day there is Aug 15. There on, it will be at the Gardens, near MidValley Megamall. Business at UE3 had be slow, I was told. If you need art materials, don't go to UE3 after Aug 15.

Teh Siew Joo - My Secret Garden

Flowers in Bloom Series 3, Watercolour

Acclaimed Malaysian watercolourist Teh Siew Joo is exhibition 50 of his works at the NN Gallery in Jalan Ampang till end of June. One of Malaysia’s pioneer watercolourist and floral painter, Teh's works have been collected widely. In this show, treat your senses to his orchids, hibiscus, roses and a number of local flora.

NN Gallery is located at
53A & 56 Jalan Sulaiman 1,
Taman Ampang Hilir.
Opening hours:9am-6m Mon-Sat; Closed Sun & Public Holiday

For directions, call: 03-4270 6588

Mountains

I have not tried this subject yet and this is my first. It was taken from a picture taken for me by a friend who was in Nepal. You see an isolated village in the middle ground, flanked by snowcapped mountains.

Rainstorm

This is my latest piece, using burnt sienna, french ultramarine and vandyke brown. The rain clouds are done wet on wet.

UnderThe Palm Trees

Just completed this piece. Titled it "Under The Palm Trees". I have always enjoyed afternoons under the palm trees. It's cooling and on windy days, the rustle of the palm leaves and swaying fronds are a delight to watch.

The Colour Wheel - An Indispensible Tool

I was looking for this for quite close to a year having read about it in the foreign painting magazine. Found it recently at one of the local art stores. This one has the different colour combination as well as a tonal value chart. What you do is turn the wheel around for the colour of choice and it will show you presets of what colours to mix to get it. Real useful when on site and wondering what shade a particular colour is. The tonal chart is also extremely useful. Held at eye-level, it's all you need to capture the nuances of light and shade in different colours.

One week to promote Malaysia at Covent Garden. Anyone promoting art?

This year, I was made to understand, Malaysia will be having its biggest Malaysia Week promotion ever at the Covent Garden in London.

According to Bernama (see here), Britons (and tourists) visiting the event, which will be held from June 5, will be treated to a kaleidoscope of attractions.

'Malaysia Week' Promises Britons More M'sian Flavours

KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Bernama) -- Visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from 66 countries annually, London's Covent Garden Market is definitely the most apt to once again become the stage for Malaysia Week to be held for six days from June 5.

Based on last year's success, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry is bringing a bigger group with 127 delegates to showcase the uniqueness of Malaysian flavours to Britons and foreign visitors to the one of the most visited destinations in London.

According to the report, Ministry of Culture Art and Tourism secretary-general Datuk Zakiah Ahmad as saying that apart from the usual fashion and cultural shows, visitors would also have the opportunity to participate in daily interactive sessions.

Quote:

"We are also bringing along a group of young dancers from Tunas Budaya Pahang to perform as the Britons love children's performances. From our past experience, each time young dancers came on stage the crowds would fill up the space to the brink," she said.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see for themselves batik hand-painting, songket-weaving and wood-carving, among others.

As an art lover, I do hope some space is reserved to showcase Malaysian work of art. This is because art - specifically painting: oil, watercolour, acrylic, etc. - is an unofficial medium to record the history of a country's progress. It is a visual record of what the country has gone through, right from the day it was founded to its current state. This is important because this year Malaysia celebrates its golden Merdeka anniversary. What we have gone through the past 50 years have been recorded in both photography and other visual media. But nothing is more provocative than in a piece of art.

In painting, the visual record is more than just a snap of the camera's shutter that freezes the event unfolding before the photographer's eyes. When as artist paints the event of his day, he records both visually and through his personal experience and thoughts of that moment.

Just look at the works of old and you will see what I mean. Check out the works of Yong Mun Sen or Abdullah Ariff.

Who can forget Yong's tin dredge, rubber tappers or fishermen returning from sea?

And who can forget Abdullah's famous depiction of the open cast mine and miners working at the palong? Or his work of children swimming in irrigation canals? These are our heritage.

I hope this aspect of Malaysia is showcased during the week-long event.


Abdullah Ariff's Bumi Bahagia (Good Earth) - 1970



Yong Mun Sen's Pagi Hari (Dawn) - 1970