Khoo Cheang Jin's solo

Nile River (watercolour 56x76cm 2006)

IF you are a fan of artist Khoo Cheang Jin, you might want to know that he is having a solo exhibition at the NN Gallery in Ampang.

The solo exhibition by this Penang born artist cum architect, entitled 'Spaces: Here and Now' will be held from Aug 4 till 25.

As usual, you will be treated by Khoo's depiction of indigenous buildings, marketplaces and other places of historical charm which resulted from his journey to Egypt, China and his homestate Penang. Apart from Khoo's watercolours, there will also be some ink sketches in this two year collection.
Khoo is a member of the Malaysian Watercolour Organization and the Penang Watercolour Society.


Yellow Carpet, Angkor (watercolour 56x76cm 2007)

NN gallery is located at:
53A & 56 Jalan Sulaiman 1, Taman Ampang Hilir, Ampang
Tel: 03-4270-6588

Batik Watercolour Painting?

If have done batik, chances are that you would intend it to be the traditional form - as a fabric for an attire or accessories such as scarves. This piece, believe it or not, is batik being promoted as a painting. To be exact, it is a semi abstract piece showing a traditional house. I spotted it during a visit to a craft bazaar.

National Art Gallery - To reopen on July 30

Yes, finally, after close to 10 months being closed, the National Art Gallery will be reopened this month.

This is a long-awaited moment, especially for artists, after the place was closed for massive renovations - one of which was due to termite attacks on the floorboards and leaky roofing. I still recall the last day of the Putrajaya Landscape Watercolour exhibition. One end of the main gallery was leaky and water was dripping from the ceiling and watercolour paintings were several feet away from it. Hopefully when it reopens, the saga of the leaky roofs will end there - after having caused so much embarrassment to the ministries involved until one minister had to blame the weather for all the leaks.

This is, if I am not mistaken, the second massive facelift for the gallery after it moved from opposite the Railway Station. This new site is a much more conducive to a gallery of national repute. Surrounding the gallery are the sprawling Lake Titiwangsa, the majestic National Theatre, the National Library and just several kilometres away from KLCC. It is also well serviced by a bus route and the compound is well-shaded.

I don't know if the ministry in charge will bring back the monthly Craft Mart or Laman Seni which had been quite successful since its introduction about two years ago until the gallery was closed end last year. This was shifted to Putrajaya, near Souq, an impractical move that has now reduced the number of artists participating to just a handful. This is understood since Putrajaya is not exactly within the tourist belt and what are we promoting the mart to if not foreign and domestic tourists, as well as weekenders who can arrive at the venue within 30 minutes' journey.

The grounds around the gallery is stil under-utilised and is perfect for weeken art events. I remember the time when the gallery just moved from the Majestic Hotel (its former home) opposite Railway Station. The crowd to the gallery was sparse and remained so several years until the managers introduced the once-a-monthly Laman Seni. The gallery was then under the able leadership of Wairah Marzuki, if I am not mistaken.

The event became quite a hit with the people, especially locals, but suffered because there was a visible lack of focus. Later it became more like a day pasar malam until it was scrapped for the renovation work.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that with the renovation work complete and the gallery restored to his former glory, efforts would be made to draw art lovers to it - this being not only confined to craft but also visual art such as acrylic, oil and watercolour paintings. For without interesting and related activities, you will have an ivory tower that draw no visitor.

My Work In Oil - Home Coming

Done! This is my first work in oil as guided by local oil painter Sabri Salleh. I had a bad time trying my hand on this piece 16"x20" of a water taxi crossing the river in Kuching. Most of my problems came from trying to understand the various methods of using oil and trying out the mixes of solvents (linseed and turpentine).

The colours used are W&N paints - I bought the basic set because I really don't know if I want to paint in oil again or just stick to watercolours, which, although is a tough medium to master, is at least less cumbersome to work with and faster.

ps: No, this piece is not for sale.

Rafie Abdul Rahman's Rare Work

This is watercolourist Rafie Abdul Rahman's rare work on the Siti Khadijah market in Kota Bahru. It measures 26 inches by 39 inches, oil on canvas. If you are interested, call him. The price? RM5,000. Interested? Write to me. Genuine buyers only. I will pass on your info to him.

This is a close-up view of the work:

Drawing Landscape in Pencil

This book's title is self explanatory. But the fact that it was a reprint of the original by Frank Rines made it special. I don;t know why anyone would want to reprint a book published twenty over years ago is quite mind boggling unless it is a very good book. And I found out that it indeed is.

Landscape Drawing in Pencil by Frank Rines is a must read if you want to find out how the old masters do it. The book starts off with the types of pencils to use and how you should handle each. Rines even teaches you how to sharpen the pencils and what strokes to use (see below) to create what texture that possibly best represents your subject matter.



From there on, there are pages and pages of drawings the artist did and you will learn from keen observation how he handle landscape - from trees to water, and quite a number of marine drawings as well.

If you are a beginning artist, I think you will need to draw well before you can even paint well. Well, this is the book you should check out.


Landscape Drawing in Pencil (Dover Books on Art Instruction) is available from Amazon.

Art Galleries Listing

Galleries within KL City

Aoyama Sri Hartamas Gallery
16, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8, KL
Tel: 03-6201 6618/Fax: 03-6201 6943

Art Folio Gallery
T116, 3rd Floor, City Square, Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: 03-2162 3339

(The) Art Gallery, KL
KL College of Art,, Level 4, No.1, Lorong Medan Tuanku, KL
Tel: 03-2694 3486/Fax: 03-2693 1037

Art House Gallery
Lot 2.39-2.42, 2nd Floor, Wisma Cosway, Jalan Raja Chulan, KL
Tel: 03-2148 2283/Fax: 03-2142 4177

Art Loft Gallery
4th Floor, Starhill Gallery, No.181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL
Tel:

Art Salon
4, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: 03-2282 2601/Fax: 03-2282 1878

Art Space Gallery
S162, 2nd Floor, City Square, 182 Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: 03- 2161 7128/Fax: 03- 2161 7128

ARTalk Gallery
22-1 & 22-2, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: 03-2282 8633/8863/Fax: 03-2282 9633

Artcase Galleries (City Square)
F128, First Floor, City Square, Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: 03-2163 5160/Fax: 03-2163 5160

Artique Fine Art
Lot E-01-03, Ground Floor, Block E, Plaza Mont' Kiara, KL
Tel: 03-6201 9809

Artist 3 Gallery
H-O-12, Block H, Plaza Damas, 60, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, KL
Tel: 03-6201 7663

Artseni Gallery
181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Muse floor (4th floor), Starhill Gallery, KL
Tel: 03-2144 0782/Fax: 03-2144 0782

Central Academy of Art Gallery
168A-D, Batu 3 1/2, Jalan Klang Lama, KL
Tel: 03-7980 6155/Fax: 03-7981 0607

Darling Muse Art Gallery
142 Jalan Bukit Pantai, KL
Tel: 03-2284 7441

Elle Six
73-1, Mezzanine Floor, Jalan Setiabakti, Damansara Heights, KL
Tel: 03-2093 5925/Fax: 03-2093 5926

Elm Quay Fine Arts
G4, Taman Tunku Apartments, off Langgak Tunku, Kenny Hills, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 019-280 9985

Evelyn Dillon's Studio
1, Jalan Taman Duta, KL
Tel: 03-2095 9907/Fax: 03-2092 5022

Florence Art House
Lot 2.61, 2nd Floor, Wisma Cosway, Jalan Raja Chulan, KL
Tel: 03-2148 2283/Fax: 03-2142 4177

Galeri Citra
W-M-2, Mezzanine Floor, West Wing, Rohas Perkasa, 8, Jalan Perak,
Tel: 03-2161 6066/Fax: 03-2161 6011

Galeri Dataran Maybank
MaybanLife Tower, Dataran Maybank, 1, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, KL
Tel: 03-2297 1990/Fax: 03-2297 2828

Galeri PETRONAS
Lot 341-343, Level 3 Suria KLCC, PETRONAS Twin Towers, KL City Centre, KL
Tel: 03-2331 7770 / 7773
Fax: 03-2331 7170

Galeri Seni Maya
12, 1st Floor, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: +03-2282-2069/Fax: +03-2282-2069

Galeri Tangsi
PAM Centre, 4-6 Jalan Tangsi, KL
Tel: 03-2691 0805/13/Fax: 03-2691 0805

Galeriiizu
Mezzanine Floor (above EON Bank), UOA Centre, Jalan Pinang, KL
Tel: 016-380 5999

Gallerie TAKSU
17, Jalan Pawang, Bukit Keramat, KL
Tel: 03-4251 4396/Fax: 03-4251 4331

Gallery @ Starhill, The
4th Floor, Starhill Centre, 181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL
Tel: 03-21433323

Gemarimba Gallery
B-8, Taman Tunku Apartments, Taman Tunku, Bukit Tunku, KL
Tel: 03- 6201 3505/Fax: 03- 6201 3505

Heng Artland
FF8-9 Star Hill Gallery, Jalan Bukit Bintang
Tel: 03-2141 6898
Fax: 2141 5898

Islamic Arts Museum
Jalan Lembah Perdana, KL
Tel: 03-2274 2020/Fax: 03-2274 0529

Izzu Gallery
11B Jalan Mentakab, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, KL
Tel: 03-4025 1060

Mun Sen Art Gallery
10-1 & 12-1, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: 03-2282 8321/Fax: 03-2282 8321

National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Lukis Negara)
2, Jalan Temerloh, Off Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: 03-4025 4990/Fax: 03-4025 4987

Nikko Galleria
1st Floor, Nikko Hotel, Jalan Ampang, KL
Tel: 03-261 1111

Pelita Hati
No 22, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, KL
Tel: 03-2284 8380/Fax: 03-2284 8380

Picture This & That
183, Jalan Ampang, KL
Tel: 03-2145 2430/Fax: 03-2145 2479

Pucuk Rebung, Gallery-Museum, Lot 302-A, Level 3, Ampang Mall, Suria KLCC
Tel: 03-382 0769, 382 1109/Fax: 03-382 1108

Sandra Knuyt Art Gallery
Level 1, Shangri-La Hotel, 11 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250, KL
Tel: 03-2032 4073

Sandra Knuyt Studio
35, Jalan Wangsa 5, Bukit Antarabangsa, Ampang, KL
Tel: 03-4103 3996/Fax: 03-4103 2544

Seksan Design
No. 67 Jalan Tempinis 1, Lucky Garden, Bangsar, KL
Tel: 03-22824611/Fax: 03-22820366

SpaceKraft
Benteng, River Walk, 20, Jalan Medan Pasar, KL
Tel: 019-351 1975

TINTA Gallery
8, Lengkok Abdullah, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: 03-2283 4008

TJ Fine Art
D.08G Plaza Damas, Jln Sri Hartamas 1, KL
Tel: 03-6201 4718

TMS Art Gallery
No.10 Jalan Wangsa Budi 6A, Wangsa Melawati, KL
Tel: 012-257 9775 (Emilia)/Fax: +03-4142 8154

Tomlinson Collection Bangsar Gallery
30, Jalan Telawi Lima, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: 03-2283 2196/Fax: 03-2283 2181

Townhouse Gallery
19A, Jalan Medang Tanduk, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, KL
Tel: 03-2094 3381

Valentine Willie Fine Art
1st Floor, 17, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: 03-2284 2348/Fax: 03-2282 5190

Yan Fine Art Gallery
Lot T137, 3rd Floor, City Square Centre, Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: 03- 2161 9462

Outside KL City

Artcase Galleries (Bukit Antarabangsa)
8, Jalan Kelab Ukay 2, Bukit Antarabangsa, Ampang, Selangor
Tel: 03-4107 7329/Fax: 03-4107 7329

Galeri Shah Alam
Laman Budaya, Persiaran Tasik Barat, Shah Alam, Selangor
Tel: 03-5510 5344 / 6045/Fax: 03-5510 2081

NN Gallery
53A & 56, Jalan Sulaiman 1, Taman Ampang Hilir, Ampang, Selangor
Tel: 03-4270 6588/Fax: 03-4270 3357

Private Gallery, The
Section 16, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7958-2175

Reka Art Space
GL29, Block C, Kelana Square, 17 Jalan SS7/26, Kelana Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7880 5982/Fax: 03-7875 8006

Rimbun Dahan
Kilometer 27, Jalan Kuang, 48050, Kuang, Selangor
Tel: 03-6038 3690

Sandra Knuyt Art Gallery
Lobby Level, Hilton Hotel PJ, No. 2 Jalan Barat, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7960 7213

Shian's Art & Sculpture,
Gallery 1 / Shop, G42-1, Ground Floor, The Summit USJ 1, Persiaran Kewajipan USJ 1, Subang UEP, Selangor
Tel: 03-8023 4669

Silver Gelatin
34-B, Jalan SS2/67, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7877 1477

XOAS Gallery
Address:76G Jln University, Sect 13, Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7955-0601/Fax: 03-7958-3601

If you wish to list your gallery here, or submit art show listings, write to me.