Canvas Tents

CANVAS TENTS - AFTER SARGEANT.
Colours used: Indigo, Ochre, Cadmium Orange, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean.
Was exploring what the colours the master might have used. This was modified greatly and unlike the work of the master.

Head Studies II - Man In Fedora

This is another piece which I did today. It is a friend who loves fedoras. It is my second attempt to perfect this loose way of painting using only ultramarine, burnt sienna, and indigo, with dashes of cerulean. Comments welcomed as usual.

Study of Heads

Rastafarian

Coach

I have not been painting a while. Produced these two over the past two weeks. It's pretty tough to get back on track once you have stopped painting a while. I didn't believe it when one artist told me this some time ago. I now realise the folly of not painting for so long.

These two are taken from photos on two diifferent papers. The colours used are burnt sienna, ultramarine, cadmium red, and cerulean. Dashes of cadmium yellow, burnt umber and indigo were also used.

Critics welcomed.

Three Cows On A Hill

Did this doodle a week ago. Didn't have time to upload it then, so here it is. A very simple piece done imaginatively. And fast.

The Journey

This piece of painting was completed last night. Not a very big one, just 10in by 7in. It is done on 140lb Langton watercolour paper made by Daler Rowney.

The scenery shows a snowing mountain with storm approaching (or abating, depends on how you look at it) and four climbers making their way up (or down?) the cold terrain. The slant in the atmospheric skies mark strong winds familiar to climbers and the muted sunlight from right casts shadows on the white landscape. A cottage can be seen at left.

This painting is intended for a friend and former whom I am going to see this afternoon. I had intended to paint her a painting when she quit but never got to it because the idea was not there, then. Last night, it suddenly dawned upon me that it has been such a long while since we parted company in life's journey and while browsing through a book, I stumbled a similar scenery and hence this 'imaginative' piece.

We all go through life's journey somewhat similar to that of mountain climbers. Just when you think you have conquered one mountain, there is another to challenge you. Every day is a changing landscape and every step forward may not guarantee us the golden chalice we are looking for. But we have to plod on, step after step, painful or not, towards our goals in life, and hopefuly, we learn something about our journey in that station of life before another one begins.

Old Tree By The Lake

This was done of a particular spot at the National Zoo. I saw this old tree by the main lake in the heart of the zoo. There were herons, couple of flamingoes and painted storks around but I have chosen to exclude them to focus on the tree.

The style in this piece was adapted from John Lovett's techniques which I find incredibly fun and easy. I think watercolour should not be laborious simply because if it were, then it would have lost its mysticism. Best way is to let the colours do their work.

Stormy Skies

I use a limited palette of burnt sienna, vermillion and ultramarine deep to create this atmospheric piece of stormy skies just after the rain. The dark clouds are just about to disperse - or are they? Caught in the eye of the storm is a little red dinghy.

Back Alley

This is a picture of a back alley in Malacca. My 12 year old student Zhen painted this scene, based on a photograph we took on a hot Sunday afternoon.

Pantai Remis Late Morning

This is a painting of a coastal village on the west coast of the Peninsula Malaysia. It is a fishing enclave which has lost its prominence due to diminishing resources in the 80s. Today, it is more of a tourist district. The huts you see are actually pergolas of traders selling a variety of souvenirs and knick knacks. This was painted on a weekday where the crowd is sparse.

Red Mountain

This is an imaginary piece painted by a 12-year-old pupil of mine, Zhen. It is a scene of a mountain, painted very loosely with varying strokes and a good mix of warm and cool colours. The paper is a 300gm Chinese paper with heavy tooth. The paper has a slightly yellow tint because I have not used them for quite some time. As it turns out, the texture of the paper and the paint pigments complement each other really well. Done by a 12-year-old, this is a good piece. What do you think?

Lone angler

Did you see the chap in the blue covered boat? Spotted him at one of my favourite fishing grounds near an estuary. Scenery like this are quite rare as development eats up the countryside. Still, moments like this captured either on film or on paper, bring back fond memories.

Sunday in Malacca

This is a painting of a shop in Malacca on a Sunday. Like most businesses, this one is also closed on Sunday. The lanterns you see have been there since the Chinese Lunar New Year early this year and have not been taken down yet. Gives this place a Chinatown-like feel.

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.

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.

Bamboo Grove

This is a painting of an unusual structure at the local park. The blue hut is actually a stable. the bamboo was planted in the centre of the stable whose roof apex has been cut to allow the bamboo to grow through. Now, when this bamboo is fully grown, it provides shade for horses tied there. Whoever's idea it was, it definitely is something ingenious. I hope I have done it equal justice with this painting.

Balinese Roofs II

This is my second painting. I think this is not as good as the earlier piece. What do you think?

Balinese Roofs I - Artists Colony at Conlay Craft Complex

This is a scene painted in-situ (on site). It was painted sometime between 11am to 2pm and the weather was quite hot. The scene was at the Artists Colony at the Crafts Complex in Kuala Lumpur and the compound was quite empty.

The tiny huts you see are where artisans and artists create their work. It is the only surviving craft centre where tourists to Malaysia (and Kuala Lumpur) could watch artists at work. There is no other place you can view such a group of them, ranging from watercolourists to acrylic and oil painters. Located within the compound is also a showroom featuring Malaysian craft. I like this place because you can really enjoy the quiet surrounding and paint to your heart's content in busy Kuala Lumpur where you won't be disturbed by curious eyes.

Morning's Glory - Golden Arch

This was painted from a photo as an exercise to better understand light and shade. I was also experimenting with a new paint, the Schminke. As you can see, the colours are very bright. Comments welcome.

Fishing Village - Latest Work

This piece was painted several days ago, in between coding the new site. I was somewhat surprised by the outcome. The colours used were exceptionally thin, and layered carefully. This one was done using W&N watercolours and I am pleased by the subdued result.

The picture is typical of a fishing village. The tiny structure between the two bigger houses is the chicken coop. The houses are built on stilts just in case the tide runs over. Comments welcome.

First Paint, 'Destroy' It, Then Perfect it

This is an experiment. the painting above was created earlier. I felt it was quite empty. Then I decided to 'destroy' it by adding in various surrounding elements - first the trees, then the rocks, and other ground textures. (See below for the outcome.)I hope I have done justice to it ... or have I completely destroyed the earlier creation?