Quote for the week

Marcos Chin - "I remember being a senior in art college and trying extremely hard to find a style that would get me more work; the thing that I didn’t realize at the time, was that my style would find me."

"And moving forward that is how I continue to approach my craft - I try my best to draw in a way that interests me, and to come up with ideas that move me - the moment I become bored or frustrated I focus on my process and just let the work that I am doing figure itself out. It’s a very non-linear way of thinking, but it works for me - putting myself metaphorically into a space that is uncomfortable and then blindly moving through it that helps to evolve my work (and style) on it’s own. Again, I don’t search for a style, the style finds me."

"Moreover, don’t worry so much about what others think about your work - hush those demons in your head that challenge your process and confidence while you are creating - this industry can be very difficult at times, and very hard to navigate through if you are constantly questioning yourself and your work - instead, just do the work, be prolific; over time your work will improve."

Excerpt from his interview with IllustrationFriday.
http://illustrationfriday.com/blog/2008/04/24/if-interview-marcos-chin/

Kelvin's Bday Present

I did a practise a couple of days before...which really sucks and I really did contemplated framing that first version instead...hahaha...

Am glad I didn't...part of the push was also because the size wouldn't fit the frame!
So I did this painting yesterday and surprised my husband this morning...hehehe...



Mixed media (color pencils for some shading)with what little time I have left after my watercolor class in the morning, shooing Kelvin out of the spare room(afternoon) and dinner with my in-laws. I am quite satisfied with the end result BUT...I think I screwed up a little with the lip area...but nonetheless, it is the first time I did a portrait in watercolor...so...have some mercy lah...

Watercolor Painting @ Buangkok Kampung

The last kampung in Singapore...

The atmosphere in the village was amazingly familiar...neighbors greeted one another...greeted the visitors...left their doors open...I am so thankful that I got to grow up in a kampung and I really rutted the day I was old enough and I told my mom no more going to the kampung..."I don't want to feed mosquitoes anymore!!!" were my actual words.

Ok ok...back to my work....

Before

I have to admit that the colors on the house came out very strongly because the first wash, I used a wrong color. After I got home, I used the correct color and tried to cover my mistake as much as I could.

Anyway, what I am satisfied with myself this time is:
1) Tried working with more details in the foreground.
2) Hinted details in the background and inside the house.
3) Exerted patience in waiting for the paints to dry and added a few shadows successfully.
4) Avoided using the same shadow color for the entire house.

After correction from Mr Ong

1) Top right corner, I left an irritating out-of-place shade of blue. (Kanna scolding from Mr Ong but I am SO HAPPY I made the mistake cos I got to watch Mr Ong paint the branches in from scratch!!!)
2) Mr Ong added more effective shadows on the house,
3) More shadows to the plot of green on the left.
4) Ground shadows from the plot of green on the left.
5) Darkening the wooden plank on the leftmost to tone it down and stop it from vying for attention from the house.

Wonderful. Many lessons learnt. Mr Ong also lent me a stack of children illustration booklets from the 80s. I am so going to scan them in and learn. You will be amazed how closely those drawings resembled the late Mary Blair. Illustrator for Disney's classic hit Alice in Wonderland and It's a Small World afterall.

Painting revealed

This time, I remembered to take a pic of my painting before sending to my teacher for review.

I did most of the work on the spot already and all I need to do is add in the green in the background. Quite relieved that I didn't screw it up further to warrant a total re-do. I should have anyway...to practise...anyway...

Before

After

I still have the same problems working my lighting and details. Technique also lacking...haiz...but I must not give up. Will definitely work on this scene again...

Prelude to my painting...

Lesson was resumed on the 17 Jan. I did a painting on the spot...well...3/4 done. Still need to touch up so no pic here yet.

The new easel is gorgeous to have and really get me in the mood to paint. Usually I will do only 1/4 on the spot...ehehhee...

I dragged my husband along with us and this is a pic he took...wow I looked so pro...only thing is...why do I held the brush like I am holding a paint??? Must be doing details...hehehe...

Totoro Forest Project

http://www.totoroforestproject.org/

http://totoroforestproject.org/tfp_blog/

This organisation is founded by Mr Hayao Miyazaki. Details from the website:

Hayao Miyazaki has been actively supporting the preservation effort of Sayama Forest for more than ten years. This 8750 acre park in the outskirts of Tokyo is also known as Totoro Forest. It's in these woods in fact that the concept for the film "My Neighbor Totoro" was born.

In the past few decades, the forest has been subject to urban development. Only continued support to the Totoro Trust Fund can help preserve this much needed island of green in the midst of Tokyo's urban sprawl. We intend to donate the entire proceeds of the project to this worthy cause.

This event can also be a symbolic gesture, sending a strong message to the world in terms of environmental and social awareness. Imagine artists from all over the world coming together to donate artwork to help conserve a forest they have never seen.

Watercolor Lesson 7?

Today is our 1st watercolor lesson in 2009! (Lesson 7 already meh? Can't remember...lost tracks...but I know for sure before we close for holiday, Mr Ong gave a demonstration)

I promised myself that I will do 2 paintings...one for submission today and the other for standby in cases where I cannot produce...

My plan was disrupted by a Nintendo Wii and as a consequence...I have to spend time from 9pm to 2am for 3 consecutive days to finish up one painting...

This is my painting on Mr Ong's easel...

I forgotten totally that I have to take a 'BEFORE' photo!!! ARRGGHHH!!! Mr Ong corrected a lot of mistakes lor...and blended away the 'cauliflowers' (referring to huge blot of unjustifiable blotches)...HAPPY! But he chided me saying this painting is "40% Ong KimSeng liao..."

Well...I am still new mah...and at least I learnt mah...

This is the final result...Gorgeous~

Thank you Mr Ong~ I will work on my shadows and I promise not to repeat colors for areas supposed to have different perspective....

I finally got my easel today!!! The salesgirl immediately inform me the tripod is here when I stepped into their store~ So happy! I got it immediately without further ado...

The quality is simply gorgeous...color is great and I think the quality is equivalent to Manfrotto of tripods...

All good things comes to those who wait...ahahaha...I've been waiting for 4yrs and 3months now, for the right easel to come along...and finally it is here today...

I am so delirious that I will name my easel 'Donnie'...