Waves: the Abstract and the Actual

Last Day of Winter

This was my first attempt with abstract painting. I started off with some texture paste and followed with different mixture of colours. There was no need for brushes for these. I only used palette knives, cotton buds and my fingers. Acrylic washes off pretty easily so really, it was a breeze.

If you are looking to create textured pieces, drop the brushes. Palette knives give more texture and you probably only need half the time you otherwise would, with brushes.

I hope you like this. I shall learn to do better abstract pieces real soon!

What to do with Expired Cosmetics: Lisa

This will be an image-heavy post. While most women have a habit of hoarding beauty products, I noticed many would have expired ones on their shelves. I did not have many items to begin with, so I asked my friends to donate their expired products, in support of my ridiculous pursuit. Sue Anne (do check out her food blog), who has always been supportive of my work and efforts, gave to me a bag of expired cosmetics. Even her mom brought some from Penang! Thank you, Aunty Essie. So please sit back and enjoy the process of creating a woman with make-up products, on canvas. 

This piece is called "Lisa".

Remnants

The imperfect piece, inspired by one of my recent trips to Cambodia.

My painting does not encapsulate the beauty of the glorious ruins.

 As such, I shall not say much. Rather, I shall do better next time.

Chandelier

 Materials: 

a.  Four (4) canvases measuring 27cm X 22cm each;

b.  Daler Rowney, Graduate Acrylic in Gold Imit, Raw Umber and Titanium White;

c.  Daler Rowney, Flow Enhancer;

d.  Daler Rowney, Texture Paste;

e.  Brushes; 

f.   Cotton buds; and

g.  Mixing Palette.

This quadriptych was painted early this year, when I first got my Gold Imit acrylic paint. I absolutely adore bold colours. The background was a simple creation from texture paste and acrylic colours, both in Gold Imit as well as Raw Umber. 

Later, I did a rough sketch of the chandelier with Titanium White (no photos available, unfortunately). At this juncture, I added layer after layer of chains, arms and prisms, first with Titanium White then with Gold Imit.

Do take note that painting a chandelier requires a lot of patience. It took me weeks of struggle with one liner brush and a few cotton buds. The fact that acrylic is a fast-drying paint did not help. However, with much research and persistence, this chandelier begun to look well, like a chandelier. 

 Now I can swing from the chandelier! 

50 shades of Green

Materials: 

a.  Canvas measuring 60cm X 45cm;

b.  Daler Rowney, Graduate Acrylic in Gold Imit, Hooker's Green, Mixing White, Neutral   

     Grey, Phlato Blue, Phlato Turqoise, Primary Yellow and Raw Umber;

c.  Daler Rowney, Flow Enhancer;

d.  Daler Rowney, Texture Paste;

e.  Palette Knife and Brushes; 

f.  Mixing Palette; 

g.  Sharpie (Totally unnecessary); and

h.  Sketch Pencil.

I stumbled upon an art piece of a peacock on pinterest which I thought was stunning. Unfortunately it was sold at (an exorbitant) USD2,400.00. So I decided to just paint one. And maybe sell it for half that price? 

First I started by just sketching the head of the peacock. 

Then with a palette knife, I laid out some texture paste on the left side of the neck. It is pretty much like spreading nutella on a slice of bread, really.

After the texture paste dried, I painted the whole portion with a mixture of gold imit, hooker's green, phlato blue, phlato turqoise acrylic paint. Neutral grey, mixing white and raw umber followed for the eye and beak.

With more texture paste, I created embossed circles and feathers. Then came the fun part. I again, took a palette knife and started scooping and laying out basically any colour, anywhere I fancied, starting of course, with a coat of primary yellow as base. If you are certain you'd be needing more than one layer of paint, it is alright to mix your base colour with water and flow enhancer, saves paint (and cost).

Finally, I added gold imit and hooker's green with a tiny bit of mixing white, at all spots I deemed right.

And that was how this piece came about. It looked nothing like the piece I spotted on pinterest by the way, so there may be more peacock paintings coming up!

Moral of the story: If you can spread nutella on bread, you can paint.

Wau

This piece, initially titled 'Soar' was prepared for a competition themed 'Your Art, Your Story'. My late grandmama lived in a village, where we drew waters from a well for baths. Chickens roamed freely, children ran barefoot, televisions came in the shape of a box, kites filled the skies. This triptych depicts the simplicity and beauty of a kite, and life. 

Over the years my paintings have become complex. I have forgotten how to paint simply. The middle piece represents my childhood years while the coloured pieces mirror the present. The gold-coloured-theme reminds me that simplicity is gold, watching a kite fly high was and still is, gold. 

My entry was not short-listed.

End of story.