Second Drawing Class

Boy, instructor sure talks alot. But today I learnt construction, something I have avoided all my life because I never saw drawing as precise calculations. But it's indeed useful. With practice, I could draw from extrapolation :) No need for the object to be physically before me...

Started off with contour drawing via plain observation.

Then we practiced drawing ellipses with varying distances from the eye level.





So I did my first simple construction. Wow, it really improves my accuracy by leaps and bounds!





Of course I still have the lopsided issue, but not a bad try at all!




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Location:NAFA

Another day of mindless painting!

It's almost half done!!

This is the cross-stitch of acrylic painting. Every brushstroke is just negotiating the curves of a predefined patch, but together, they form an amazing impression of beauty in nature.

Will I be able to finish this before new year? I'll try. It'll be a present for myself, to encourage myself for the tough year behind, the emotional turmoil, the setbacks, the poor mental and physical health, and the fights I've put up to get back to the right path.

I'm still searching for myself, and will find me one day.

Bicycle Purchase

Bought a bike for leisure cycling, but was greeted with a long lecture of how cycling in the park and the neighborhood is dangerous from my upright father.

I often feel that the things I buy are always the subject of disapproval, especially from my dad, who hates all kinds of changes. Ranging from my music lessons, my room revamp, my camera purchase, my travelling habits... He isn't unkind, as he is ever ready to help in any way he can, but the beliefs he conveys are always so discouraging, he makes me doubt myself.

I suspect the many limiting beliefs I have about myself, are extensions of my father's inferiority complex and pessimism. I'm now putting in a lot of work to undo all those innate beliefs. It is not easy.




To make things easier, perhaps I should keep my future decisions to myself. I am afterall responsible for my own life. My parents cannot insist on twisting my arm, even though I respect their opinions.

Gigi Squared

Meow. Sizing is a problem still, and obviously not a very carefully constructed practice piece. But having Gigi placed beside its own sketch is quite amusing :) and telling of my drawing problems, of course.

PBN progress and Oil Painting Class #5

I can really finish this by the end of this year!!!

And check out my makeshift studio. I worked to Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers". And before that, I finished listening to a so-so audiobook "How to spot liar", which taught me that women lying look as if they are flirting, albeit the colour that runs from their cheeks and lips. Hoho...





In the background is my work from the fifth oil painting class:





Looks good on photo, but of course I have a great deal to learn. My brush strokes still suck, and my blending is at best accidental, but I managed to reduce the amount of turpentine in my brushes, and keep my hands cleaner, if not for the unintentional reach for the wrong palette knife - mixer instead of the desired scrapper.

Sleepless on a Friday Over a Practice Piece

It's ridiculous, but after sitting face to face with the unfinished oil painting piece, I decided to complete it. It was late, but I couldn't take my mind off it. I had to finish it off tonight.

After about two plus hours, I am done painting the entire backdrop a dark tone. It really was not easy. The paint didn't move when thick and dark, but became too light when thin. I had to plaster multiple layers before a more or less even tone was achieved.

A mindless activity for my Friday night, but was surprisingly entertaining, as my iPad played a series of great TED talks about creativity to cheer me on.

The result: a mediocre piece. But at least I have completes it. Time to get another stretched canvas and more turpentine.

Lesson 2 of Oil Painting

Did some shading tonight. Boy, this is really rubbish. But strangely I enjoyed my lesson.

The Drive to be Happy

I wonder what drives modern couples to wake up at wee hours, just to go through the Chinese customary wedding. After being a "sister" at three weddings, I must say that I don't find the entire process worthwhile. Does anyone really enjoy the process? I really can't tell. I only know that the couple and their families are usually beat at the end of the day. Looks rather like a graduation ceremony, though the fresh grads are usually more hyper due to better mobility in lighter clothing. Couples usually look stuck stiff in all the layers they wear for their wedding day.

It must be the belief that all these ceremonies will bring happiness to the couple. Perhaps so, since there are no more regrets. No more of the "you didn't even give me a proper wedding" arguments. All family members, old and young alike, approve of the matrimony. It's done, official, precious, because everyone put in effort to make it come together.

Perhaps I'm just jaded by the many big meetings at work that are conducted with extreme care at all steps, which kind of resonates with what happens at a Chinese wedding. The solemnisation vows were, on the other hand, more meaningful. I am always touched by the verses spoken, because if taken seriously, they mean a lifetime of responsibilities and commitment. That is a scary thought, especially when having second thoughts. Must take a great deal of determination to say them.

When it's my turn, I should have to make it clear to my partner that any traditional ceremonies I go through are for his sake, not my own. I really don't care for all that. I'm just game to put on a nice gown and light makeup, and sit down for a good drink and lunch with close family and friends at a comfortable hangout.

Alright, easier said than done, on all counts. Much more convenient to follow the crowd and the usual practices, like a tour package. If you want it your way, you've got to sweat it.

Progress of PBN

Ah, now the seagull is flying towards the tip of the island...

Interestingly, my water containers are a sweet combination of colours too.





Time to run for a session at the gym...

Working on PBN on Diwali

It's Deepavali today, and after a great lunch out with my old buddies and a painful attempt to get new work shoes in a mall running out of sizes, I sat down to painting by numbers with episodes of Big Bang Theory and Outsourced running on TV. Look how much I have progressed!

Seems silly and unimpressive, but the quiet soul in me enjoyed my holiday. Painting just whiles time away and makes me satisfied with what I have achieved in a sitting.