Virtual travel

Since we can’t travel internationally for a while, I did some virtual travel using google map. It was fun to see places that I have never been before without having to leave the house. It was also really good to so have some painting references to continue practising and painting at home. I went to …

One day at a time in lockdown 4

View from Green Point looking towards Melbourne city. A page from my sketchbook, the citrus tart on the top left corner was sketch a week prior. A sketch of the view from Green Point occupied the rest of the spread. I went plein-air painting last Saturday at Green Point in Brighton. It’s a lovely green …

Selling art prints

I have sold 2 art prints recently, and once again the idea of putting my work on an online platform/online shops (like Etsy) seemed attractive. However that idea was stashed away quickly! The next day, while out painting, I was thinking of what would sell rather than what would make a good scene or what …

Painting on location

Another week passed and my art residency is getting closer to the end. I will miss this landscape. I am doing some sketches in my book. Sometimes they just end up there, but sometimes I use the sketches to develop new work. Anyway, the one above is the first sighting of Cowwarr town, completed on …

Ashram life

It’s been almost 2 weeks since I booked myself a stay in Satyananda Yoga Rocklyn Ashram. Looking back, the experience was invaluable. It is situated in a lovely and peaceful surrounding. I have a few hours each day to reflect and of course to paint. On day 1, I attended Havan (a fire ceremony) held …

Waikiki Beach

This was Waikiki Beach, Hawaii in 2000. Not that I painted it 15 years ago; the photo I used as reference was taken back then when I was there.   Looking at the photo made me think of my few days there - chilling on the beach, sightseeing and snorkelling. I had the most memorable …

Malaysian Kueh

Kueh - a collection of snacks. They are usually made of local ingredients including flour, sugar, coconut milk, pandanus leaf, palm sugar and others. Most are served as bite-sized cut pieces, and some wrapped in banana leaf (shown below)    Above : Various types wrapped in banana leaf. The one that is exposed (actually wrapped …

Malaysian food sketches

Love food, love food sketching... But some of you may have already guessed that. 😊 Hawker or street food is plenty in Malaysia. While I was out for dinner one night, I managed to sketch this noodle seller who was taking a break to check her smart phone.    Street food is so popular that …

Black glutinous rice porridge

One of the questions I get asked sometimes is whether I often eat my food cold because I draw them. Yes, sometimes... But I normally start eating from one corner of the plate/bowl. I also try to take a visual snapshot of what I am drawing and try to reproduce from memory. Some food/dishes become …

Drawing with sticks

Why not? It's fun and the lines are unpredictable (wonky?). Not to mention that it's a tool you can make yourself.   Actually I have sharpened the "other" end of my dip pen, so that I need not have to carry an additional tool. So yes, it is a stick. You can pick up a …