somethingboutrenes » School

Finale: Female Hulk

somethingboutrenes — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:35:31 +0000

I have finally completed the Western Painting class in NAFA and here is my last painting! We were asked to pick either Warm or Cool colours! The entire class picked warm (red / orange / yellow) but all I wanted was a painting that fits my home decor and hence I picked a cool colour – green!

We were tasked to paint a female torso and it was the most interesting painting of all. If you have seen my other paintings (here,here and here), you would have agreed! My latest painting looks like a female HULK haha and I could have painted a female Avatar if I picked blue!

I am glad I persevere to the very end! We started off with eight students but ended off with five. It does require a lot of commitment to hang in there and patience to paint with colours. My instructor asked me to stay on but I doubt I have the time to commit in it! This class was slightly painful (You’ve got to stand for 3 hours or choose to sit like me – the only slacker in the class) and really does trains one’s patience. It is also a self realization process where my perfectionist streak, attention deficient personality and the inability to bear with low productivity really shows. But it did pay off in the end and now I’ve got three ugly paintings and one female HULK in my house. Haha.

Anyone interested in buying my masterpiece? Starting bid at $20 (I am just aiming at breakeven price for the canvas and paint!) HAHA.

Lesson 5: Painting with Pigments

somethingboutrenes — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:00:22 +0000

In my fifth lesson and third painting we finally get to add pigments and enjoy the real challenge of painting! It is still in the theme of monochromatic but this time we get to add white pigment to the dark pigment and use it for the tones and all! We scrap less and paint more! The real challenge is to avoid contamination of colour pigments!

After my class, he whipped out a lovely supper to fill my empty stomach! He is the real chef in the house!

Art Friend at Buona Vista!

somethingboutrenes — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:09:15 +0000

Just a quick shout out to all my artsy friends! Art Friend just opened a new branch at Buona Vista Mrt! I love the fact that it’s so near my work place and it’s on the way to my painting class and on my way home!

Lesson 3: Monochromatic Painting focusing on Negative Space

somethingboutrenes — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:28:45 +0000

Yes, I’m back from Shanghai and it was a crazy trip! Alright, back to this post, we continue to focus on monochromatic painting (using 1 colour) but this time round, we focused on the negative spaces (black area) by painting the entire canvas black before scrapping off the black paint revealing the white canvas in the form of the white spaces! Cool yeah? But the scrapping part was rather tedious as it involves using either (1) water, (2) sand paper, (3) palette knife, (4) wet wipes, (5) wet cloth or a combination of all these! Haha. This painting is not done, there are 3 objects and I only managed to paint 2 and the second weird shape vase is not even done. Bah.

Lesson 2: Monochromatic Colour Scheme

somethingboutrenes — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:34:35 +0000

In our second lessons, we learnt to play with the lightness and saturation of a single colour! You should have seen the painting my other classmates did, it was really nice.

The angle is still wrong and the lines are still there. Heh.

Looks how well it looks against my brick wall! HAHA.

Lesson 1: Actual sizing and angle drawing

somethingboutrenes — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:19:38 +0000

I forgot all the technical names my teacher taught me yesterday! Yes, I’m a bad student! Haha. But the first lesson was all about observation skills, actual sizing, angle and drawing it life like at the actual size and angle. It was basically the fundamentals of drawing using a wet medium. It was tough for someone who can’t really draw a straight line. In the 8 lessons, I will draw 4 paintings. This means that I’ll have four large ugly paintings which is totally not Scandinavian at my new place. HMPH. Jason told me to put in more effort and concentration then. Haha.

This is the classroom environment.

I was wondering where to put my brushes if I am sitting on the stool. Turns out, I had to stand for 3 hours straight while my paint brushes and palette gets to sit on the stool. BOO.

My first few line was quite accurate and I was quite happy with myself. Off to a good start!

But I got impatient and got all the angles all wrong. You will realized that my drawing is bigger than the actual size and certain position and angle of the cubes are all wrong. HAHA. I told the instructor it was a good drawing given my first attempt. He told me I’m in a delusional state. HAHA.

The cool instructor who sounded just like Lennel (in terms of tone, accent and voice). That peaceful voice. He is very low profile and claims that he does not own an email address or a mobile phone. The only mode of communication other than face to face is a land line at home. WOW.

Lesson 0: Preparation for Acrylic Painting

somethingboutrenes — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:54:04 +0000

When Steph first mentioned that she is going to take up Sketching course from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), I thought of signing up too! I am in need of a creative outlet to balance my mundane life! As I rambled on while pouring out my interest, I found out that NAFA conducts an array of part-time enrichment courses which are suitable for beginners (or so they claim)!

Instead of Sketching, I signed up for Western Painting (Acrylic / Oil) and opted for Acrylic Painting! (He wished me luck in my attempt to fly before learning to walk.) I always wanted to paint something for our new home. Whenever we see beautiful acrylic paintings, which often cost an arm and leg, I always imagine myself painting it! But the technicalities involved (e.g types of paints, flat / round brush etc) set me back.

Now, with all the tools purchased (I’m $100 + $300 poorer), I’m all set for my class come next Tuesday.

Wish me luck!

If my arts teacher from my primary / secondary school knows about my intention to sign up for this class back in the 90’s, they will surely stop me or my painting trainer. HAH.

// If I survived this 8 weeks course, I may pick up Lifestyle Sewing! I always wanted to sew my own summer skirt! Haha.

somethingboutrenes — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:51:13 +0000

I read an article from telegraph.co.uk about “20 Things to do before you leave University” and realized that I’ve only done 4 of those 20 things listed. Maybe the list was not applicable to our local context or maybe I should have stayed in school for a couple more years! Or maybe not.

The Almost Professional Photo Shoot Session.

somethingboutrenes — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:37:41 +0000

Here are some pictures I love.

Then, we have…

The Ultimate Nobody Dance.

Thank you Jason for the awesome photos!

Post (fuddy duddy) Commencement Ceremony: An emotional post.

somethingboutrenes — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:48:04 +0000

My dysfunctional family.

My sweet sister.

Thank you Mummy and Daddy for your love and my education! Thank you Sister for your understanding and love (and the flowers too!). Thank you Brother for being your aloof but helpful self! Thank you Granny for being caring and loving! I love my dysfunctional family!

Thank you my friends (Catherine, Valerie, Yiqian, Tabitha, Colin, Tai Tong, Kyle and Erwin) for sticking together through good times and bad, for bearing with my aggressive and irritating “self” during project discussions and for all the fun times we had!

Thank you Jason for your love patient, grace and understanding! Thank you for the flowers, and Mr Linus (NUS Lion, -_-)! Thank you for all the wonderful pictures (more in the next post) too!

I love you all!