Crossover journey 3

In arty endeavours, the journey never ends. Guess what!  I'm back to FASHION.

Recently, life has been handing me some very sour lemons - tension and frustration consumed me in anger.. BUT as if life always balances itself, an old fren called up. He was setting up an exhibition and pop-up shop for the annual George Town Festival 2014 in Penang.

We brain-stormed - tossed around concepts & design ideas, rummaged through tons of lovely fabrics.. It was a wonderful experience, to be able to talk shop with an artist and designer.

Back home, i was inspired and started the ardious task of pattern-making. But it was a very welcomed distraction from my current woes. I felt a sense of HOPE, a sense of PURPOSE, a kind of art THERAPY!

Life takes u through many bends and turns, sometimes adding a somersault too. My blogs reflect all that i have been doing ever since - Petcrazee, Sewcrazee, Crazeepatches, , crazeeEat, Ekocrazee, Crazeefit, Crazeefit Over40, etc. My calling card reads - blogger, educator, gym rat, crafter and now, fashion designer :)

It was not easy... I had been away from fashion for more than a decade. I studied fashion design whilst holding down a full-time 'normal' job. I still hold that job which is also dear to me. So many, many late nights and weekends were spent on this GTF project. I missed covering art exhibition openings and crafting events as head of an arts & crafts group. But my members have been great, stepping up, organising themselves during craft events.

Here's some of the highlights along my creative journey -

1990's  Costume designer for stage production of Macbeth (sponsored by NST & Isetan)

1997  18th Century French Costume - Research, Exhibition & Dance

2010 - 2014 Organised art & crafting events for ACG 

@ Femme City exhibition - Star Publications

Eco Fashion Show @ National Textile Museum 2011

 

Year-end textile & jewellery workshops @ National Textile Museum 2011-2013

Corporate workshop @ eTiqa, Dataran Maybank

2012  WTSC - White Tee-Shirt Challenge

Contestants of WTSC  

2012   Teaching Textile Art & Embroidery class with co-instructor,  Siti Aishah Awaluddin 

2012  Wrote "Development of Printmaking in Malaysia" for Printmaking Triennial -Macau
           - co written with Prof. Rahman, USM

 Translated into 3 languages

MY CROSSOVER JOURNEY 2

Recently, I experienced a surprising cross over from crafting to painting at the previous art jamming session. My first fully completed art piece is this yellow one with a misai kucing (a bit stylised version) plant, painted specially for a fren who has migrated to the colder side of the world.

So hoping this painting will remind her of her former home, Malaysia and all the frens she left to  partake on her next life adventure!

So, it's possible, huh.. to paint? Even though i have interviewed artists and mingled in their circle, taking to the brush is a 'life-changing', quite nerve-wrecking experience for me but the artists and art enthusiasts i met at the previous art jam made it easy and gave me the confidence to let my imagination soar, as u can see from the light strokes of my wide brush in the background.

Then it took me another hour to finally be brave enough to draw & paint the plant & flowers. i liked the background and was VERY AFRAID i will spoil the effect if my drawing was not up to par. But acrylic paint is very forgiving and an easy medium to use.

Enjoying art, creativilty (and some snacks) among friends!

THANKS EVERYONE,  for the SUPPORT  !

Photo credits : Ben Toh (The Refinery)
Event ;  ART JAMMING  

~~ personalised my gift ~~

Next Art Jam is this Sunday -- 23 Feb

Click for directions to :  d7 Sentul East Desgn Centre (Courtyard)

This event DOES NOT happen every week. So do check the FB page for up-coming happenings https://www.facebook.com/SeedSentulEastDesignCentre?fref=ts

MY CROSSOVER JOURNEY 1

I was asked by someone opening an art & craft shop soon to suggest some crafts and painting workshops. This was timely, as this year i have decided to dedicate to getting back into 'creative pursuits' instead of just writing / reviewing  / organising it. Wanted to get hands on into it. It started with creating samples for polymer clay, macrame, mosaics, etc.

Then at Art Friends art supply shop i bought acrylic paints in 3 basic colours and some canvases.  This was my first time playing with acrylics. And that was good. I had no preconceptions. It was pure experimentation. Because it was rather costly, i only squeezed out a tiny drop and tried to spread it to no avail. Too thick. How do it thin it? The packaging said this was a water-based paint. So i dipped my brush into clean water and dabbed on the paint. It began to spread, looking like watercolour.. i was intriqued. Still not very confident, i painted on only a small canvas board... using a large flat brush and going in circles, blending the red & yellow in a soothing gradation. Was pretty happy with the outcome.

Then progressed to a tiny canvas and played with a little blue into the palette. Loved the way the colours mixed with each other, with a little help from my brush and the water.

So this is how a artist feels, i guess - although my soiree into acrylics is just very basic, but the JOY of seeing a few dabs of colour emerging into a sort off painting, is what prompted me to want to help others break the MYTH that painting is difficult. On the other hand, i do acknowledge that it takes the artist hours and hours of practice to come up with the the concept and the painting itself.. to be an art piece. This is the artists' journey and talent.

But i believe anyone, given the right prompting and taught the basics can produce something pleasant to the eye, soothing to the their own soul and decent enough to show to frens. I wish to rename the process - COLOUR PLAY, to avoid unpleasant memories of school art class where most people feel intimidated.

So, allow me to DREAM and ENVISION that one day soon i will be able to spread the love of painting and remove the fear of failure. This comes from one (myself) who has crossed over from observer to doer. I understand the reluctance, the self-doubts, the stiff hand, ..

These are some of my experiments in colour play :

This is a 3" x 3" mini painting inspired by my guppies. I simply love the colours.. The hues and tones, flowing brush strokes. Imagine so many shades with just yellow, blue and tinge of red. Such joy in creating this effect!

But being CREATIVE takes effort.. We need to train the eye & mind to see art in ordinary things, to see new possibilities. So i started a journal to keep practicing. Each time i get an idea, i quickly sketch it. A useful practice.

Here's my first attempt at MIXED MEDIA - acrylic painting - transparent colour wash, hand painting, opaque painting, stamping, ..