Birds flew over the Pagoda St nest, Secret Garden & SG50

The week of 23-29 March 2015 has been an emotional one for my fellow countrymen, mourning the departure of a great one whom we owe an indelible debt whatever may be said about the man. The saying that his monument is everywhere is probably something that fully hit the national conscience of many of us only now upon his passing. 

Ironically, I rarely paint Singapore, because it is simply too close to heart. And I always used to think, why is there a need to capture in images, what I already know so well and feel so strongly about, albeit mixed feelings? So my focus has always been on my wanderings, where I am but a transient passer-by to foreign lands, and will need the images to remember my feelings by when I grow old one day, sitting on that rocking chair reminiscing on my life's journey in this world ;p  But I am digressing. 

I have to admit I started painting Singapore again recently only because SG50 is the 'latest fashion', so to speak, for artistic outlet. But I am glad I did. I still stuck to material that strike an emotional chord with me, even if I have to go out and find it in our hot sweltering weather. And I do not really care if people recognise the place or not, as I was never a realist painter in the first place. There are plenty of good artists out there who can record landscape details for posterity. For me, art is and has always been about a personal emotional expression. 

Title: Birds flew over the Pagoda St nest (O120) 
Description: Whimsical painting of birds on a lamppost with festive red Chinese lanterns, over a plethora of colourful stalls tentage in Pagoda Street, a charming, touristy street market in Singapore Chinatown. SG50 Series. 
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 

Dimensions: 61 x 46cm. 

Title: Secret Garden (O124) 
Description: Blue Victorian whimsical painting inspired by a beautiful pavilion by Swan Lake at the Singapore Botanical Gardens when birds came a-chirping before the dreamy backdrop of a sculpture of swans in flight. SG50 Series. 
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 

Dimensions: 61 x 46cm. 

Title: A House at Katong (O123) 
Description: Expressionist painting rendering of an old house compound in Katong, a charming residential district in east Singapore with Peranakan (people of mixed Chinese and Malay heritage) origins. SG50 Series. 
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 

Dimensions: 61 x 46cm. 

Title: Tree Tapestry (O125) 
Description: Bright orange red abstract painting of a blue tree, in a myriad swirl of tapestry like floral emblems, inspired by lyrical tree branches and leaves by a pond at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. SG50 Series. 
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 

Dimensions: 61 x 46cm. 

Purchase at: yen.artfire.com 
* Birds flew over the Pagoda St nest & Secret Garden are currently on exhibition ~ Mosaic, an art show @ Volvo Art Loft, 2-28 April.

A Day at the Botanical Gardens & Bamboo Abstract

I have not been to the Botanical Gardens in a while. It was my favourite haunt many moons ago and what I always recommend to travellers to Singapore, but the MRT and other construction put a dampener of sorts. After gasp! umpteen years of wait, the dust finally settled.  

The gardens have been extensively revamped, no doubt due to the bid to be listed on UNESCO.  But thankfully, still recognisable, familiar and as beautiful as ever.  And oh the black swans are still there, in the lake, which I sat by for the longest time, moved into painting a sketch of the lone tree across. Then it started to shower with  the nearby pavilion providing a wonderful refuge for both people and pigeons ;p  The drops became almost a downpour before the water drama ended, yielding sunshine again.  I looked at the tree again. The feeling was simply marvellous.  And this was what I seek to capture in the painting created from the sketch.

I also saw the most lovely bamboo corner with the leaves rustling softly with the winds, a poetic sight to behold. And again another sketch which I later turned into an abstract painting. 

I have to go back again another time. So much more that moved me that day that I have yet to capture. And in a manner different from my earlier busy works. A quieter rendition, an indescribable feeling. This is after all, my favourite place in Singapore.

Title: Bamboo Abstract (O119) 
Description: Abstract painting of bamboo trees rustling in the winds invoking imagery of colourful floral and singing birds, in Chinese ink painting style. Singapore Botanical Gardens, SG50 Series. 
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 

Dimensions: 61 x 46cm. 

Title: A Day at the Botanical Gardens (O118) 
Description: Poetic abstract painting of a lone whimsical tree of green, in the winds above the waters, inspired by a lake at  the Singapore Botanical Gardens. SG50 Series. 
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. 

Dimensions: 61 x 46cm. 

Purchase at: yen.artfire.com