American Watercolor Society 142nd International Juried Show

Ng Woon Lam AWS NWS MFA

 Ng Woon Lam NWS AWS MFA

(Elected as Signature member of American Watercolor Society)

Title: Ship Builders

AWS Bronze Medal of Honor
American Watercolor Society (AWS) 142nd International Juried Show 2009

Salmagundi Club, 47, Fifth Ave, NYC,  NY 10003

Impermanence Sheryl Luxenburg American Watercolor Society Gold Medal Issue

American Watercolor Society 2008 Gold Medal Issue:

Gold Medal winning painting in the 2008 exhibition, “Impermanence” by Sheryl Luxenburg was suspected to be a non-original artwork derived from internet photos.

 

impermanence Sheryl Luxenburg

impermanence Sheryl Luxenburg

Below is the Painting

impermanence Sheryl Luxenburg

 

 

Singapore Fine Art, Oil Paintings by Koeh Sia Yong

Koeh Sia Yong 许锡勇, Singapore 2nd generation artist.

His oil paintings are collected by Singapore Art Musuem (SAM) and Singapore History Musuem. His artworks represent one of the most important period in Singapore Art History.

He is represented by Li Fine Art Gallery

Mr. Koeh Sia Yong was interviewed by Singapore Art Museum. He was the last president of Equator Art Society

KOEH Sia Yong A key artist in Singapore representing the second generation Singapore Art. His works are collected by Singapore Art Museum and Singapore History Museum.

24″x20″ Oil on Canvas SGD8,000	Born in 1938 and graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art. Since then he has undertaken his exploration in the art world for over fifty years. Known for his unique artistic style and excellent painting techniques, today he is one of the outstanding and highly collected artists in Singapore.In the 70s, Koeh was an art editor working for children Art Magazine, a part of the Xinzhou Newspaper’s weekend issue.During the 80s, as a specially appointed graphic artist of Nanyang Business Newspaper, he produced a large number of political cartoons, magazine covers and illustrations. In addition, he was also engaged in exhibitions and events. He had successfully held many solo and group exhibitions and published two catalogues “Koeh Sia Yong Cartoons” and “Koeh Sia Yong’s Paintings”.
Koeh’s oil paintings are diverse in subject matters. The realistic and expressive approaches are two major characteristics of his work. Many of his figure paintings describe the indigenous conditions and customs of Bali Island, Indonesia. His brushes capture the wavy figures of Bali women. Rich and intensive colors presented the touching scene of Bali ladies’ singing and dancing as well as their traditional costumes and hair decorations.Koeh’s landscape paintings usually depict scenes of the Singapore River, old streets, temples and volcanoes etc. Through the bold and unrestrained brush strokes, the artist not only represented objects realistically, but also expressed his inner feelings as well.	32″x24″ Oil on Canvas SGD8,000
36″x24″ Oil on Canvas SGD15,000	40″x30″ Oil on Canvas SGD5,000
Koeh has mastered good techniques in the application of color and light. Contrasting colors such as yellow and purple, red and green, blue and orange, appeared often in his works. By employing complementary colors to coincide with these bright colors, the artist created a vibrant, gorgeous and yet refined visual effect in his oil paintings.During the creation process, Koeh always spends time in observing and producing the subtle changes of color tones, light and shades. And through his thorough study, his finishing touches help bring the works to life. For example, in one of his works, the artist applied a slight tone of red on the black surfaces, which perfectly pictured the Indonesian young girl’s dark brown skin under the sunlight.	In Koeh’s landscape painting, various treatments can be observed. He likes to use bold, heavy and dark outlines to depict Singapore old street scenes while using thinner, lighter and more vivid colors to reflect the spirit of modern Singapore.
24″x24″ Oil on Canvas SGD4,000	48″x48″ Oil on Canvas SGD6,000
In conclusion, Koeh’s paintings enable viewers to experience the rich cultural scenes of South East Asia and its people, the sunny weather, blue sky and flourishing tropical forest etc. Currently, Koeh is still pursuing his unique individual style in order to capture his passion for life and nature.	11″x14″ Oil on Canvas SGD1,000

Singapore New Art Gallery, Li Fine Art

Li Fine Art Gallery your personal art consultant

At Li Fine Art Gallery Singapore our goal is to assist fine art collectors in the acquisition of finest artworks.We bring an ever expanding knowledge of the contemporary art market in addition to commitment to personal service that is unique in Singapore and South East Asia.Whether you are a first time buyer or a seasoned collector, Li Fine Art Gallery looks forward to sharing our exclusive inventory with you.Email lifineartgallery@yahoo.com for further information and to receive gallery mailings.Address: to be announced

Can we define what a good painting is.

What is a good painting?

At first I wanted to say Good Art, but I think that 100 times more complex.

So let me just retrict this topic to paintings.

When I started learning how to paint, I learnt a lot of fundamental skills; like tones, colors, light and shadows, design concepts, observation methods, space, ……. I can’t say they are rules. They are probably like a language to me. And then, I learnt to use them more and more. I find them more and more complex.

After that, in order to resolve many complex problems, I had to learn from old masters. Therefore, I learn old master painting techniques, design concepts, space construction and art history.

And there, I learnt more about contemporary art movements. And I found that all the visual language I have learnt doesn’t seem to serve any purpose because nobody could or wants to define what is good.

Hence I would like to open this discussion — Can we define what is a Good Painting?

Today either the post-modern art in New York or contemporary art in China are in rigorous movement. Everyone is talking it. I don’t see much painter skills in most of these artworks though the ideas or concepts might be nice. I have to agree that they have good historical value like pop art. Museums will collect and display them so they feature sky high prices. I can understand that.

Just have these doubts :

Do musuems collect only history; or they collect good paintings or they collect good paintings with good historical value?

Do students go to art musuems to learn just history of art or skills of art or both?

Do you go to art musuems to see skillful paintings or history of paintings or both or none of the above?

Like to share everyone’s thought. Thanks!!!

Ng Woon Lam

Painting Design Concepts and Composition Tips

Painting Design Concepts and Composition Tips

Viewpoints – Changing viewpoints is one way that I love. It naturally alters my dead and formulated thinking. Different viewpoints : Look up, look down, look behind, look closer, look further

Creating a problem – I try to create a problem in each painting composition I work on. This enriches my visual dictionary progressively. Once a while, I like to work on a large painting and create a large problem. It is a good benchmarking method to measure my progress.

Changing tonal keys or dominant colors - Generally, I find tonal structures and dominant colors determine the mood of a painting. Keying in brighter or darker with different color dominant could complete alter the character of a painting.

Doing the opposite – I believe this is the most powerful method to improve one’s design ability. Staying with pre-defined formulae or rules stops me from exploring. Taking risk doing the opposite things best describes what ‘composition’ is all about. I like to elaborate my points with examples below.

E.g.

I like to paint large and loose paintings; I force myself once a while to paint small 8”X8” still life for the whole day. I have stay focus on the subject and learn to observe carefully. I always see things that I have never seen before.

Most plein air painters like to work only they see nice the light and shadows patterns. I once worked on location when the rain was pouring, that truly expands my colors and approaches in watercolor.

I like complex subject matters. So sometimes, I force myself to paint a simple single object still life.Try out many more opposite things against your preferred and you will truly enjoy the risking taking journey.

Memories by The Lake Art Exhibition IIV 湖畔美展

by Singapore Art Society & Committee of the “Memories by The Lake Art Exhibition”

Venue : Ngee Cultural Centre, 97 Tank Road, Singpaore

Date : 15th to 18th Dec 2007

Time : 11am to 5:00pm, (18th Dec 11am to 5:00pm)

Opening : 15th Dec 2007, 3:30pm by Mr. Chua Hun Cheong, Former Principal of Chung Cheng High School.

 

 

Why we paint???

Why we paint???

I heard from a teacher from New York. He said a painting is a magical thing. An artist paints an image. He/She left. Someone comes over and is able to connect and communicate with him/her.

But that’s not why I paint. I enjoy it a lot more than that. I was not able to figure out until one day I read a translated book about Rodin’s philosophy in art.

That’s was a casual conversation between Rodin and his 2 students. Could not translate the translated Chinese names back to the right language. Sorry about that!!!

Rodin was with his 2 students leaving Salon show for lunch. One student was teasing another telling him an artist was a completely useless person, which the other student had to agree with him though unhappily.

{I translate the content below from Chinese. Sorry for any minor inaccuracy!!!}

“Please go ahead and have the food Mr.XXX. Though you need not to be served as you are an artist. You are basically a useless fellow.”

“I forgive you for your impoliteness, as you have also taken half of the food.” then he continued “But I could not disagree with you ……….  Basically the world does not need us.”

Rodin then disagreed with his students.

This is what he said, “…… one can choose do a good job or a bad job. To do a good job, I believe is the human nature. However, when working becomes a measure thru’ financial return and personal needs, it changes. People choose to do a not-so-good job.”

“In order to change this, I wish everyone is an artist. ‘Artist’ here is a common word to describe one who loves what one’s doing. A happy carpenter artist….. a happy taxi driver artist, … with all these happy artists, we have a society with the best comfort and service ever.”

“That’s the one message a artist is passing to the society.”

After reading this, I quit my job and paint fulltime. I think since I like it, I can do it better!!!

Please feel free to post your opinions and opposite point of view. Have fun painting!!!

Invitation to Demonstration/Talk by Mr Ratindra Das AWS, NWS

Singapore Watercolour Society would like to invite you to a watercolour art demonstration/ talk session by Mr. Ratindra Das, signature member of American Watercolor Society (AWS) and National Watercolor Society (NWS), and multiple awards winner. We hope you will take this opportunity to learn and witness for yourself his unique style and get to know the artist himself. 

At the same time, Mr Ratindra Das would love to discuss and learn about arts in this part of the world, especially South East Asia and Singapore, from you. So, what better way to spend your Sunday morning than meeting the man himself and watch him paint and engage in a lively talk about watercolour arts.  To view his paintings, please visit www.ratindradas.net

Venue:  Telok Kurau Art Gallery - 91 Lorong J Telok Kurau, Ground Floor, Singapore 425985

Date:    Sunday, 11 November 200

Time:    Starts at 9:00 am (approximately 3 hours)

Admission:     Free (Donations are welcome)

 

 

Khoo Cheang Jin Watercolour Solo Exhibition

GALERI SENI MUTIARA

&

KHOO CHEANG JIN

 

cordially invite you to the opening of

 

KHOO CHEANG JIN

SOMEWHERE IN TIME

WATERCOLOUR SOLO EXHIBITION

Opening Reception on Sunday 4th November 2007 at 5pm

 

at Galeri Seni Mutiara

118 Armenian Street, 10200 Penang

Tel: 04-2620167

 

exhibition runs daily from 4th – 18th November 2007 

11am – 6pm

 

 Admission free