learnt how to paint reflections and create texture (in the rocks!)

change

I used to be someone who never really believed in losing friendships. the thought of all the good times spent together always made me feel that I should try hard to preserve their continuity indefinitely into the future. But people change, values change, priorities change. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one left behind as everyone moves on with their lives, still hoping things would always stay the way they used to be. But this is a painful thought, and I think it's easier to let certain things go.

Everyone is connected to a few social webs of friendships at once; I wonder how strong the links to my existing ones are, and if I'm already starting to fall off some of them.

pursuing an interest

So I've finally gotten down to learning painting proper; started on watercolour classes with my dearest sinnie, under an extremely talented artist and patient teacher, Seah Kam Chuan (found him through Google)!

In our first lesson, we learnt how to blend different tones together (through painting the sky) and use a waxing technique to create simple but original designs that can be used for cards!

Our second lesson was spent drawing cherries, which was also focused on getting the right tones. We learnt that an object needs at least 5 tones to bring out its shape and three-dimensionality. We also got familiar with the use of musking, which serves to selectively waterproof a precise section of your canvass so that you can paint a smooth background over and around this object.

Decided to spend yesterday practising my drawing and painting..realized it's been a long while since I last let myself immerse in this other world. I have been lazy to create handmade cards or other handicrafts from scratch these days..drawing is such a nostalgic activity for me; it reminded me of my childhood days where I used to draw and colour almost every day. I hope it's not too late to pick up this skill now. I think the biggest difference between the young me and the current me is the originality in my art work. I was so eager and motivated then to draw images from my imagination..now I usually settle for copying a design that I like and find manageable enough. I feel that I have lost my sense of innovation and creativity as a child. I hope that soon, I'll be brave enough to paint original scenes and not be afraid to make many mistakes before I get my perfect picture.

Anyhow, here is my little attempt at drawing Bambi!

before applying an outline

after outlining with a thin brush..i kind of prefer the one without, it has a more vintage feel to it!

just a little intro on my new blog skin: background photo taken (ironically) at a fish farm in stratford-upon-avon, UK; header photo is a silhouette of the mountains & me watching the sunset in lamington national park, gold coast (taken by zk)!

wisdom

Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone. – The Buddha.

next on my to-handmake list:

the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society

what i originally thought was a book of alternative genre (credits to its unusual name) turned out to be one of best reads I've had in a while.

it was a while that i looked forward to long bus journeys even after a tired day at work, and a while that i jumped onto my bed, in office wear and hands unwashed after stroking the condo cat, and read ferociously for 2 and a half hours straight. i finished the book and went without dinner!

the story is based in the channel islands in 1945, just after the end of the German occupation. the entire book is written in the form of letters exchanges between the main characters, and depict so realistically human emotions of empathy, light-headedness with an overarching nonchalant dignity associated with a love interest, bravery amidst suffering in wartimes, sarcasm, humor, unconditional giving by people who have suffered, friendship and love.

most of all, it reminded me of how beautiful communication becomes when it takes place through letters. with the technology we have nowadays, why would one write lengthy, entertaining letters to update another on his life? less is the need to string beautiful chains of words, and gone is the true meaning of keeping in touch- satisfying a genuine interest in the life of another.

communication these days seem more an activity to pass time on the train, to coordinate schedules of a group of people, elevated chatter that never delve deeper. we just don't give ourselves the luxury of time to think more pensive thoughts and pen them down, ink to paper.

I think that beautifully phrased thoughts make one think of the world as a more beautiful place, and thus one a kinder and more appreciative soul.

i was also saddened, trying to lap up every morsel of information in the book after finishing the story, when I read that the author had passed on (at an age of 74) and this was the only novel she'd written..I wish she wrote more!

and a pity we don't write letters anymore.

a new start

discovered the blogger app on the itunes store! hopefully being able to blog on-the-go will reignite my desire to write, since i usually forget most of my passing thoughts by the time i get home/somewhere convenient to pen them down.

with that i hope to start thinking a little more, and wandering a little less.