Decorative painting ...

Hopefully... this will help you to understand more about Decorative Painting ;)

"Decorative painting is a diverse art form utilizing a variety of techniques and media to decorate functional and non-functional surfaces.

Because of the systematic methods employed, contemporary decorative painting is a highly teachable art form. The patterns or freehand designs allow a high degree of success without academic training or inherent drawing ability. Approached with creativity, discipline and craftsmanship, contemporary decorative painting offers opportunities for artistic self-expression and creative satisfaction.

The scope of contemporary decorative painting is boundless. Styles and techniques of the past are incorporated into the trends and materials of the present, while developing the decorative art heritage of the future.

Tole painting is the general term historically used to describe decorative painting on tin surfaces, especially in New England and by the Pennsylvania Germans. Contemporary decorative painting encompasses not only the folk art styles of Sweden, Norway, Germany, Russia, England and Mexico, but many facets of Early American decorative painting such as stenciling, faux finishing, bronzing, gold leafing, country painting, theorem and graining."

Definition from the Society of Decorative Painters Site

What the experts say...

Hello all... I've been off-colour lately. Didn't do much painting except for the occasional base coating and running classes. I find that when I'm depressed or angry... I can still paint (oh boy!!! can I paint hahaha)...but when I'm under the weather with some kind of bug cruising in my blood stream.... that's it!!! It kills the mood for everything...the whole system became lethargic or totally shutdown indefinitely!!!! However... I did do some readings and I'm going to share here what the experts say.... about painting la of course!!!!

Ann Kingslan said that to be a good painter, you need to have 4 things :

• Desire - you can become a good painter if YOU want to be one!
• Dedication - to become good it's very necessary to make the time to PRACTISE
• Determination - it helps you stick with painting and overcome your painting problems with a difference
  
• Money - ah yes! money.... it enables you to buy quality painting products.... the best that you can afford... don't stinge or scrooge!!!!
  

So how to perfect your painting skills?

• Always take a few minutes to see and assess how much your work has improved over time
• Look for ways you can make it look even better - attend classes with different teachers, look out for workshops, seminars and conventions (local and/or overseas), buy AND read ... can't put more empahasis on that!!! Most of us just buy for the sake of looking at the pics....yup...yours truly falls in that category too muahahaha!!!!
• Simply continue to paint, you'll improve with time and practise (experience is the best teacher!). In the process you are bound to come up with something terrific... believe you me... I'm talking thru experience here!!! Practise! Practise! Practise!!!!
  
• Bear in mind.... Decorative Painting is a wonderful challenge! Keeps your mind active and away from senility... InsyaAllah (God Willing!).... have fun la...
  

Anyway...Ginger Edwards also said that by enjoying what you do...you will excel. Enjoying your paintings, studying them and exposing yourself to different view points, and then incorporating the best elements of these paintings into your own will help you advance.

However, you do need patience. You don't just become a fantastic cook overnight, nor do you immediately paint masterpieces. You need to experiment, and then sit back and evaluate what you've done. Evaluating is what makes you improve.

So there... hopefully, my dear friends.... if you are into decorative painting... bear in mind that patience, perseverance and practise makes you a great painter :)

Happy painting ya....

Seni Hias Issue 4

Proud to say, Seni Hias has featured my stuffs on pages 38-39.... hehehe yup!yup!yup! must tell you what page to go to so that you don't have to go searching for it la....muahahaha (vain pot to the max now!!!). Sooooo... go to the stand and get yourself Seni Hias, Bilangan 4, Nov-Dec issue *blush*blush*.... (or trying to blush....muahahaha)

So...what have I been doing?... painting of course. Just completed 2 trays of Intarsia, designed for Afifah's son's engagement coming soon, 2 simple plaques as wedding gifts to kids of my friends, an intarsia cutlery box ( of which I'm extremely proud of!!!), another intarsia on a small rectangular tea-box and am now starting a still life for Lizana....pics I'll put in later...as soon as I figure out what's wrong with my camera.... giving me vague pics again!!! haih... I can't be that bad a photographer can I???? hmmmmm... so catch up with you guys later ya.... have a good day ;)

We did a demo ;)

Last Saturday, Aug 30... we... Zaitun and I ... did a 1-hour demonstration of our craft at the "Galeria Fair 2008" at Amcorp Mall, PJ. It was a programme organised by The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development, introducing and promoting the various local crafts and products held from 22 - 31 Aug. Unfortunately, Aniza couldn't make it as she had prior engagements... so it was just the 2 of us doing our stuff :)

We were apprehensive at first as we had no experience doing a demo... but us being us la *ahem* *cough*cough* ... hehe ... we made it. It went well... but the crowd was small.... small but enthusiastic... so that made our day... yup!yup!yup! .... but it could have been better had it been on a Sunday between 2-3.00pm, as we were told the crowd in Amcorp Mall is usually bigger on a Sunday. We were there on a Saturday, 11.30am-12.30pm.... not the best of time for anything.... nevermind... it was an experience....

Hehe...we were in the news

For a moment there... I felt glamorous. Don't know whether Aniza and Zaitun felt the same way... but I know I felt ... like wow!! I'm going to be in the papers hehehe. Then another thought struck me almost immediately... I hate to be photographed!!! I'm never photogenic.. and ALL angles are bad angles hahaha!!! ... and this was what I got...when my darling Syakirah commented... "Ma... you look so scary!!!" hahaha.... that deflated my bloated balloon...deflated? did I say deflated???...Nay... it was more like... my inflated swollen head burst to kingdom come!!!... muahahaha. Yup!yup!yup!.... Syukrina and Syuhaidah just had to agree *sigh*... how honest and truthful can my girls be!!!

Anyway... we finally went public. The pics and article were for Utusan's Mega section published last Wednesday, July 9... Sentuhan Pelukis Dekoratif. If you had not viewed the article... please go to Aniza's website... she's got the whole article there for you to read ;)

Whilst I'm here... I have an announcement to make... next weekend... July 19... we'll have another workshop... this time with Kementerian Pelancongan and Laman at Saloma Bistro, Jln Ampang.... so hint hint... I have more to show off later laa... so until my next post.... here's Nora wishing you... a very good day... muah muah muah

Alhamdulillah...we did it...

Last Friday, Zaitun and I (Aniza, unfortunately could not join us due to prior commitments), went to Utusan Publications to collect our book. Though excited to the max...we took our time to go there. Took our time with breakfast and had a slow (by my standards...hahaha) leisurely drive to Taman Shamelin where Utusan Publications is located. For once the steps up to the Nora's office felt so steep hahaha...

Anyway, the feeling I felt when I laid my eyes and hands onto our book was beyond description. Kind of like the feeling you have after going through a hard labour with your first child... to see a book with my name printed on it is like really really unbelievable!!!! (Well...I had one other book with my name on the front cover... but that was my thesis... a compulsory requirement to complete my degree with honours!! That's a very different kind of sigh of relief hahaha...) Anyway....needless to say both Zaitun and I were beaming and grinning like excited teens on their first date hahaha... yup!yup!yup!...well...at least I did ;) That's our book there...bright aqua blue...something bright enough that you can't miss it on the shelves yup!yup!yup!

We have nine projects to show off...three from each of us. Something for all...from the beginners to the intermediate and those who need to refresh. The first few chapters are a must to read to acquaint yourself with the tricks of the craft if you are new to it or have left your brushes to rest too long!!! For RM36 I should say this is a real bargain!!! Anyway... you have a look-see and tell us your thoughts, opinions, comments...wtv. It would help us to make our second book a better one, InsyaAllah...God Willing! To all decorative painting lovers...this is for you. Have a great day y'all... oh btw...did I mention we have a translated BM version on the go? Well... that would be out soon too...

Alhamdulillah...FINALLY...

I have an announcement to make...received good ...very good news yesterday...OUR BOOK...AMAZE YOURSELF WITH STUNNING PROJECTS...IS FINALLY OUT. YAY!!!! So lovers of decorative painting...please be on the look-out...

Hehe.... that's all I can say for now...get back to this later. My mind is soooo full with excitement that I'm actually lost for words....oh btw...it's only RM36/=...very affordable yes???