Always just be yourself... grandma said...

Today...is not a good day. Spent all of daylight hours from 11am - 7.00pm painting a style not my own. I have a free spirit...my painting style is free and loose with a mingling of colours here, there and everywhere. Unfortunately today...I was requested to paint a very controlled style...controlled design with controlled colours and controlled size and shape....*sigh* and double *sigh**sigh*...so not me. Even my daughter (who patiently accompanied me ...bless my darling) ... could see the difference in style and commented that it's so not me!!! Oh well... the customer is always right...and I should be thankful that I still got paid for it inspite of everything... but it was not with a good feeling.... first time completing a task without the sense of satisfaction :(

More to show off hehe...

Just a few more to show off... so stay on a little while longer k... these are paintings different from what I'm usually commissioned to do.

The first is a girl-bear commisioned by Aunty Faridah for her grand-daughter. This I copied from Tina Hardy Nelson's work published in the Australian Folk Art magazine...(which issue?? hehehe don't ask...can't remember la...) with minor changes here and there. I quite like this piece. It's painted on a bookstand.

The roses on the stool are nothing new...but just to show that I tried Spice (a discontinued background colour from Jo Sonja's range) and the overall effect turned out to be quite pleasant. It just shows that one does not need to fear but be more adventurous with one's choice of colours ...one need not just stick to the same lolly-polly ones!!

This last...yup! the last one for now hahaha... is currently my favourite. Somehow I just love the feel of the scenery. I can feel myself sitting on the chair in the garden overlooking the sea. Again this is not an original...it's a design from Ros Stallcup...my favourite artist...this I paint for myself...to this, I bid you a good day....tata

Birdies' berg

Since early last month, I'd spend about 3-4 hrs in the afternoon at Zaitun's place painting on the birdhouses. Had so much fun trying to create a 'story' on those houses....I sincerely hope the owner likes them as much as I enjoyed painting them. There is always this nagging fear that the owner will not be as estatic as I am on the finished product. Everytime the item is collected, I'd become very anxious and stressed out. It's like taking your results after the exam... honestly...I don't like that feeling. Anyway...have a look-see. You be the judge here k? I completed 2 birdhouses ... and here I show off all the 4 sides of each house...

The first is a garden scenery based on Ros Stallcup's free style. The second is a more organised one ...painted to look like a real house...windows with laced curtains, canopy and window boxes with flowers, a front door with inviting steps and a well-cared garden with potted topiaries to complete. I quite enjoy creating this one...but again the fear is always there...would this be accepted??? Urrgghhh...got to learn to get rid of this feeling!!! Any ideas how anybody? The customer is always right so they say... and THAT does not make me feel any better :(

Anyway...the next 4 are pics of the other birdhouse... you tell me... *sigh*

I made new friends today...

I woke my darling baby up early today... "It's a Saturday ma!!" was her reply. Hehe...ma's in a vibrant mood, so she ignored the tone of protest in her baby's voice......"Yup! It's Saturday...now wake up! We are going to Aunty Aniza's!!!"

It's a special day. Aniza had arranged a gathering of her decorative artist students and friends at her place. We were to meet at her place anytime between 10.00am - 1.00pm. Me?...oooohhh I was there by 9.30am hahaha. By 10.00am her guests started streaming in....and I was introduced to them all. Some of whom I'd met and known before but most of whom I'd known only by name! Finally today, I could put a face to every name that Aniza had ever mentioned...errr ladies, don't worry...it's always a good word from Aniza...telling me of her admiration for your works, etc ;) Unfortunately... I must confess...I've a very very very poor memory for names!!! Faces I can remember...but names...*sigh* It's such an embarassing disease!!!...so if ever I misplace your name somewhere in my grey matter...please do forgive me! I do wish I could show you pics of us all at Aniza's...but I lose the right to use the camera to my son who had taken it with him to PD yesterday....but I'm sure Aniza's blog will have us there... ;)

So...all that aside...what have I been doing all these while??? My!My!My!...painting of course...hehehe...what else??? Yup!Yup!Yup! I've been busy with classes and painting for my clients and friends. And so...muahahahaha...this post...and the next... will be a showcase of my current accomplishments hehe ...though not necessarily in chronological order...(again blame my memory here hahaha)...

I've been asked to paint items on enamel and tinware recently. It's been a long time since I'd painted on such surfaces. They'd never been my favourite because of the tedious preparation prior to painting. Fortunately I've Aniza and Zaitun to consult... and consultation means...what's the short cut la??? I'm not a sucker for rules here...and if by bending and creating new ones works just as well...hey...why not, right?...and that's exactly what I did... muahahaha. The big cylindrical bin and the enamel mugs were the testimony of my success hahaha. I had a wee bit trouble with the big bin initially...but nah...small matter haha

Apart from the metallic surfaces, I also tried painting on a straw hat...gave that hat as a birthday gift to kak Maznah...she's a gorgeous lady who really really appreciates art. Her house is the envy of many...especially yours truly here...hmmmphhh...every nook and corner is worth a stop to admire!!! ....even her washroom is worth spending an extra minute or two...or maybe even more...hahaha

Anyway...I'd done a few other projects on wood but that's nothing new...painted them with roses and hydrangeas...the usual stuff. Nothing fancy to show off here muahahaha...However, I do so want to show off the birdhouses that I'd painted. Spent almost every Tuesday afternoon since last month at Zaitun's painting them. Will show them off later k... till our next post...tata

3rd Laman Workshop - 19 Apr 2008

Last week was a hectic but fruitful week. I had so many things to do all at one go...had to complete and varnish the paintings as Nani had called saying she was coming to collect....so I was doing that in between classes, stealing time whenever possible. Then...had to prepare for the workshop. Had to miss my weekly lunch as I couldn't spare the time :( and to make matters worse...had to do that all alone because none of my kids were available to help me sort and pack things! I was so exhausted at the end of the day... but alas I couldn't sleep...my brain forgot to switch off!!! Slept late...woke up early...tis a wonder how this scrawny body of mine could keep up with the pace!

Anyway...come Saturday, everything was on top gear. Got everything into the car as soon as my son got back from his night flight duty...and drove off almost immediately. Thank God...good traffic flow...but me being me...had to forget the way to Carlton Hotel, Shah Alam la!!!.... *sigh* missed the turning and had to make a U-turn.....but...nah... I was still as cool as cucumber muahahaha ...hey...the show must go on right??? Hehe... to cut the story short... we had a good time...Aniza, Zaiton and I together with the 44 participants. I sincerely hope we managed to instil the love of decorative painting in our participants. I know we made new friends... so...paint away ladies...paint with your hearts...it was a pleasure to be with all of you...

I amaze myself sometimes...

It's just amazing how when one puts one's mind to the task...one can really perform wonders!!! Yup!Yup!Yup! Hmm I do believe I belong to that group of people who works well under pressure...hahaha


Anyway...it all started with an sms from Nani late last night saying that she's coming to collect her stuffs. Now...if you'd been with me all this while... you'd recall somewhere in my past posts that I'd painted for Nani but none that I could comfortably say I'm done with. I'd put them aside on display on my shelves waiting for the right moment to give them the final oomph...well...at least to my own eyes la...hehehe. That sms got the juices flowing...in fact it overflowed to a few more other projects that were put on hold too. I started early just after my dawn prayers and worked through the whole day...very much in time for Nani to collect her stuffs. I do wonder where I got the energy to complete them when since in the past few days...I find it such a chore to even hold the brush!!!...and when I do get to hold the brush...that's all that I could do...just hold the brush and nothing else!!!


I did a total of 4 wall-hung kitchen towel holders, 2 t-pot shaped ones and 2 wall plaques...some of which I didn't change much and had them varnished but the rest I'd done some minor touch-ups. Anyway...have a look see at some of Nani's stuffs that I'd presumably given some oopmh hahaha. The rest that I'd left them as they were can be seen in my past post. I'm happy to declare that Nani and her stuffs are at this very moment already on the way back to Sg Petani. My items are to be displayed at her shop together with some from Zaitun too ;) I am proud of me....*grin* *pat pat pat* (muahahaha that's me patting myself on my shoulders). It's a good day today....I can now go to sleep in peace..goodnite y'all....

Friends Forever

Apart from painting my heart out... I look forward to this particularly special day with my friends. We have had lunch once a week since 4 years ago. We try not to miss even if its just the 2 of us...this is our sacred day where we'd just yak yak yak...pour our hearts out or whatever that fancies us at that moment. After lunch we'd adjourn to Coffee Bean and continue there until it's time to go back to work...oh well...hehehe they have to go back to work anyway.... me???...ooohhh that's my day off...muahahaha

Ja(lady in black) and Su... I've known them since primary 6....that's way way way back in 1970! We'd gone a long way since then...grew apart for a while as we got caught up with studies, family life, work etc but we do meet occasionally for gatherings and sorts. Amer...I knew him later in 1974 where we met for interschool society meetings. He was from La Salle...we were from Assunta. Of course there are others too..Didi, Iqbal occasionally joins us and Abang (once) when he could....but we are the normal four that TRY to meet-up regularly weekly. Ja, Su, Amer...I love you guys...our paths crossed for a reason and I thank God for that. I thank God for all my friends....

I found this quote somewhere ....I'd like to share it with you... "Friends are like balloons...once you let them go, you might not get them back". I believe in that.. again... I thank Allah for my friends... I know you'll be there when I need you...

Happy B'day Aunty...

Every 19 March, aunty completes and starts a new cycle of life. Yesterday, she turned 65!!!...but she can easily pass off as a lady many years her junior..... *sigh* (of envy...hahaha)... Aunty, how do you ever manage to keep looking THAT good...very good! I think...I can count more wrinkles on my face than on hers...*sigh* and double *sigh*

Aunty Faridah is my most senior student...but this grand matriach is the most active,diligent and adventurous of the lot. She hardly misses her weekly classes...and she's game to try anything new. Her projects are quite diverse...consisting of various styles,techniques and media. She too...will paint on anything that does not move..hahaha...but hey...I am her teacher...am I not??? Muahahahaha.... Anyway, her favourite quote of the day would be..."What is there to worry? Nora is here!" hahahaha...I love this woman...hehehe. She's so full of live, not a minute spent with her is dull!

She's been with me since 3 years ago... and she's painted quite a fair bit, she's so full of ideas that it's a challenge to produce what she has in mind sometimes haha. I'm dedicating this post to her...feast your eyes on her painted pieces ya. The 2 projects on the right are her earlier pieces....simple lacework with daisies on a cake stand and a monotone medley of sceneries on a wall plaque. We had fun creating a story to the sceneries. Aunty loves sceneries, esp in the colours of autumn. She's painted more sceneries than stroke flowers...why? because she says...ummm...errr...can't remember what she said la...hahaha...




Aunty hates to see an empty space. Where possible she'll point it out to me and say..."hmm...let's see...now what can we have here in this corner, huh Nora?" And Nora would go...uh-oh...the brain's working on maximum gear again!!! Anyway... there's a book box that she had painted on both sides of the top cover...and if I'd not put my foot down she would have painted even the inside of base of the box...yup!yup!yup! That box is now on display perpetually ajar... just to show off the painting done on the inside too...hahaha






More scenery projects here...one done on canvas and the other on a 2-piece welcome plaque (that still needs to be hung..haha). Aunty has many many more pieces to show. I'm actually in the middle of compiling my students' works and will have them all displayed in an album....god willing...somewhere in the near (??) future...hehe.
To this... I wish Aunty a long and prosperous life filled with love and happiness and great health. May we have many more years together. I love you, Aunty Faridah....

Gosh...am I that old???

Guess what? Me thinks...age is catching up...really really really fast...*sigh* and **double sigh** Why??

Well... once upon a time not so long ago, I could work really really late into the wee hours of the morn, have a couple hours of sleep and be up again before dawn and start the day off almost immediately!! But now lately...though I still wake up before dawn... I do need to sign off rather early. Must have at least 6 hrs sleep and still feel like... hey, where's the night gone huh??

I also remember that I used to have a certain spring in my steps as I go about the day... but now?... I think even the tortoise can catch up with me haha. Whoa!!! I can't be THAT old can I?...50 won't be here but next year... but why oh why the lethargy, huh??? But hey...who says 50 is old anyway???duhhh...

Hehe... oh well...life has to go on...and so it does. I've been busy painting lately. Completed the main body...but somehow I still feel the paintings can be enhanced further. Again it lacks the oomph and I have to put it aside...them rather...and get back to complete them later when the inspiration comes. I think...age has taken its toll on my lack of creative juices oozing out of my being...muahahaha...anyway...have a look-see below ya...

Here are 2 Tea-pot kitchen towel holders. I thought I'd try a pen-and-wash technique...that's the one shown on the first piece here. Easy but tedious as every detail has to be drawn in with pigment ink.

These 2 are painted onto a wall-hung kitchen towel holder. The tuscany grapes design I copied from a kitchen towel I borrowed from Aunty Faridah hehe... The veggies I borrowed from a calender by Susan Winget.

The one with the bottle I enjoy doing the most...though it still lacks the final details, I find this piece very fulfilling. The one with the flowers I finished 2 weeks ago...together with the tea cups on the shelf shown in my previous post. Well Nani... these are all for your shop...I've 2 more tea-pot kitchen towel holders to do. (Fyi...Nani is the owner of "The English Cottage" in Sg Petani, Kedah and these are commissioned jobs for her)

The Awesome Foursome

My life is blessed with great wonderful people around me. I look forward to Thursday afternoons when the four of us will meet and just do nothing but eat, chat, chat, eat, eat, chat, paint, chat, chat...usually in that order hahaha. We take turns to host...the last one being at Datin Roses's house.

It was initially an afternoon meant for us to gather and try to complete our UFOs...yup! we ALL have UFOs hahaha...but usually we end up doing more talking and eating than painting!!! But then again...what better excuse than a UFO to get us meeting again...right???

The lady above?...she's Rose, the hostess for the day ... painting away in her beautiful kitchen with us, the awesome foursome...yup!yup!yup!muahahaha. Her current project? To paint her house number plaque ...a long overdue project...hehehe come to think of it...I'd not painted mine either!!! Yikes!

Meet Christine and Zaiyan too...so focussed in their work that they didn't even realise I was ready to shoot them haha. Christine's passion is lacework She has such steady hands that the lines on her lace work are so fine. Makes her lacework a marvel to look at...don't you agree?

Zaiyan on the other hand is still at the preparation stage of her project...applying the gesso on the wood surface! So nothing to show yet so far haha.

It's a very relaxed afternoon. No rush to finish off anything...doing things at our own pace. When the mood to paint is not there... we would just sit and chat and chat and chat...and eat eat eat haha... until it's time to leave and get back to routine life....*sigh* what a life...