I'm going back to my oil painting roots!

I have recently been commissioned to illustrate a book cover in a photorealistic style. I reminisced at the time straight after high school where I attended Adam Chang's oil painting classes in Summer Hill. He has become the finalist many times at the Archibald prize which is a prestigious portraiture prize in Australia. I attended a few of his sketching and life drawing classes when I was 14. I saw a massive painting of Danielle Spencer (the wife of Russel Crowe) on his wall. It was just an image of her head and in an impressionistic style. From then on, I was so aspired to become an artist of his calibre. He taught me the importance of learning to draw and sketch well. If you can learn and sketch well then you can paint well. Even though I attended a few of his classes in oil painting I tried to absorb as much as I can and practise extensively at home. 

These were paintings created from 2006-2008. These were referenced very closely to photographs and advertisements I found in Vogue and other fashion magazines. At that time, I couldn’t afford a camera so I tried to paint in a photorealism style to compensate for this and plus I wanted to improve my painting techniques. Looking back, even though for some people it might seem boring but I loved to spend time in front of my easel and large canvas and paint using oils. I loved the slow drying nature of it- how I can still blend into the wet paint underneath even after a few hours. I haven’t touched oils since 2009. I believe that even though I am still illustrating from 2009 to present experimenting with a whole range of techniques such as Photoshop, Acrylics, colour pencils, paper etc. nothing beats the good old oils which is why I’m making a goal to keep on painting with oils again.

Photos of the day

Observations whilst walking around Broadway

Illustrations for "Into the Woods" by Stephen Sondheim

Dangerous Marine Life Stamps

Yearning

I completed a sketch of this painting 2 months ago that I posted on this blog. “Yearning” is my homage to the Pre-Raphaelite paintings of the 19^th Century. I loved how the painters portrayed their subjects skilfully and delicately. Sometimes their expression can be striking and you can lead you to interpret their emotions, background and stories. This was my aim in creating this painting.

When you have a camera on you, you'll notice the tiny details of your surroundings

The LORD is my rock!

I came back from Camp Kedron which is an annual Christian event held by Central Baptist Church. The theme was "One God, One Family". There was insightful and inspiring talks by Pastor Bob. I personally learnt heaps during this time. Some of the points which particularly spoke to me include:

• God's love has a powerful and magnetic power.
• 1 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"
•  Pastor Bob shared a song sung by the Watoto Choir "My Father knows my name". He shared a story about a student in his Scripture class. One day she asked him if she knew his name. 

"No, could you tell me what it is?" he asked.

"Tonya" she replied. Pastor Bob committed to memorising her name.

During the next lesson, Tonya put up her hands and he said "Yes, Tonya". He said she had the biggest grin on her face. He later found out that she had no parents.

• Our availability to God is more important than our ability. This point is very encouraging because I have in the past struggled in my confidence in my competency to serve God.
• "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving" Mother Teresa. 
• Best expression of love is T-I-M-E. 
• Small actions can mean a lot to some people. I remember this in my life when I first came to Central Baptist Church traumatised and with a heavy burden on my shoulder. The hospitality and warm welcoming of many Christians really touched my heart. I was not looked at as a number, a scum or a nameless face but as a human being created with a purpose and precious in God's eyes.
• Be prayerful of the people around you. Sit down with someone who is struggling and pray for them.
• Don't be discouraged by failure. Hardship is what refines us to be better and stronger people.
• Sometimes being loving and caring is to confront and rebuke them. However, do this in a gentle manner.

During our free time, I was bouncing with joy and excitement to take photos of nature and wildlife. I had the chance to go bushwalking to the top of Kuringai National Park. The path was steep and we had to climb many rocks. At the top, there was a wooden cross and one of the cliff rock was engraved with "The LORD is my rock".