• sketch,  Travel illo,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    6 steps on how to sketch people when travelling

    May 18, 2012 /

    I like to sketch people on the go. But my problem has always been I am not a fast sketcher. I take my sweet time, studying an object before sketching. People are always on the go – walking, talking – and they would disappear into thin air before I could finish. To solve this problem, I always capture them on camera and transfer the photo to my laptop later, so I can refer to it and draw easily.

    My husband moves a lot. I captured him on camera and later draw him.

    Of course drawing people sitting, drinking coffee, or sleeping is much easier because they hardly move, and even if they do, they somehow go back to the same position.

    This painter sat still, the only body part that was moving was the right hand. Made it easier for me to sketch live on location.

    If you’re a (slow) sketcher like me, here are some tips on drawing people when you travel:

    1. As I already mentioned earlier – if you want to draw people walking, take a picture. Transfer the image to your laptop so you can refer to it from there while you sketch. You can also refer to the image directly from your camera if you want, if the battery is up to it.

    2. Go to places where people sit: café’s, trains, bus stops, etc…

    3. Draw a rough outline first. Work on the details later.

    4. Try not to rub as much.

    5. Practice to draw faster. You’ll sketch faster if you always practice.

    6. Just remember: It’s a sketch. Don’t try too hard. Let it come naturally and enjoy the process.

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  • Art & Places,  Art Exhibition

    Art & Places: Journal d’Italie – David B, Bologna, Italy

    May 16, 2012 /

    It is always amazing to see an outdoor exhibition especially like this one in Piazza Del Nettuno in Bologna, Italy.

    When I visited Bologna back in 2010, I did not expect much as I did not planned properly where to go and what to see as I was  busy completing my illustrations to be taken and displayed at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. But seeing something like this on the last day of my stay in Bologna was like a bonus. And knowing that David B is one of the masters of French comics, this was like a very big BONUS. For those not in the know, this was David B‘s last work. Although I did not understand a single word, I love the illustrations. These illustrations are from his comic Journal d’Italie, Tome 1: Trieste Bologne, published by Delcourt, in February 2010 in French language. It is a carnet de voyage in which the author explores some Italian towns (Bologna, Trieste, Venice, Parma), dwelling on the atmospheres and mysteries that they arose, with an approach between fascination and sense of strangeness for Italy.

    And these shall inspire me to keep drawing in my sketchbook when I go travel. I have been slacking from drawing in my travel journal, most probably because the last sketchbook was not up to the quality I expected. The colour bleeds when I paint on it. I just bought 3 watercolour A5 sketchbooks and bound them into one and made it my new travel sketchbook. Waiting to fill it during my next travel. Tested this paper, and the outcome is great. You can see the outcome samples from my recent lil guardian’s illustrations. To me when the paper is of the right quality, one tend to draw nicer. Or was it the mood? Or the hope of going to Frankfurt? LOL, I dunno, whatever it is, I love the feeling.

    I hope David B inspires you too to start your own travel journal/comic.

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  • CHILDREN'S LITERATURE,  my books,  watercolor

    Lil’ Guardians representing Malaysian flowers

    May 16, 2012 /

    I know. It’s very hard to find what’s native because we can actually find all types of flowers here in Malaysia, even the rarest ones. But I am trying hard to list down flowers (from A to Z) that can be found or planted and survived the weather in Malaysia and illustrate them all. Here are two typical flowers with their own lil’ guardians. I am excited to draw the others! I have four so far, 22 more. Here’s two.

    Watercolor on watercolor paper.

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  • Art & Places,  Cape Town, SA,  sculpture

    Art & Places: Beaded wire art in Cape Town

    May 14, 2012 /

    When I visited V and A Waterfront in Cape Town, wire beaded sculptures exhibited outside of the main entrance of African Trading Port captured my eyes.  They were huge,very fine and the detailings were magnificent! I wonder how long does it take and how many beads were needed to create one big sculpture. But one thing for sure, this kind of art needs tons of perseverance. It is just amazing that these wire arts are created from wire, beads, tin cans, and other recycled materials. Other than big sculpture like the above, smaller pieces of the wire art in the form of keychains, dolls, decorations, etc, can be found at the  Waterfront Craft Market.

    According to this website, it is believed that this wire art originated in South Africa’s rural Northern Kwazulu-Natal. Young herd boys were the first to introduce these works of art. Designing wire creations from any recycled materials they could find, these boys produced some of the most magnificent, functioning appliances—they even built cars! Their inspirational wire creations encouraged other locals to participate in this highly marketable art form.

     

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