My artworks of other places November 24, 2009

a floral patch at HPark

pedestrian bridge across Henderson Road.

Reststop for visitors

Art in Hort Park
The park connector that runs from Mt Faber to Kent Ridge is a new experience for all. I particularly like the stretch from The Henderson Waves to the Horticultural Park at Alexandra Road.
In this post I have added three scenes painted around here for you to sample what you can expect to see and enjoy while appreciating nature here. These are part of an effort to introduce on-site landscape painting in the Hort Park next year which I would be conducting.

Another fun medium for landscape sketching August 4, 2009

Mudflat at Main Bird Hide

If you are feeling bored with your usual sketching medium, try something new. Charcoal, pencils and pastel are the usual ones I use. For want of a fresh approach and experimentation I picked up some marker pens to try.
In this sketch I did at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, using Letraset markers. You will note that a variety of gradation and texture quality can be achieved. The pigment ink from a marker pen is somewhat difficult to modulate and one has to be careful about the duration and pressure of contact between pen and paper. I managed to produce enough variety of strokes and intensity of pigment by deliberately controlling the contact time and pressure. Try these two aspects out separately before working on your painting.
Happy sketching.
Tham Pui San 4 August 2009

Wetlands Alive October 31, 2008

 

Wetlands Alive: this  art exhibition to celebrate  the 15 th anniversary of Sungei Buloh will be held  from 6 Dec 08 to 15 Feb 2009.

exhibition poster

 

It will showcase 40 oil paintings of  this mangrove environment, depicting  glorious perspectives of this habitat and presents a message of hope and encouragement for nature and us. Two paintings will be auctioned to raise  funds for the Garden City Fund and  Rainbow Centre, a charity with a mission to enhance the lives of children and youths with special needs by providing early intervention programme and special education schools to help them develop to their fullest potential.

   Tham Pui San 24Nov.08

A Charcoal Sketch to record my walk September 23, 2008

Sungei Buloh vs Johor Bahru skyline

One of my favourite walks I take at Buloh is at this mangrove boardwalk. I could see Malaysia across the straits. The contrasting  shapes of mangrove trees silhouetted against  the city skyline of Johor Bahru caught my  attention, making it a telling image of nature vs man, complementing perhaps in terms of aesthetics or silently declaring our co-existence is in imminent disruption. Neither aspect was the reason for my sketch. I scanned the horizon, everything there look tranquil and still. No human presence, no traffic noise and no trash washed ashore this morning. The silence is only broken by occasional bird calls.  Its another perfect morning to start my new day. 

Tham Pui San

23Sep 08

Coming soon: oil series for Sg Buloh June 2, 2008

Watch out  for my next exhibition at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Dec 08.

 Here are two thumbnail references for plein air painting at the Main Hide on 2 June, 08.

 Tham Pui San, updated 2 June 08.

The Fallen shall Thrive May 3, 2008

  About four years ago  I did a  sketch of this fallen Sonneratia Alba, apparently struck by lightning on Christmas Eve 2003.

The old sketch was executed  with a 2 B graphite pencil, showing  details of the fresh breaks on some roots and masses of  earth still clinging stubbornly to the tips of the roots. Clumps of foliage on the higher branches laid so helplessly on the  ground still attached, waiting perhaps to continue its wondrous food making  process of photosynthesis. It attracted my attention then simply because of its unusual state brought about by an act of  nature and I wondered if the tree could overcome this seemingly cruel strike.

Four years on it has found a new way to survive and thriving well. My faith in Nature held strong.

Two large clusters of lively green foliage now grow on its prone trunk, like a fish with 2 large dorsal fins in tandem.  How it will continue to grow would be an interesting phenomenum to know and  I  wonder if it  can still bear  fruits  like the others do.

This present charcoal sketch is dedicated to those who need to make do with  changes caused by the  inevitable. 

Take heart, Nature and Time do wonders when we have faith.

Pui San 3 May 2008 

landscape sketching July 16, 2007

 

A month ago I started to revive a rather neglected medium ( my materials stashed but not forgotten) which interestingly worked out very well for capturing mangrove sceneries.
And I have also introduced basic techniques for this medium to some students in the monthly paint along sessions . This medium is very portable, not expensive and full of potential for really good looking images.
You can create a full range of tonal values just using one single stick of charcoal besides being capable of rendering unlimited line work and texture. Spontaniety and feel is as great and sensuous as pastel but at a fraction of the cost. Please have a look at the posted charcoal image and let me know how you like it.
Pui San (16 Jul, 07).

Landscape Images by Tham Pui San December 29, 2006

This boardwalk shelter scene was viewed from shelter #3.
One of my first few sketches of the mangrove in 2002, done in graphite.
The interesting textural variety provided by the mudflat, tree stump and the trees made it an appropriate subject for pencil work.

landscapes at Buloh December 24, 2006

a study for sketching with marker pens

marker pen study

[caption id="attachment_235" align="alignleft" width="1024" caption="a study for sketching with marker pens"][/caption]

Painting landscapes in a wetlands setting may not be easy for people whose experience and knowledge are considerably  less than us. However, an  easy start could be made by taking the  time to make observation of some chosen spots  in the reserve. Knowledge of the flora (mangrove trees) would help; the common types, their  shapes, branching, growth  patterns and locality  in  the reserve. Combining the basic elements of land, sky and weather, flora and if needed the presence of humans, an interesting composition is possible, without being too technical. At the next level, one should learn to incorporate the effect of light and tonal nuances.

Pui San.