Revisiting old Sungei Buloh sites March 31, 2020

Its more than 3 months since I last visited Sungei Buloh. That was in Nov  when we held a story telling workshop with volunteers and staff, with  Jackie Kerin our  friend from Melbourne. And on Christmas Day  Munn, Janice, Isaiah accompanied me as I conducted a paint along session, during which  Isaiah told the story of the Godwit at the Main Hide.

Many outdoor activities were cancelled due to the Corvid 19 presence. And we are now trying to keep it at bay by various social distancing measures introduced by our Govt to reduce its spread. Staying home as much as possible. Keeping myself busy with painting, reviving many of my old skills. Here is one using water mixable oil paints, applied like water colour artwork.

Miss the outdoors at Buloh, esp painting sessions. This painting done at home, with ref to an old sketch, done  on site when June was with me in Sep 2002, revisiting a scene  from Platform 2, looking towards Johor Bahru.

Hope to be able to visit Buloh as soon as the situation get better.

17th Anniversary as a volunteer at Sungei Buloh Wetlands February 22, 2019

This morning I celebrated my 17th Anniversary as a Volunteer of the wetland reserve at Shelter 1 of the Mangrove Board.

Arrived there very early in the morning to enjoy the quiet and  peaceful ambience there.

Sketched 3 scenes in different media all from one single spot but with different perspective. This was to try out some new techniques, quite unlike what I used to do with oil 17 years ago. Glad that in the 2 hours I accomplished my anniversary mission.

A graphite sketch, a loose water colour painting and a quick pen sketch to record this special visit to my favourite reserve.

Met Choon Beng, who will be joining AVA soon. Chatted with Shufen on some activities for the Friends Group, and was introduced to Dr Doug Watkins, who was helping Buloh in a special project.

Shufen mentioned sighting a single otter at the main bridge which I would dearly wish to see as well but I was at the wrong place at that time. It would have been  a special moment just to sight an otter, let alone a lonely one, to recapture that special moment 17 years ago on the same day at Hide 2A. That was the special reason I became a volunteer.

Wonder if I will be able to relive sighting otters again right at my painting spot  in the years to come.

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A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION TIP FOR YOU December 30, 2016

AN EXPRESSIVE AND THERAPEUTIC  WAY TO ENJOY NATURE.

WISHING YOU A FABULOUS NATURE FILLED NEW YEAR, with HAPPINESS, PEACE AND  GOOD HEALTH.

Tham Pui San

31 Dec 2016

Kranji Marshes and Moorhens April 8, 2016

There is  always a first time for everything.

This morning I visited this marshland to explore outdoor painting  possibilities for my  outdoor art sessions as a volunteer artist for Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

This water colour painting is my first ever  painting done at Kranji Marshes, and for the first time too was my fortuitous sighting of  a pair of Moorhens right before my eyes at the Moorhen Blind when I was half way through my watercolour painting!!.What a memorable experience.

Nature has its ways of rewarding  my visits with such wonderful coincidence.

 

 

14th Anniversary as a Volunteer in our wetlands February 23, 2016

Today I celebrate my 14 years  as a volunteer at our Sungei Buloh Wetlands.

There is something special about this reserve that kept me interested and to continue to express what I feel should be recorded and shared. The fauna (birds in particular) and the mudflat creatures are my favourites. The changes in the flora environment  captures my attention too.

Here is my painting I did this morning at the Main Hide,  and enjoying yet another beautiful start to my 15th year of volunteering   with the sight and sound of migratory birds flying past me now and then.

 

Last sketch for 2015 at Sungei Buloh December 26, 2015

For the places I love, a little something special about it makes it more alluring. It could be the weather, the morning shine of the clouds reflected in the water, or simply the birds that came to rest. But i just want to capture that special appeal which will mark my last sketching effort for the year in this wetlands.
Will be there at Eagle Point tomorrow morning to savour it once more.

A New Look for Sungei Buloh Wetlands Eerie December 12, 2015

I made a long overdue visit to my favourite reserve last week and was pleasantly surprised at the new clean  look of the bund thats leads to the Observation Tower and the freshly trimmed undergrowth. Sighted 10 storks and  hundreds of whimbrels lining the curved bund enjoying the bright sunny morning. Painted this new look for the records.

The Observation Tower at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve April 23, 2015

The Observation Tower ar Sungei Buloh