Feeling artistic all over again

I rarely pass on any given opportunity to sketch, although the quality of my sketches these days are detriorating. Having said that, when I put some effort and time into it - I'm quite amazed at what I could draw.

I drew this a few months back for our rogaining team, the Sleepy Crawlies. We're meant to be in a bug inspired sleeping bag. I think it's cute :P Most of my drawings are still in pencil. I don't really know how to use pens properly yet.

I've recently completed a 5 week acrylic painting class at the WEA. I struggled more than I expected to. Blaargh, long gone were my glorious painting days! I've only used poster paint in the past and acrylics behave quite differently. It was quite challenging to get use to the quick drying time and the fact that the paint becomes insoluble in water after it has dried. I don't have a lot of colours so I've got to mix a few colours to obtain them. This also proved harder than initially thought to be!

On the first 2 lessons, we were asked to mix colours and paint the colour wheel. The third lesson was the most interesting, as we were taught to paint a subject using different techniques. I've never painted so many bananas in my life.

On week 4, the task was painting still life. Our teacher, Rebecca, arranged some props like fruits, bottles and foliage on a table. If the class went on for another hour, I may have finished it... maybe not :P 

Our final assignment was painting anything of our choice. A friend was doing some research before her big Europe trip and uploaded a really stunning scenery (Tuscany, I think). I saved the picture on my phone and decided to use it as my reference. The finished product:

To be frank, I'm quite surprised it turned out pretty awesome (by my standards). Awesome! :)

Of Cigarettes and Smoke

I have a scar on my right hand from playing with a lit cigarette when I was a child. I grew up in house with three smokers. Well, four, if you include the uncle who frequently visits. Two of my aunts quit smoking now but back in those days, a smoke free day is rare.

When it doesn't come in big puffs of smog, smoke can sometimes be so beautiful. I enjoy the sight of its fluidity - the way it swirls and dances in the air. Dipping my stained paintbrush in stirred water gives that same effect, leaving me staring in awe and admiration.

Having said that, the smell of cigarette smoke really puts me off, especially in the morning. The whole second hand smoker thing doesn't bother me that much. Sure inhaling the smoke is bad but in an open area, the overall effect is a bit like dumping a bucket of salt into seawater. Breathing in smoke when I'm walking behind a smoker or when waiting at the bus stop annoys me. Last week, I had a conversation about this with a customer over the takeaway counter at the restaurant. She shared the same sentiment and told me that soon, people who smoke in public areas may be fined. I heard this over the radio this morning too and I really hope this new law will come to pass.

As much as I despise the smell of cigarette smoke, there's something about the smell of unlit cigarettes that I really like. Yep, I'm talking about the smell of a freshly opened pack of ciggies - the smell  of cured tabacco? Ironic?!

My roses aren't red...

...but I love them nonetheless :) We were going to pay our respects to Steve's grandma at the temple, so I thought I'd bring along some flowers from our garden.

Kuachicken

The eating of kua chi, the lack of interest in socialising and the sudden urge for art:





Reminder to self

'Everything happens for a greater reason.'

Amongst all quotes, I don't think there's any one that I hold closer to my heart than this. Stay positive and give thanks, for life is good :-)

Poison

My words are poison,

maybe I should've been mute;

and perhaps then, I'd listen again.

These tears that I cry,

I don't understand why.

It got me thinking,

would you cry them for me?

My words are poison,

yet I still speak.

Let me eat my own speech,

so as much I hurt you,

I feel my own poison too.

Hahahha I wreak of emo-ness again.

Blood Donation #3

This is the third time I've head to the blood donation centre - and the second time I came home disappointed. In my second visit, it was cold and I didn't have enough liquids so my tiny veins become somewhat microscopic and the nurses didn't want to risk it.

Fair enough.

This third time, I ensured I did some exercise and drank lotsa fluids. Fate has it that I got a trainee nurse, brand new. She got the right vein but entered it wrongly - so I bled. Lost about 30 mls of blood. The more experienced nurse told me that it's going to bruise so I came home with a free tube of bruise ointment - which I intend to use on the enormous bruise on my leg.

I shall attempt to donate in 1.5 month's time again.