Aqua and Palms

"Aqua and Palms"
12"x12" Oil on Gessoboard
$475 Unframed
Click Here to Purchase

Since yesterday's blog post was quite the epistle, I figured I'd leave today's short and sweet. This is a view from lower Tanjong Pagar looking towards Chinatown. I just loved the turquoise shophouse and the palm trees lining the street next to it. Made me so happy to paint it!

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 98

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"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 98"
6x12 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

This is another night scene from Emerald Hill, this time I was playing around with a slightly different cropping. I just love this house. One painting I really want to do (when I have time!) is of several of these Emerald Hill houses as one long painting. I think it would be really cool. Someday!

Today I am heading out to do some research - at Raffles Hotel. One of my commissions is of the Billiards room, which serves a fantastic weekend brunch and weekday lunch. I will be participating in the lunch today - all in the name of research, of course!

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 89"

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 89"
6x12 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

Whew, this has been a whirlwind week. I'm just flat out exhausted, to tell you the truth. Last week was another week for The Fair at Goodwood Park Hotel. It went well, made some great sales, met some new friends and collectors again. It just turns into long, long days. 

I'm a little dispirited because somehow in setting up all the Christmas decorations and getting ready for guests on Monday, my camera has gone missing. My best guess is that it somehow wound up in a bag of trash from decorations and was accidentally thrown out. Because I have literally torn this house apart looking for it. But every time I think it is lost, I remember the family legend about my grandmother "losing" a family ring that was so well hidden (in case of thieves) she didn't find it for years! Unfortunately, I don't have years to wait to find this camera. The worst part (besides having to buy a new camera) is that all of the pictures I've taken in the past month are lost along with the camera, including a commission I was working on and all the photos I took while I was in Vietnam for a week. Luckily, I've been backing up my memory card every month, but unluckily, it had been a month since I backed it up. Sigh.

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 86

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 86"
6x6 Oil on Canvas
Click Here to Purchase

Mmmmm, as I'm in the kitchen today getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I want to let you all know how thankful I am... for everything. Without the wonderful support of my collectors, family and friends, I could not be doing what I love to do right now. I love my husband, I love my life, and I am greatly thankful for all that I have.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and make sure to tell someone you care about them how much they mean to you. And don't eat too much pumpkin pie!

Singapore Heritage Shophouses No. 84

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 84"
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

Whew, this past week just left me absolutely worn out! I discovered another area of really beautiful shophouses this morning when I was delivering a painting. It is in Joo Chiat, which I knew was a fantastic place for shophouses. This was just two blocks away from the area I had been exploring earlier, but I think I had given up and gone home after exploring for several hours. It is amazing what you can find when you have a car at you disposal!

I think that is one of the biggest things that I miss living here iAsia. Not having my own car. Having a car gives you so much more independence. We live on the MRT line, which is really fantastic. But it is not quite the same as having a car at your disposal- and a Jerry\'s Artarama around the corner!

Singaproe Heritage Shophouse No. 80

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 80"
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

This is the first painting I did after I got back from home leave and Karin's workshop. Having over 50 colors on my palette has opened an entirely new world up to me that I did not even realize existed. I've really been focusing on  transitioning color; not having any one part of a plane be static. I'm trying to find the colors within the shadows, within the light. It is an entirely new purpose, and very exciting!

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 77

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 77"
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

This shophouse was such fun to paint. This one was totally all about the mood. It was kind of funny, because I originally was worried that this was a sign for a house of ill-repute. To be fair, the sign was in Geylang (the red-light district) and it is RED. But upon asking one of the local artists, who knows Mandarin, he said it was a sign for Korean BBQ. Not exactly what I thought it was. Interestingly enough, the first character, with the kind of T as its backbone, symbolizes horns, like beef, for BBQ (or might have been mutton, I can't remember).

In an everyday life in Singapore note, locals are totally fascinated by how westerners cook with an oven. Ours was broken when we moved in, which the landlord didn't think was a big deal. Ahem, but no. In any case, the owner's handyman, Kelvin, was in here today, uninstalling the broken oven.

Kelvin: "Ah, soon you have new oven, very very good!"

Me: "Yup."

Kelvin: "This oven big! Very big! Very good for you!"

Me: "Yes! Now I can cook whole chicken in the oven!"

Kelvin: "No! This one you can cook TURKEY! Big Turkey! Christmas time coming, Turkey for Christmas!"

Me: "Sure..."

I just find it hysterical that the locals all think we eat turkey for Christmas dinner, and that is apparently why we need these crazy oven contraptions. They really think that the only thing we cook in there is turkey, lots and lots of turkey. 

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 75 - SOLD

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 75"
SOLD
Click Here for other available Artwork

Singapore has a very interesting relationship with the environment. For example, the island is on the equator, and it does turn into a jungle if left for any amount of time. Nevertheless, the government has cultivated a "garden city" image of endless orchids, palm trees and carefully landscaped shrubbery, giving the false impression of a good relationship with nature. But everything is so controlled that people never go camping, never go hiking (unless it is a guided path with lots of "Don't feed the monkeys!!!" signs on it), they never really experience the outdoors. Which, don't get me wrong, when compared to the woods we trekked through in New Hampshire as a child, the jungle here is pretty intimidating. Bugs are WAY bigger, and snakes are WAY scarier (think verticulating python).

Nevertheless, the government just amuses me. There is a flock of birds that have roosted in some trees on the most expensive shopping district in Singapore, Orchard Road. The birds moved their roost to Orchard after trees were torn down to build a parking garage (and thus more malls). Well, this situation has been deemed totally unacceptable, as they birds, heaven forbid, might be a bit loud. Or even worse, shoppers might wind up a casualty of a bird dropping! So, the government (in conjunction with the Wildlife Authority) is bringing in trained hawks to scare away the smaller birds to a new roost. The only concern? The hawks might turn wild and attack people! Sigh.

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 70 - SOLD

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 70"

 

 

 

This weekend has been relaxing and hectic all in the same go. We move apartments next weekend, which normally in the US would be no big deal. You might hire a mover, or to save money just rent a truck for the weekend and pack it yourself. Or, if you have a lot of friends with trucks (and we have been one of those friends) you enlist the help of your benevolent friends' help with promise of payment in beer and pizza. Ah, the good old days.

Now, for better or for worse, any movement we make in Singapore is tied to an HR department. (Besides the face few people own cars, much less a nice, big, pickup truck!) You don't really realize how much freedom you are giving away by getting their "help" and support. So rather than having the ability to find a mover, or even make a decision, it takes a three day game of telephone between six people (usually three of which speak about three to five words of english) to figure out anything. It gets a little disconcerting when I've spoken to the owner of the moving company, Peter, and he says he'll come over for the estimate. Later that day, another gentleman, who is not Peter, shows up. Here is how our moving estimation progressed:

Him: "You move?"

Me: "Yes, when do you come to pack?"

Him: (points to washer/dryer) "Take, take?"

Me: "No, No. What day to pack?"

Him: (points to bed, fridge, other various items) "Take, take?"

Me: "No, yes, no, no, no, all this, look! Lots of items in closet. What day can we schedule?"

Him: (complete and total look of confusion, then a look of understanding and clarity) "Ah! 40 cartons, can, can-lah?"

Me: "Can, but what day?"

Him: "I call boss."

That, almost literally, was the entire extent of our conversation. Needless to say, it gets a little strange when everything has to go through HR, and I'm actually happier that I am packing our things. The boxes were delivered on Saturday (we get to pack ourselves, but we have people to carry the heavy stuff, yay!) and we are about 80% packed. This week is pretty busy, so I won't get much of a chance to paint, but I'll hopefully get some chance...

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 68

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 68"
6x16 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

This was the painting and post that Blogger devoured. It is of a row of houses in the Chinatown area, on the main drag. I think my favorite part about these houses is that I didn't make up any of the colors that they had on them. All five of them have a really wonderful red/green color scheme going on.

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 62

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 62
6"x6" Oil on Canvas
Click Here to Purchase

Life in the tropics... I've now had three good painting days this week (today is going to be included), and I have gotten so much done. I love it! I spent a good portion of this summer really looking at my artwork, and the business end of it, and what direction will be best for my artwork and myself. Do I want to go play in the "big leagues?" Do I want to just paint for myself and have my husband be the breadwinner? Do I want to just be a hobbyist and go to lunches and volunteer here and paint when I feel like it? 

This has been quite an evolution in both my art and myself. We live here in Asia, and we could wind up having to move somewhere else on very short notice. Luckily, these circumstances have made it so that we do not depend on my income from art, and I am more or less allowed to pursue it at my leisure.  But at the same time, if we lived back in the US, our situation would most likely be more rooted and stable, allowing me to better establish myself as an artist. I could sell online (right now shipping costs basically negate any profit I could have). Galleries are much easier to approach if you are local, etc.

Pursuing your passion at your leisure may seem wonderful as well, but then you are treated as a hobbyist. I don't want to be treated as a hobbyist. I want this to be my job, my livelihood. Getting into major galleries in the US and breaking into the NYC or San Francisco art scenes doesn't really concern me, but I do want people whom I meet and see my work to take me seriously. So, long story short, I've decided to step up my game and focus on the local market here in Singapore. I think that as I get better as an artist here, and continue to grow and define myself, things will eventually happen in the US as well. I've been too scattered as of late.

The local art market in Singapore (and the rest of Asia) is completely different from America. The biggest difference is that most Asians don't buy art because they like it. They buy it like they would buy a piece of real estate - for potential investment growth. Disturbing. So, because of this, the gallery system is a little strange, and I think I'll be avoiding it. So the next step will be self-promotion here in Singapore. Art fairs, art (like tupperware) parties, all kinds of fun things. I know that expats respond best to my art, so I'm going to go where they are and find them. 

I also am stepping up my game with the quality of my art. I learned so much this summer from Karin Jurick, and I don't think it is best to post a blog post just to post. If I produce a wipe-off one day, then there just won't be a post that day. I think it is much better to have a consistent body of excellent work than some mediocre work in there. So, I apologize to my mother if now through Shophouse #79 I skip a couple. Those were some that now I would have gone back and wiped off.

It will definitely be a new adventure, but one I think is worth pursuing. We could move anywhere, at any time, and I think by focusing on my experience abroad that I can be the truest to both myself and my art. One of the most terrifying realizations I had after I graduated from college was that the only thing that was getting in between myself and my happiness and dreams was... myself. Time to check that ego at the door and roll up the sleeves and get to work.

Emerald Hill Series #2 - SOLD

"Emerald Hill #2"
24x36
Oil on Canvas
SOLD

This painting is one of five that I am doing for a private commission. Emerald Hill is this great little conservation area in the middle of the HUGE shopping district, Orchard Road. Luckily, I was able to finish this early in the week before other life things took over...

I've spent the better part of this week with a friend in the hospital here in Singapore. I'm totally not a natural care-taker - in fact, I'm a lot like a bull in a china shop when it comes to stuff like that. Nevertheless, none of us have family over here, and a lot of my friends aren't married, so they don't have a spouse to come and help them out, which is no fun. It wasn't anything sudden, she just had to go in for a fairly routine surgery, but it required staying overnight for two nights after.

If I have learned anything from this experience, it is that I definitely want someone with me if I ever have to go into the hospital abroad, especially Asia. Firstly, they are incredibly tight-fisted with pain medication over here. My friend came out of her surgery and they wanted to just give her Panadol (Tylenol) and Naproxen (Aleve). Seriously? She just came out of surgery, and you want to only give her Aleve?!?! I think the nurses are also less educated and empowered than the ones in the US. Quite often I've met nurses in the US that are way more on top of things than the doctors themselves. Not so much here. Every medicinal decision required direct negotiation with the doctor, and not just my friends regular surgeon, but the anesthesiologist. Is it like that in the US? In any case, luckily, her anesthesiologist was awesome, and made sure that she got the appropriate pain meds. It just took several hours of bullying the nurses before they were convinced to get her involved. Oh well, you live and learn!

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 58

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 58
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

I'm FINALLY back in the studio again, working on a four painting commission for someone here in Singapore. Oh how I have missed it! I have literally not picked up a paintbrush since Karin Jurick's workshop in late May. How awful is that? Unfortunately, sometimes we have to take care of things with life in order to be able to continue painting. Plus, I don't know about you all, but sometimes a forced break from painting makes me want to come back to it even more!

One of those things I have had focus my energy on was finding a new apartment. If I were in the US, this would kind of be a fun adventure. There are a lot of resources, realtors must be licensed, etc. Not so much here in Singapore. It has been pretty difficult to find a two bedroom over 800 sq.ft. On top of that, they manage to chop up all the usable room into something totally unusable. For example, one of the "two bedrooms" we viewed had a second bedroom that was literally 4'x5'. I looked the agent straight in the eye, and I said "Where is the 2nd bedroom?" "Right there lah!" He said. I just looked at him like he had lost his marbles. On the plus side, that unit did have a fantastic balcony. Ha. So, needless to say, it has been a bit difficult to find a place closer in to town that can also have a second bedroom big enough for me to lie down in - much less have as a studio!

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 56

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 56
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to purchase

Another shot of how everyone air dries their clothing here.  Plus, this one is also appropriate because I'm doing a mad laundry dash before leaving for Koh Samui.  A week of fun and sun with the hubby and another couple in Thailand.  I'm really looking forward to it, to be honest.  Hopefully we can get some diving in as well!  This happens to coincide with our third wedding anniversary, so I think it will be just awesome. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, and I'll continue blogging from the beach!

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 54

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 54"
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

This is another one in Chinatown, just down the street from where I have my studio.  I spent the weekend literally taking inventory of all of my new supplies.  Since moving my studio back into the house for the summer, it has been a little cluttered.  And by cluttered, I mean, "hurricane hit" is an apt descriptor.  By the time I got back from the US with at least 100 new tubes of paint, I had no clue what I had, much less what it looks like or how it works.  So I eased back into the painting mindset by exploring one of my favorite things in the world - color.  

Look at all the pretty colors!  My palette will probably never be that pretty again :)

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 53

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 53"
6x6 Oil on Panel
$110 Available Here

I really loved this little shophouse.  It was on an overcast day, so all of the local color was close to the actual colors you saw, such a rare occurrence in life.  This made such an interesting abstracted little composition.

Pardon my not posting for almost three weeks.  I was in NYC for Karin Jurick's workshop (which was awesome, and I'll go into later).  I had full intentions to continue posting through the workshop and the week after when I was home with family, but it was just crazy.  I'm finally back in Singapore and unpacked, and trying to wrap my head around everything I learned and experienced.  Just trying to (literally) take inventory of everything and get organized enough to continue on.  This is going to be a super-hectic summer.  Phew!

One Price - SOLD

"One Price"
24x36 Oil on Canvas
SOLD

Whew!  I finished this just in time for my trip.  This was a commission that for someone here in Singapore.  Kind of my first commission, really, and a total dream, if I do say so myself.  The patron just said he wanted a painting of "something having to do with Emerald Hill, but no pressure.  Please paint however or whatever you want within XX budget."  Seriously.  Who could ask for anything better?  In any case, I actually had a really tough time getting to this place.  Initially I tried a couple other compositions, and they just fell totally flat.  Then I saw this building.  At night time it is closed while all around it local bars are hopping.  But because of the lights hitting the bright colors at night, it kind of steals the show.  I had a ton of fun with this one.

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 51

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 51"
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to purchase

I'm having another welcome to Asia day today.  I leave for Karin Jurick's workshop in NYC next friday.  So, in preparation for this workshop (which requires like 50 different colors of paint), I ordered my supplies nice and far in advance - from the US.  I can't find most of the brands here or colors here, and even if I can, they're much more expensive than in the US, so like I've done several times before, I was going to have them sent via vPost.  vPost is great, it is a branch of the Singapore postal system, and they have an office in Portland, OR.  You buy something online, have it shipped to this office, then vPost ships it to Singapore at a MUCH discounted rate.  It can just take a while for the invoices to get processed, etc.  Which is why I ordered my paints well in advance.  A month is enough time, right?  Wrong.

For the past week I've been back and forth with them about the invoices for my two packages.  I don't know what in the world is going on, but I keep getting notifications that say I haven't submitted my invoice (I have, three times for each box now).  The even better email that I keep getting is that they got the invoice, saw "artist oil colors," freaked out, and think I'm trying to send semi-combustible house paint in a plane.  ARGH.  By the way, I've also sent the MSDS info several times to them.  So far I've not received any information back from them, and I can't seem to get in touch with anyone on the phone (surprised?), and I leave for the workshop in a week.  I have no clue what I'm going to do, I guess maybe I can re-order the supplies and have them delivered to one of the people in NYC.  Welcome to Asia.

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 50

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 50"
6x6 Oil on Panel
Click Here to Purchase

I've really enjoyed spending a lot of time seeing houses during different times of the day and being able to capture the the different moods.  This is the the same house as in No. 37 (click here to see) only at night.  It goes from being such a bright, happy house to something really interesting and moody.  I love the colors here at night.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!  Both my husband and I had the entire weekend off, which was absolutely glorious.  Literally, neither of us have had two consecutive days off on the weekend since January 1.  So we spent most of the weekend at BBQs and lounging in the sun by the pool.  Love it!

Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 49

"Singapore Heritage Shophouse No. 49"
6x6 Oil on Panel
Available at Chan Hampe Gallery

I thought this house was really interesting.  Also nestled right outside of Little India, this is about three houses down from the incredibly ornate Rococo houses.  I really loved this one because against the bright blue sky, it almost looked a bit like something out of the southwest.  Sort of like a mesa rising out of the jungle - ha!  The really interesting part is that the bottom 2/3 of the house (which aren't in the painting) are just as elaborate as the rest of the street.  This guys is having a bit of an identity crisis!