Natural Realism – That's a wrap!

My working trip back to Singapore came and went in a flash! My 3-week stay including a short Christmas break to see my family in Perth whizzed by before you can even say Merry Christmas! 

One thing stood out very clearly and that was the love that was showered over me to make my stay a pleasant one. Because of that, despite the little sleep I had, it kept me going until the last day of the show.  Everyone had great reviews, and I sold quite a number of pieces that will see me through the rest of the programme at Angel Academy.  The books were a hit too! It sold like hotcakes despite not being there physically on the first 2 days of the show.  I am truly grateful and am encouraged to do great work this coming new year! Looking forward to Natural Realism - part 2!!  :)

Here are highlights of the Natural Realism (part one): 

 Minutes before the opening at That Spare Room.

  Some oil pieces up-close.

  Weekend visitors to the gallery

Near closing-time, people still trickle in.

  I was present 24/7 and gave private tours to my guests.

 Ciao Firenze! is my latest sketchbook journal out on sale! 

Here is the list of people that made my show a success and my stay in Singapore amazing... in fact, because of you, I'm rethinking about coming back to Singapore after my studies (not good... hahaha):

Miranda - Homestay and a whole load of other things –– you were too generous!! What were you thinking?

Rowena - Thank you for the rides, the company, the scrambling on the last day and
the work that had to be done even after my return to Italy... and many more to mention!! 

Chit Seng - For assisting me at Ikea and framing most of the art + set-up day

Pheck Choo - For your chauffeur services especially on tear-down day and 
post-show delivery services...with a smile! 

My patrons: 
• To my international group of backers who saw my vision to run a show and publish books despite 
the countless No's from at least 5 organisations/ foundations... thank you for believing in me!

• To my art collectors, thank you for purchasing my art/ prints/ books. 
This will allow me to pave way for new works!

My visitors:
• My kindergarten, primary and secondary school mates. My college schoolmate even dropped by! 

• My team mates from the years I had a lot of chlorine in my hair.

• My fellow artists - USKSG! Amazing support always from you guys! And many other art groups that popped in. It's always good to know so many like-minded people in SG.

• My new realist friends: Sara, YY and Bindi. Let's paint the town red... especially the white part of the flag.

• My former colleagues at SPH. Thank you for following my work on FB after all these years!

• My random friends from all over town that popped in to greet me. Thank you for the surprise!

To my curators Zaihan and Eve and 
Juwanda who offered me a good deal for the rental of That Spare Room.

(Have I left out anyone? Gulp!)

Natural Realism (part one)

Great news! The show has been extended to Dec 17 (Sat). 

So if you missed it, now you know you can happily head on down 

to The Spare Room. 

Naturally Alvin

My school, Angel Academy of Art, just published this on their blog!!

https://angelacademyflorence.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/naturally-alvin/

Prep Day for Natural Realism (part one)

Here's a clip I made on the setting up day 24 hours before the show opens.  It's been a wild ride and lots of very, very late nights... but well worth it.  I'm glad to be able to introduce a little of Natural Realism to this part of the world.  So if you are in Singapore, do pop by That Spare Room to check out my paintings and book!

http://youtu.be/NH9Fbv3h_34

Can't wait for the opening in a couple of hours...  :)

Exhibition poster

If you are in Singapore during the dates mentioned below, 

come check out my show at That Spare Room! 

Five reasons to come see the show:

1. Nothing beats seeing the original. Be it DaVinci's Mona Lisa or Bouguereaus's The Birth of Venus, going to the museum and seeing it live is the best thing you can do for yourself. No printed book or online image come close to the actual artwork.

2. If you want to understand what the basis of measure is for art as oppose to a "I feel like doing this".

3. Want to know what I've been working on the last 20 months?

4. You love supporting artists... like me. :)

5. "I have nothing better to do!"

Figures en grisaille

And so the term ends concluding my 5th trimester leading into this winter break...

The big concepts are slowly sinking in. At this rate, I'm guessing it'll take me another 8 more years for it to be driven deep into the fibres of my being; until I know it inside out. But that's what learning is all about. Yes, slow is good; and we all know that to be a maestro or virtuoso of any field takes an incredible amount of discipline and time.

One big lesson that took me all these months for it to finally "click" is simple the use of the biggest, fattest brush I have. It may sounds like a small issue for some, but for me, it was a big light bulb that I will light for the rest of life. :) 

The eureka moment for me took days to happen; and it occurred during my live model studies in grisaille. Using small brushes accounted for all my chicken scratches in the painting. But the minute I switched to a larger brush...Voilà! The magic happens! Even at 2nd painting stage the big brush took care of all my needs in an instant. Also, using the softer mongoose brushes assisted in the smooth finishings that were required.  It's so important to be able to use the best tools available.

Here are the 2 figures not oiled in just yet: 

70cm x 50cm

Figure in grisaille with a warm tone background

80cm x 40cm

Full Grisaille

(Both pieces will be exhibited at my coming show in Singapore.)

"Always use the largest brush. Pick a brush, now use one that is twice the size."

-  Singer Sargent