Initially, Prof Woon Lam told me to work on a few small pieces so that they will be easier for me to manage since I am still kind of struggling with the techniques. However after much thought, I felt that I should challenge myself to do an approximately A1 size one instead. I have also decided to use watercolour paper.

Reference Images for the final:

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Combined photoshopped image and rough composition:

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Since the A1 size is rather spacy, I found 2 paintings that can fill up the space more evenly. I could have just enlarged my previous composition but I don’t really have the confidence to work on large components yet. I found that small elements were easier for me.

Process: 

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This was my pencil outline sketch of the composition. I adopted this method after Prof Woon Lam recommended that perhaps I can try to do a light pencil sketch of the objects first before painting with chinese ink so that I would not miss out details I originally wanted and the shape would not be too far off.

 

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This is the final piece. I have attempted to create texture through many layers (especially through the dry brush technique), first starting off with the very light and faded tone first and subsequently making it darker gradually. I also realised that it took some time for each layer to dry on the watercolour paper. (Relatively slower than on rice paper, but the good thing is I can wash off some errors on this while I cannot do the same on rice paper) However, I have difficulties creating the smooth transition feel between each object (something I am actually conscious about).

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After presenting my piece in class, Prof Woon Lam did comment on the poor transition between the objects, something I need to improve on. However, he also mentioned that there were various textures created on the mountains, something I felt a little happy about (at least I have some improvements from the experiments).

Reflections:

It was intriguing and challenging at the same time, trying out a different medium, something I am not familiar with for the final piece. Personally I feel that an individual learn more while stepping out of their comfort zone and attempt something new. It was through the various experimentations and meeting “dead ends” that I roughly pick up the right techniques (still have a lot a lot more to learn) and the appropriate methods to approach the medium. Although the final piece did not turn out to be as well as expected, the learning was what made the process enjoyable and fruitful. I am extremely thankful for having a friendly and patient tutor like Prof Woon Lam who will not hesitate to guide you whenever needed. I always look forward to having FD lessons throughout the semester and I feel that each lesson was kind of filled with a little element of surprise and that I will take away something new with every lesson. It has been rather enriching semester!

 

 

 

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These are part A of the books I borrowed from the library as reference and inspirations for my final project. 

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These are part B of the books i borrowed and actually based on these 3 books for the final composition.

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Mountains from “Perception and Delusion” and the traditional ships are from “John Constable-oil sketches”, I intended to combine these 2 for the final composition.

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These 2 were experiments no.2. I still cannot get the hang of the brush technique and it turned out that I was still contouring the mountains. Also, the size of my ships were too big relative to the mountains and it looked weird. There was little sense of texture as well since the tones throughout the mountains were too inform. After consulting Prof Woon Lam and his help on editing on the left piece, I got a better sense of how to create texture on the mountains. 

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Experiments no 3. I also attempted watercolour besides chinese ink. However, the effects were horrible and techniques used were incorrect, resulting in the very light and dry look on the right. Prof Woon Lam also commented that “Dayler Rowny’s Simply Watercolour” has too little pigments and that I should use more to create enough water colour pigments for the painting. (If not, might as well get the more expensive single tube kind) Prof Woon Lam used my watercolour set to demo the piece on the right for me. I did not know that I have to wet the paper first before applying the colour, hence explaining the extremely dry look on mine. The painting I showed him from the “Watercolour Today 2013” book was done using the wet on wet technique.

After much thought, I have decided to use chinese ink as a medium for my final project.

Initial Ideas:

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  1. The first idea being a nature landscape with a sandy road with animals on both sides.
  2. The second idea being an aerial view of a plantation with figures working.

Prof Woon Lam recommended the first idea since it sounded much more interesting.

However, after looking through the books passed around in class (my first post for final project), I found interest in chinese painting instead and decided to amend my ideas and changed the sandy paths to a mountainous background with animals scattered around.

Since I have never done any chinese painting before, I did my # 1st attempt and it was pretty horrendous. (Looks like a kid’s painting)

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(also attempted to use different materials to create texture- in this case: tissue paper)

I made a few more horrendous attempts and made a point to consult Prof Woon Lam ASAP the next day. It turns out that the brushes I used were too small and that the papers (drawing) were too smooth to begin with hence making it very difficult to achieve any kind of texture.

Prof Woon Lam then demonstrated how to create texture with chinese ink in class.

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These also lead me to make a few more new attempts in class with rice paper.

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Prof Woon Lam commented that these few attempts were definitely better than the first but try not to contour the mountains and give them definite shapes. I have also learnt new splash brush and dry brush techniques.

Selected pieces from the various materials shown in class: 

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These few pieces really captured my attention and they inspired me to try something I have never try before- chinese painting. I feel that instead of producing something I am more familiar with such as pencil, charcoal, painting etc, perhaps it will be enriching to attempt something new. I am not too sure about adding colours yet. (Probably add some watercolour after doing up the black and white first)

Some books passed around in class:

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(and many more)

Other materials that captured my attention while looking through the books passed around in class:

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Chiaroscuro

We did this chiaroscuro charcoal drawing using the reduction method whereby we will coat the entire paper with a layer of charcoal before slowly rubbing off. I became more aware of how light plays a part in developing shapes and dimensionality of objects. I have also attempted to create the gradual mid tone grey Prof Woon Lam told us to. Although I still feel that I may be a little conscious over the forms of the objects and focus, I am still working towards the ideal.

I find the usage of charcoal sticks fascinating since I have never used one before. It was not an easy task to express texture through charcoal. There were many instances where I could not get the shadings right and my metal mug looked like a melting mug since the shape was not that firm. I tried to touch up the best I could and Prof Woon Lam guided me on the things to take note of such as darkening the surrounding areas to make the desired area look whiter, how to capture the lines of reflection more accurately and how to minimise inaccurate shadings.

Being totally new to life sketching, this task proved to be quite a challenge to me. My first attempt was horrendous as I could not grasp what Professor Woon Lam wanted.

First Attempt:

However, after the session, he explained in further detail what we could have tried to enhance the sketch. In my second attempt, I made conscious effort to implement what was taught earlier.

Second Attempt:

Although I am still unsure about the exact technique Prof wants us to execute, I have learnt quite a fair bit through the practical and the session had been enlightening thus far. 🙂