Archive for May, 2010
The Masjid Sultan Crescent and Star symbol
Monday, May 31st, 2010
May 31st, a different view of the Masjid Sultan mosque (also May 27th) showing also a detail image of the ancient Islamic symbol of the Crescent and Star on top of the golden dome.
Bonsai Garden
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
Bonsai Garden, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Singapore 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper
FYI: I’m enabling the comments section again…will just have to keep deleting spams.
Masjid Sultan
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Masjid Sultan, (Malay for Sultan Mosque), Kampong Glam district, Singapore, 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper.
When I get back home, all these studies will be scanned to reveal the true tones and details. For now they are being photographed and digitally manipulated, which explains the noise on some of the images.
Cockatiels
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Cockatiels, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 9 x 12 inches graphite on paper
Check out the Jurong Bird Park website.
New Series
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Parkview Square, Singapore 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper
The opportunity to travel to Singapore popped up at a few days notice. While I’m here the plan is to do at least one sketch per day. The new series is called “Twenty-five Days in Singapore”. I drew the upper portion of the very unique Parkview Square building from my hotel room over the course of two days while recooperating after the 28 hour flight from Dallas. At a cost of $87 million, the Art Deco style building was completed in 2002. The eight fiberglass figures each holding a light-ball gaurd the buillding, only hint at the sort of art and design to expect on the grounds and the gorgeous interior.
Seasonal: finished, and process
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
May 18th added a little more permanent green and raw sienna to deepen tones and finish Seasonal, 36 x 24 x 2 inches acrylics on canvas, gallery wrapped sides painted
Process May 12th - 17th images below: 1) May 12th: in progress after 90 minutes. 2) Worked a few hours more. The lower quarter of the painting will be a fairly detailed Lilac, and am leaving the blurry, semi-impressionistic background. 3) May 13th: blocked out shapes and lighting. Now jots of pure color will be added to the main flower to make it stand out from the rest. Tones need some correcting also. 4) May 17th: After 4 days more, the work needs studying before painting anything else. Past the point of no return, meaning: I had hoped to keep this one simple with few brushstrokes and limited palette, but it didn’t work out that way. One stroke over the line! Almost finished…working on the more contrast because the painting is overall flat now.
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Below: May 12th, just started. 
A damp cloth is used to remove areas of wet paint to soften and create texture. Left: central detail of phase 02, dripping water over damp paint and scratching with fingernail under a cloth.
Support Your Artists
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Design Copyright nikkiartwork 2008
One of my sons, Adrian, is a restaurant manager back in Ontario, Canada. On the side, his digital embroidery business, Ya Sew What customizes any logo, phrase or design on any wearable product, specializing in caps. Quantities of embroidered (or printed) caps and wearable products sporting this slogan can be purchased by contacting Adrian.
Alternatively, to order one or two printed products like T-shirts, mugs and buttons featuring this design, click here. However, until I work out details with Adrian and arrange to sell his products via PayPal on my Art purchasing page here, Cafe Press will earn 75% of the asking price, which ironically does not heartily support your artist! It’s a great temporary venue though.
“Simplicity is best” was the advice from my other son, Adam, who is a graphic designer, so rather than show the complete written message of “Support Your Artists”, the version above omits the first two words. In any case, the design is available with or without wording, in any color, with or without borders.
One in a million
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Artwork: Waiting For The Sun by Virginia Wieringa, 24 x 36 inches acrylics on canvas
Fortune? sure, of course. Fame? mmeh! I could manage happily without. The pop group Pearl Jam has a recent song with a beautiful title, ”Just Breathe” with a couple of lines that state, “I’m a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love”. While I’m not a man, I feel likewise as fortunate.
However, an extra hand is now required because I just met an artist-pen-pal whom I never expected to meet, and she’s as intelligent and enthusiastic in person as she has been online for the past four years. Virginia is adventurous and open-minded, yet soundly rooted in her spiritual faith - and therefore so is her art . I especially enjoyed the little 4 x 6″ sketchbook that she shared with me, where a number of ideas for paintings originate as she draws in it during church sermons. I think it’s really funny that she doesn’t listen in church….but she does hear, and she doesn’t preach, she works… and her work speaks volumes. I’ve mentioned Virginia in previous posts – she’s been so supportive, even promoting my work on her own website. Thanks “VA”!