the fire rekindles, the journey continues~michellechoongkhoo

it sure feels really good to spend the holy Wesak Day, getting re~acquainted with my brushes and the palette~

Though one may conquer a thousand times
a thousand men in battle,
yet he indeed is the noblest victor
who conquers himself.

- The Buddha

I am so happy to be inspired and its definitely reassuring to know too that watercoloring is akin to bicycling, once skills are learnt….heh2 one never truly forget the lessons!

On a Lucky day, if needed one can quickly bring the techniques up to speed to try capture the essence of the day's inspiration!

Happy Wesak to all arty friends and may you be always well and happy!

link to the story inspired by diyana

inspired by Diyana ~ michellechoongkhoo

Woke up this morning inspired to dig out all my brushes and watercolor gears, thanks to a sweet girl Diyana who wrote me a nice follow up email to inform me she read my blog and decided to sign up for art classes!
I sure hope she finds her art journey as enjoyable and gain self discovery akin to love affair with water coloring like I did <3

I am just imagining a pure sweet young graphic student as I painted this today …..and I shall name her Diyana, for if not for her email…..truly I must say I may have neglected my brushes for far too long~
Watercoloring is always painstakingly slow but it is pleasurably fluid as one waits for the paint to dry before proceeding to the next.
I almost forgot how much joy it can be…..something that cant be replicated with the doodlings done on ipad, I must admit!

What a lovely Vesak Day it is …..

300gsm cold pressed acid paper, 

Not quite done but I think it is definitely coming along well~

hope you like this Diyana

Personal style vs artistic style~michellechoongkhoo

Does your personal style reflect your artistic style?

To me one can’t live without the other. —Carlos Aponte

Read some responses from other artists at gallery hanahou

And hence I am almost always drawn to female faces whereas for males I like to do their physiques and profiles~

quick watercolor shadings

an inspiration from Estee Lauder's new commercial

                                                  quick midnight charcoal pencil sketching
                                       an inspiration of hubby @Archery , Club Med Bintan

enjoying the waterfall at Chin Farm~michellechoongkhoo

I wish some places never change, that the beauty of nature and landscapes do not get obliterated by development….

Chin Farm, waterfall @ Penang was one such place….

Painting Julian on a tree branch overlooking the clear stream with the waterfall behind him at level 2

what a pity this beautiful place is no longer there~
But at least my sons got to view and experience some of the beautiful places that brought me much happiness while growing up~

Jules and his rocking horse ~michellechoongkhoo

this is the finished effect after adding salt ~

after looking at the photographs…..I think I should have actually stopped painting at the step below…….for memories of childhood should come across as simple and sweet~

I want to redo this once more tomorrow~

fashion inspired~michellechoongkhoo's "2011 Project A Painting A Day"

Stila Persson ~ another great fashion blog inspiration made me wanna imagine and go with the flow of where my palette and brushes take me~

very enjoyable exercise ;)