The completed series, printed A3 Glossy and mounted on foam.
I started out being rather against the influence of the media on female beauty, what they dictate about physique beauty and branding, but somehow after a while I’m no longer that much against it and now I think it’s all a matter of what you perceive from the magazines, so take these as whatever you want, be it decorative depiction of magazines or evil dominating media, or something.
Original prep work, and my progress through this. Originally there was not going to be the black lines, but I decided that it should be in contrast to (1/4) and be more stylised.
For the final, I scanned in some parts from a magazine and put them at low opacity over some other textures to make the image less boring, so as to speak. Strangely, it is my favourite piece out of the series though everyone likes the ad more
One very stupid thing is that the skin tone changes, because I have been alternating between school tablet and home tablet.
The image basically juxtaposes this empty face devoid of makeup, colour and emotion and the set of makeup she’s promoting: a colourful and vibrant palette that does nothing for her, despite her flawless exterior, she’s just “panic and emptiness” (courtesy of Howards End) I’m not quite done because I need captioning and much more toning, but it shows generally how I work (and where i fucked up, lol!)
Like how everyone else has a favourite medium to work in, mine is on the computer, with a tablet and Photoshop. I have loved pencil and pen since a long time ago, and I have never been able to paint. Once I discovered Photoshop and its capabilities, it was the first time I’ve actually tried so hard to master a medium. IDK about pen and pencil, but they were things I just happened to pick up and be born being decent at. With Photoshop, I can trace my progress and be proud of what I create.
Though adobe is a PAIN IN THE ASS (http://dearadobe.com/top_rated.php) I simply enjoy working on the computer because it opens up this entire galaxy of reference materials and inspiration. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to paint, but I love the pixels I help to beautify.
UPDATE:
I found this white paperbag and secided to draw a batman head on it. Am rather pleased somehow with this (Fat)Batman because it’s really cute when you put it over heads. Look, it is everywhere! After everything else, I am going to look for such paper bags and make even more.
It’s become a habit to glance out of the window every evening for a beautiful sky. Today was gold and blue, promise of a wonderful tomorrow. Somehow I like the landscape image more than the portrait one, because it looks like a wider sky and seems to stretch a long way.
If you know me well enough, I have this strange obsession with rain. I get really majorly happy whenever it starts to rain, preferably in the afternoon or at night. This time, I was just getting out of the toilet when the rain just… poured down. And it was damn huge and lasted for quite a bit. The two photos are quite different because one tells the “during” and one is the “afterwards”.
Something else that gets my mood going is sunsets and sunrises, but more so sunsets because the hues in the sky are that much more brilliant. I like the second picture more personally, and living where I am allows me to see such wonderful things approximately thrice a week.
This is the part just before and after the reddest clouds, which last only one minute long. I actually like the first photo more because of the silhouettes of the HDB, they kind of indicate the location from where the photo was taken.
Lastly, two more from NYGH, which has really beautiful skies except nobody bothers to look up that often. During morning assembly, when they mark attendance I always remember to see whether the clouds are beautiful that day.
Photos taken with Sony Ericsson K770i, 3.2 megapixel camera and it’s really very nice 
After reading through Peabo4eva again, I realised that some of the photos I took while moshing at BLG at the Nike Human Race post-marathon concert were really cool. One thing was that they really capture memories, flashes in time that when put together lets me relive the entire experience. Some photos here.
I have a friend called Lim Yixian, who really reminds us all of an elephant. I also own a tablet, and some mad drawing skills on MSN Instant Messenging. Here’s to Random Scribbles. Definitely inspired by sudden madness reading a whole load of comics.
Question 2.
Liu Kang, Seated Model (1953, Oil on Canvas)
Hendra Gunawan, Bandung as a Sea of Fire (1972, Oil on Canvas)
(a) Describe the subject matter of these paintings.
In ‘Seated Model’ by Liu Kang,a topless Balinese woman is depicted sitting sideways on a chair in what appears to be the garden of her home. The main focus of the painting seems to be the topless woman, who appears content with the world, calm and composed. In her right hand she holds a few white flowers which she has just plucked from a nearby bush. Her left arm leans across the back of the chair and rests on her right shoulder, making her look relaxed, enjoying the day as it goes by. Her hair is pinned up and combed back with a flower in it. Coupled with her clean and smooth skirt, she looks as though she takes good care of herself and her appearance. The chair she is sitting on faces away from the viewer, seemingly made of bamboo or rattan. The background is made of greenery and soil, giving the painting an earthly feel. The style is realistic, and the colours simple and natural.
In ‘Bandung as a Sea of Fire’ by Hendra Gunawan,the painting is full of violence and suffering. In the foreground, 2 men lay fatally wounded. One of the men takes up most of the foreground, sprawled upon the ground. He is bleeding from the chest, clutching the wound. His body is laying skewed on the ground, and his face is contorted with the pain and horror. He appears to have been trampled, orintentionally wounded. Another man lies a short distance off, equally butchered and bloodied, under what seems to be wooden pillars. The blood and gore flows down the hill like a rive, towards the course of the fire. People can be seen running hurriedly up the hill away from the village set on fire, carrying belongings and children on their backs. They are still alive, but clearely traumatised by the silhouetes waving weaponry nearer the background. The sky is filled with the smoke from the fire and the ruins, and the picture speaks of panic and despondency.
(b) Analyse and interpret the artists’ intentions.
In Liu’s painting,’Seated Model’,naturalistic, simple colours are used to depict the clam and serene local woman. The model holds flowers to herself, appreciating the simple things in life. This makes her personable and friendly, almost motherly. I think that Liu Kang was deeply moved by the way of life of the Balinese and wanted to share it with the rest of the world through this paints as a positive way of embracing life. By depicting the calm and serene woman, he shows us what a wonderfully simple life the Balinese are able to lead without care for material possessions. Instead, they vest their interest in the mudance quirks of life, which we can learn from and be inspired by.
‘Bandung as a Sea of Fire’ by Hendra Gunawan is intended to make a bold statement, speaking out against the cruelty of war and bloodshed and showing a scene of fraility of human spirit. He did so by depicting the deep sense of loss and horror that arises from a conflict. The vision of terrified villagers escaping from inevitable death from those who have invaded their homes is very impactful. Gunawan possibly wanted to use the sky, clouded with smoke and fire, to depict how slaughter is almost like a disease, a fire that consumed everything in its path. The two dying men are a grave reminder of the gore and bloodshed of war, sacrifices on the part of loved ones that we neglect while fearing for our own lives. As such, Gunawan wanted to depict the destructive nature of war, to warn and discourage its use in any way.
(c) Discuss the impact the two paintings have on you.
