Some Mouse Clicks Later

Using good old Photoshop, I have the colour plans out to turn the drawing into a silkscreen.

I enjoy using a mouse for the job, you can get some really cool weird strokes.

I usually do a print-out of the plan and trace them out onto any translucent paper. I use the paper that you find layered between OHP tranparencies. The mouse strokes/twists/turns are interesting, but they still look too digital, so that’s why I will include this step. There are also some other marks/drawings that I will add on at this point.

After this I will scan it, make some colour separations, and then I will print the positives.

Let’s see how it goes.

A Boat For Long Kang Racing

It’s really no joke that only until recently I discovered I’m able to use and build from my sketches or drawings. I only found out after building Race For The Prize, many thought that the other drawings I made in the show were studies for the installation. I always had that connection in mind too, but I never knew how they actually relate to each other, or how the drawings are translated into a sculpture or an installation.

So I made these drawings today and I know exactly what they meant. Some drawing marks meant branches, some meant twigs, some are ropes, some are wires, paper and so on. The experience from making Race For The Prize helped me to build a vocabulary of sculptural materials that I’m comfortable with. And now I’m able to use drawing marks to represent these materials on paper.

The drawing is actually a sketch of a boat I’m going to make for Long Kang racing.

There are two drawings here, one which is more unfinished, just marks and lines, the other one is a more finished drawing. How I work here is that I read the suggestions from my marks and they led me to a alligator-like boat.

I think it’s interesting to also google for the “Sketches of Frank Gehry”, his marks are turned into buildings. And since Shrigley is cited as my influence here, take a look at this and compare it with his drawings.(http://www.davidshrigley.com/images/sculpture/sculpture_pics2008/ladder.jpg)

It’s going to make things much easier for me now. Previously, building my installation was almost like making a drawing on paper – erasing, cancelling, redrawing, it’s wasting so much time and materials. I should be able to have a better vision of my sculptural works from now on.

New Space, Bigger Dreams

I’m moving back home to make my artworks. I have three rooms available now, so I might as well use the space till maybe August next year. 

Our studio setup is quite insane. The drawing cabinets are really awesome, I got them free! We can do almost about anything.

We got to know the character of our silkscreen equipment pretty well now. Choonlin can also etch copper and we are not using acid, so it’s quite safe. We found almost all alternatives to materials that could only be handled with heavy-duty machinery. We have all the drills, saws, tables… very much equipped. All of them well invested over the year. It’s has been a great year and now I take a break!

Drawing Out Conversations

Hey, these are my works for the drawing show. It’s a Charcoal Machine Gun.

I supposedly made this gun that will make me seem like a maniac drawing and making marks on paper.

It’s not working too consistently, but I’m just happy it looks good now. I will have to find time to fix this work.

There will be an artist talk this Saturday. I’m looking forward to it.

By the way, Choon Lin and I are moving out of the Post-Museum studio. It’s been a year and I think we all have made 100% use of the space and built a decent portfolio. We will now have to prepare and hopefully join Kaifeng over at Glasgow next year.

I’ll be doing less real work from now, probably one or two simple shows if they come by.

I will definitely be putting in more time to churn out cutesy little prints and books. Just not think too much and really make nice looking stuff. That’s what I will do. I’m not going to bother with it’s meanings or whatever, just do it like a hobby and have fun.

Kaifeng Leaves For Glasgow

My brother, Kaifeng, leaves for Scotland tonight.

He will be attending the MA Course at the Glasgow School of Art.

Let’s hope he comes back a much better artist.