Hold-on

"Hold-on", Year:2007, Oil On Canvas(Private Collection)

Many people like my observation works. I suppose they enjoy looking at the techniques! Some people even encourage me to do more observational painting... In fact, I love to do observational painting, but right now I have a problem, that is - nobody wants or can find time to be my model (even when I am willing to pay them by hour). For example, few months ago, I tried to fix time with my nephew during his school holidays and decided to pay him $10 per hour, but finally he had to go to school almost everyday for CCA… So what could I do? Another example was: a friend whom I had painted before also rejected my offer… Maybe I can look for a full-time model who poses for an art school, but I do not know them at all! (Also, if I do not know a person well, I cannot paint him/her well!) Recently I am thinking: Shall I paint from photo??? Since nobody can find time to let me paint “live” model, I might as well ask my friends/relatives to only pose for me few minutes first, then I take photos of them and paint back home? Any suggestions?

The painting “Hold-on” was completed early last year. This friend model studies at NTU, and I can still remember I spent around 15 hours to do this painting. In the painting, the girl’s hand is holding a TV controller, paying a lot of attention on the television programme… It seems as if her conversation over the phone has been disrupted as the television programme is too attractive- this is how the “Hold-on” title comes about! It can be related to our Christian walk with God - sometimes our communication with God is also “side-tracked” halfway…!

Bali

在机场出口一时之间见不着前来迎接我跟太太的Bali导游，有点急了！便分头去找！找不着！我便重新回到围栏前一一的仔细查看人群里大大小小的手握“名牌”，总算看到了！一名身材粗大，头上包着Batik的布巾当帽戴，上唇留有一束胡子，包着Sarong的深暗色皮肤大汉（怎么看都不像个导游？？？更像个农夫！）手上握着活像用Photocopy机器放大打印出来的印有我太太名字的大纸片-他的名字叫“Jana！”

我跟太太住在Bali的White Rose Hotel。沿路走出去便可看见二〇〇二年的爆炸事件所遗留下来的建筑残骸（见下图）。Jana告知我们当年旅游业蒙受的打击直接影响了他的生活，很多人都过得苦不堪言！即便是到了今天，还是有一些人还没有完全的度过困境-就如我跟太太参观了一间木雕Studio兼展览厅，一名资深的木雕家告诉我们旅客大量的减少促成了木刻作品存货很多，无奈只能打六折便宜卖出。

我们住的那一区是Kuta，洋人很多，沿着店屋一路朝海边的方向走去，可看见不少的洋人三三两两的进出那一带。有些洋妞穿得凉凉少少的，有些男的则不穿上衣在行人道上走动...更帅气的则扛着冲浪板。在餐馆里（特别是夜晚），大都是洋人在里面进餐，抽烟或喝酒（气氛很好！）。更有些洋人看似是在那里定居的，他们跟那里的店家职员似乎混得很熟，有时候会看到他们站在路边一起口操着英语半开玩笑似的大声交谈。总之那里的旅游与商业气息很浓。

出远门逛画廊是我跟太太共有的“特殊爱好！”在Jana的带领下，我俩参观了不少的画廊兼画家的工作室。（见下图）几乎每一间的画廊兼画家工作室里的画作风格大都大同小异，但可贵的是画里的人物与动植物的分配位置却不同，当然也有不少的抽象画作品，我太太还买了两幅呢！

“Dono”是一名年仅十岁的小画家（见下图）。他连同一群大小画家坐在走廊边示范边工作着。他的一幅画勾起了我的兴趣，最终以二十美金成交。临走时他还向我讲了一句：“Thank you!”而我则回了他一句：“Welcome!”

对我个人来说Bali的传统画风最令我喜爱！特点是整幅画画得密密麻麻的，大都有许多人物，稻田，房屋和动植物等，每一片叶子每一处细节都画得很详尽（也不晓得画家总共花了多少时间制作一幅画，也真佩服他们的耐力！），层次感和特殊的透视效果都很好（见上图）！真叫人看了会尽不住想要将画抱进怀里尽情的亲吻它！
最终，我们也买了三幅传统民俗画，好开心呀！

在Kuta的海滩可看见许多到处招揽顾客的流动摊主。有帮人美化指甲的，按摩的，纹身的，卖地毯和卖手饰的。我个人认为那里不是休息的好去处，因为一些流动摊主会一直重复不断的要求你帮他们买东西或接受他（她）们的服务（令你觉得又烦又气！）。除外，那里的海浪也是蛮大的（见下图及下下图的录影片断），可看见许多的冲浪好手在冲浪！坐在滩上观望的我只有感叹自己不懂得（也不敢）应用冲浪板在海上顺海滑行。至于游泳嘛？总觉得浪太大，不太适合。玩水吧！那还不错！

The Clear Sky

"The Clear Sky", Oil On Canvas, Year: 2004(Private Collection)

Recently, I have found a secret to live a worry-free life…

The Bible mentions that in all the problems that we face (no matter how terrible they are), as long as we know that God loves us and believe we are more than conquerors in Christ, we shall overcome!

Four years ago when I painted “The Clear Sky”, in fact deep in my heart, I knew I did not have victory in my Christian life at times... I believe that was the reason why I painted an unhappy woman at the right side, and on the left side painted the same woman carrying weights (the two weights represent Moses’ two tablets of Ten Commandments given by God). She seemed to be struggling with the weights (as if trying to keep God’s laws to make herself righteous), but could not hold them for long as the weights were heavy (representing impossibility for man to keep the Laws). She ended up unhappy instead, worried and could not enjoy her life because she was using her self-effort to please God. Happy, victorious Christian life (the cloud-portrait on top) seemed so far, out of her reach…

一点小技巧-画卡通鱼

(A)首先用2B铅笔在画纸上轻轻的画出鱼的造型。鱼的造型因人而异，有的人喜欢用很多直线来进行创作，而有些人则喜欢用弧线来塑造形体。哈哈！画漫画就是这么一回事，不需要别人教，只要拿起笔来动手画，就会画了！不信吗？不仿自己试试看吧！

(B)用胶彩(Acrylic)开始上色，先涂上浅蓝色背景-胶彩易干，所以涂时动作要快。

(C)开始为身体着色，与背景的交界处留出空白也无所谓，反而可以制造一些特殊效果！

(D)着上亮眼的红色。

(E)开始勾描出黑色的线条。记住线条要有粗细变化。

(F)最后加上少量头发及注明日期和签名。

(G)完成图。

Eyes Down

"Eyes Down", Acrylic & Ink On Canvas, 91.5cm x 91.5cm, 2007(Private Collection)

I admit that, though I am a Christian, I have often set my eyes looking at the environment and things that happen around me rather than on God. The painting above is entitled, “Eyes-Down” to describe the tendency to look at worldly things below instead of looking up to God.

I may seem to encourage people (especially my wife) to seek God always, but sometimes I am not aware that in fact, deep in my heart, I have depended on the worldly pattern of thinking and logic! Recently I tend to be quite concerned of death, because my relative has just passed on. I look at myself and think - I am already 41 years old, so when is my time to go to heaven? Perhaps this concern is also due to my dad passing away at 42 years old… Fortunately God knows the thoughts I have and is willing to show me that death for Christian is like an entrance to the heaven, and only God’s Word has the final authority, not doctors’. Therefore I slowly set my faith on my Lord Jesus Christ again. Praise God!

The painting shows children with down-cast eyes. No doubt manna (food provided by God) is all around them, but they just cannot see or choose not to look at God’s providence...

十八年前开始...

十八年前。
那年我二十三岁。
我是一间出版社的全职设计师兼插图员。
当时每日的工作量都很繁重，但开心的是常有机会制作有趣的插图。（见图二）

当时常用的材料是广告彩（Poster Colour)配合黑墨水笔（Technical Pen)。有幸的是画出来的东西一般上都被采用，满有成就感的！

（图一）
当时最大的喜悦是有机会绘制故事版的“桃太郎”。（见图一）

“桃太郎”完稿后我便离了职。（也许自己当时太情绪化吧！不是吗？不仿仔细瞧瞧我的作品（图一和二），据了解情绪化的人的画作大都以弧线居多，而直线则显得少！当然不能否认的一点是自己的纪律也着实太差。）

(图二)

十七年前开始，我转入了另一家出版社。

在那里，每个星期都得赶画三份给予不同年级的小学周刊（见图三和四），忙得不可开交！画稿大多数是先以广告彩(Poster Colour)为底，再用细毛笔沾黑色颜料将黑色部位填上及勾画出形线。这样的画法即简单又快捷，当然还得在画面贴上文字说明和连贴版面以供印刷机印制等，总之，什么都得做，但却忙得开心！

（图三）
哈！在制作小学周刊过程里的一点小感触就是记得自己还是小学生时，也多少有接触过类似的周刊，但却从没想过长大后的自己竟会制作这类的周刊给小朋友们看！不知道小朋友们喜不喜欢我所画的插图？

（图四）

期间也帮忙公司制作了“儿童诗，绕口令”的有趣读物（见图五）。虽然都是清一色的黑白稿，但我却也热衷于运用黑白二色来进行搭配，有趣极了！透过画稿也可看出当时的刊物制作还处于剪贴的时期，电脑还没有引进。
不知怎么搞的？这本读物的原画稿竟然在我家里？事隔多年也没有人来向我领回？

（图五）

近几年来，我常画提供小学校用的看图作文，看图讲话及看图选择题等的插图作品。但因不能对外公开插图内容，所以不便在此提供给大家观赏。

（图六）乃是为一间教会的牧师所出版的宗教读物做的插图。内里绘出了基督受苦的过程-受鞭刑，背十字架及被钉在十字架上。
总的来说，画插图在我的生命里有着重要的地位，它大大的丰富了我的人生！
（图六）

Ride

Before I did this illustration, deep in my heart, I told myself that I wanted to create a picture which people would feel happy when they look at it! So, if this picture cannot bring sense of happiness to you, it will mean that I have failed!
Note: One thing I do not understand is that - both the boy and the girl look very "Chinese". The dinosaur image is taken from reference of a toy model at home.

Lamb-Over-Me

I did this illustration last year... I enjoy looking at this girl/lady a lot because I often find that I have created a nice cartoon portrait form. I think her hairstyle looks marvellous too, with the green-colour hair contrasting with the red background; Her protruding forehead also suggests quite a young age; But for the lamb, I don't really like the form, maybe because it didn't look realistic enough?

By the way, "Lamb-Over-Me" = "Righteousness" in the Chinese character.

进步

“肖像”，油画画布，二〇〇二及〇三年。

前几晚，问及太太：“绘画技术的进步并非只单靠埋首在画布前的锻炼，心境的改变与更新也是重要的。”

她想着，我不等她回复，又说：“就好比我吧！我曾停止绘画五年，后来又从新提笔，但却发觉自己非但没有退步，反倒进步了！”

她回道：“我也有过同样的情形！”

“是一种心境的改变促成作品进入某种新的意境！”

“我指的是弹琴！”

“...............”

“我常停止弹奏一段时间，过后重新开始弹却也发觉自己的琴艺进步了！”她点着头说。

我笑着说：“感觉上似乎与心境的放松密切相关！不是吗？我年轻时一笔一划都一板一眼，重分析！画画时尤如全身上下都配带着十几把刀，一点也不放过！就这样的生出了许多拘谨的画来！隔几年后，心胸放宽了，刀子也少了，画也显得轻松自然起来！或许这就是所谓的进步吧！”

漫画-“舞”

昨天晚上，在牛车水一带观赏完一名国外画家的个展后，闲来无事，便决定到狮城大厦去闲逛。
走着，本打算买一只新手表给自己...但我所喜爱的品牌却没有中看的，又打算买点新玩具...但随即又打消了这个念头（因为家里的玩具实在太多！），最终便朝漫画店走去。
在漫画店里，脑筋一片空白，看看这里，摸摸那里，想买“医龙”，但已看过了真人搬演的电视剧...深恐电视剧里的人物形象与剧情会影响自己看漫画的想象空间...继续走着看着，无意中发见了六本装的“舞”只出售三十元，觉得价钱合理且又便宜一丁点，便买了！

“舞”的原作是工藤一也，作画是池上辽一。

稍微对漫画懂得一点的朋友一定不会对池上辽一感到陌生（据了解香港的漫画大师马荣成还满喜爱他的作品呢！）。但遗憾的是我自年少便只有没头没尾的东一点西一堆的草草看过他的漫画...而并没有从始至终完整的看完他的一套作品（这一次机会总算来了吧！）。

哈！今早便已观看完毕！觉得画工很好！简练的笔法一点也不啰嗦！特别是人物的姿态更是生动活泼！还有漫画里黑，白和灰三色的搭配也非常引人入胜...。当然，也多亏了原作剧情紧凑，不拖泥带水，不多也不少的刚刚好！令人读后心里觉得：“值得!”

到了这里，我想也许大多数的漫画专家都会笑我吧？因为“舞”只是一部池上辽一的旧作品，其他的作品还没有拜读...至于最新的作品呢？是什么？

有空时才查一查看吧！

Fruitful

"Fruitful", Acrylic On Canvas, Year: 2007(Private Collection)

Relax in Christ,
Rest well in Christ,
Sit with Christ,
And also believe that I am already in the Promise Land…
Whatever happens to me, I shall fear not, and hurt not…
and I shall also bear fruits naturally!

Every time when I feel stressed…
I know…
My heart is restless!
And I have forgotten that I am already in the Promise Land!

Full House

"Full House", Acrylic & Ink On Canvas, 51cm x 51cm, Year:2007( Private Collection)

I have always longed for having full joy in Christ, every moment of my life!
This painting is all about my dream- fully enjoying my life in Christ!
Hopefully one of these days I can live earthly life as if heavenly life!
No tears, no worries, no fears and no sorrows!Just simply believe that as Christ is, so am I in this world!

Joy & Sorrow

"Joy & Sorrow", Acrylic & Ink On Canvas, 51cm x 51cm, Year:2007( Private Collection)

超人梦

少时爱看第十频道的日本超人连续剧。

记得常与两名哥哥及佣人一起观赏。

当然也发了不少的超人梦！-时常幻想自己也是特种部队里的一员，身着橙色的紧身制服，胸前有一黑色V字形的标记，戴上图样设计别致的头盔，与侵略地球的怪兽对抗！而自己则是会变身成超人的特种队员...。我二哥生性滑稽，就爱扮怪兽！就这样，我和大哥便常与他对打了起来...。

有一次，位于市区的首都电影院上映了“猴王与七超人”，我可乐了！便伴随两位哥哥及表姐弟们去观赏。影片里的猴王虽是主角，但却没能吸引我。我偏爱七超人！内里有超人三号香修树，一号专专，男女合变的北斗南，红衣侠及东光太郎等，真正令我看足了味！

长大点后，在专科学院求学期间，也像超人一样，一天用功十八个小时！累吗？不累！铁打的！

出来帮人打工时，还继续上演超人剧！一分一秒也不放过，能顶！则顶！休息二字是我的敌人！

现在呢？超人累了!

学习休息。

My 41st Birthday Present...

The God & the god

"The God & the god", Oil On Canvas, 4ft x 6ft, Year 2001(Private Collection)

Year 2001 was such a busy year for me – house-moving, picking up a new job, wedding preparations, doing illustration and painting!

Painting - “The God & the god” was done in that year. I did it with so many things happening around me and hardly had long hours to do painting for a day! Sometimes I could only spend one hour for it and sometimes I never even touched it for few days! So I eventually took very long time to complete it.

I also was not very sure whether this painting was a good painting or not, so I kept asking my wife-to-be for comments…and she often said to me, “I think you have done a good job!” But I was still unsure after hearing her comments! I kept asking myself, “Why?” Oh! Maybe the whole painting was too dark? Maybe the subject matter was too negative? Or maybe the images were not up to the standard that I expected? Maybe…???

In God’s blessings, I sold this painting few weeks ago. I tried to make a last observation before sending it off to the buyer’s warehouse. Finally, I felt in my heart saying, “I love it! It is nice!”

"Don't Worry, Sir, Will Increase In Future!"

Years ago, I was very poor. I can still remember there was once when I only left about nine dollars in XXX bank. I could not use ATM card to withdraw my eight dollars (bank account needs at least one dollar in there…), so the only way I could do was to go to the bank counter to withdraw from the bank staff! I was so embarrassed when I showed the staff my bank book - only left that much money in there… I smiled to her (an Indian staff) bitterly and said, “Hah! Hah! No money! Very poor!” When she heard that, she replied: “Don’t worry, Sir, will increase in future!” Wah! What a statement! That encouraged me a lot and really made me feel warm in my heart! A few simple positive words can really lift a person up, man!

Today, I would not say I am a very rich man, but at least I have more than enough for many things! Sometimes when I think back, even now, I can as if still hear her voice saying, “Don’t worry, Sir, will increase in future!”

越南之旅-河内

正坐在三轮车上的“自拍像”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年


“哔！哔！波！波！...叭！哔！...叭！...”大量摩托车及少量的其他交通工具的喇叭声不绝于耳，车身从左至右，从右到左的，鲜少有空隙可让行人冲或走过马路...想过...但心里怕怕的！万一被车撞到了可不得了！心想：“难道这是越南的一大特色吗？”这便是初到越南时的第一个印象。“哈！越南！好刺激呀！”

第二天问过导游，才知道过马路的窍门是：“不停顿片刻的慢慢走动！”既是说“快跑”，“停顿”或“走走停停”都会制造机会让车子撞到你。而唯有当你“不停顿片刻的慢慢移动身子”，车主便会配合着你的移动而调整车速及行驶方向。（感觉上他们是凭“良心”开车的，非常有人性。）当然，有时行人也得配合车子啦！

“众骑士”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年

越南的孩童是可爱的。（见下图）当时我正在一座塔的第二层楼拍外景，不料举头看到这几名身着校服的小姑娘，正倚身在高塔的第三层围墙边，当时心想：“偷偷替她们拍一张也无妨！”哪知心机却让她们给看穿了！有几名便朝着我笑，有的则看似害羞而不敢正眼瞧我。拍毕，我便大声回予她们几口粗声粗气的干笑！逗得她们都乐了！

“笑开怀”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年


在导游的引领下，有幸跟太太一起参观了越南美术馆。

越南画家的油画与雕塑水平都很高，但我更喜爱他们的木刻版画作品。特别是当他们以孩童的形象来进行主题创作时 ，更能体现出一种单纯的生命力！除外，版画的刻工与油印的效果也很精美，令人赞叹不已！（哈！离开美术馆后，我另外参观了越南人文博物馆，在那里购买了两张木刻版画作品。后来又在军事历史博物馆的纪念品店里选购了另两幅漂亮的版画作品，真可谓是满载而归！）步出美术馆不久，便在商店屋外看见一位老者用单手推着一部儿车，（见下图）便快手快脚（慢一秒也不行，路上人来人往的，会将想拍的主题遮住。）的将他俩收录相机内。

“老与少”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年

大姑娘身着蓝色牛仔裤，暗绿色的风衣，骑着脚车，手持着许许多多色彩缤纷的卡通大气球，年龄嘛...大概二十出头吧！在马路上来来去去，去去又来来...看似是常在几个固定地点进行气球兜售。（见下图）哈！总算有机会看到顾客找上她！

据我个人的观察，越南的流动小贩或做其他买卖的举凡卖气球，打火机，皮包等等等等，大多数都只卖一至两样物品或食物。卖芒果的，便只卖芒果。卖香蕉的，便挑起篮子卖香蕉。卖茶的，便坐在行人道旁专心卖茶。

有一回，一名卖茶的老妇人给一名跟她语言上完全不能沟通的新加坡华人男子倒一杯越南小浓茶...，结果坐在老妇人旁边的朋友便干脆拿起了两张越南钞票在这新加坡男子眼前晃动，以提示他所需付的价格...。（这名新加坡华人男子就是我！）

“买卖气球”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年


在越南的第三天早晨，我和太太决定前往旧市中心去参观画廊，哪知后来才知道在我们所住的旅馆后方隔一条街便有一间画廊。就这样，在一名旅馆员工的好心带领下，顺利的观赏到越南的道地绘画作品。

观赏后，便在四处闲逛起来。走着走着，便看到马路边沿有一座呈长方体状的帐棚（见下图）。帐棚的侧对面停放着一辆挂着精美亮丽彩带的新娘轿车，哈！原来有人家在办喜喜事！帐（喜喜）棚内里安置着一张长桌，两边分坐着好几名看似是家属的男男女女，正享用着桌上的佳肴茶水。喜喜棚入口处外的正前方有两名身着深灰色西装的男子。（后来我才知道他俩都不是新郎，也许只是弟兄吧！）

“婚庆-等候”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年

就这样，等着等着的，新郎与新娘迟迟不现身，便同太太到邻近的一家咖啡店坐着品尝越南咖啡。（见下图）越南咖啡好喝！香浓中又带有一种厚重感，喝后令人精神一爽！深深觉得人活着即便只是单单享用越南咖啡也是挺有意思的！

终于，新郎与新娘从一条窄巷子里走了出来！周围围着一大群亲朋好友！新郎全身散发着一种难以言喻的干净感，头发呈波浪状，人长得黑黑实实的。新娘则有一双大眼睛搭配着一只高而立体的鼻子，就像一尊活雕像，美丽极了！尔后，两位新人便进入后车厢，骄车便从停车处缓慢转出，引发了一丁点的交通阻塞，停滞了一小阵子，骄车便开走了。（哈！开了眼界哩！原来越南的婚庆是这种形式的！）

“越南咖啡”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年


我跟太太在越南共同度过了六周年结婚纪念日。

这种日子当然免不了要给她送花。

但她却偏偏在纪念日的前一天早上便已经按捺不住，逼不及待的直喊着要买花！（逼于无奈！）便只好在路边的卖花摊位买了一支红玫瑰给她。哪知这红玫瑰还蛮惹眼的，太太拿握在手上，搭巴士也好，走路也好，总觉得会引来不少旁人的目光（尤以女性居多-她们看看花，接着看看我，然后若有所思的眯眯笑！）。除外，这朵红玫瑰的生命力也挺顽强的（它越洋过海的来到新加坡），直至现在它都还没有凋谢，这倒底是什么品种的红玫瑰呀？？？

“卖花香”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年

第四天一早，雨天，我们便搭乘的士到越南人文博物馆。在那里，我还得到优待-馆员允许我不必缴付摄影票（那里规定要拍照就得额外支付5000Dong），理由是一来他觉得我们人数少，没跟团！二来是因为他觉得我的华语讲得比他好（他本身也学习华文和讲华语），可当他的华语老师？？？这理由还真怪！所以便免付了。

观赏完毕，才知道馆外有呈献水上木偶表演。我当时可乐坏了！（因为早在一天前我们便有意思要在旧市中心观赏水上木偶表演，但无奈当天和预售的票都卖光了！本还以为会错失了这个唯独越南才有的木偶戏...。）便在柜台处缴付了40,000Dong（两人份的票价。）选了最前面的好位，便看起来啦！哈哈！当时的观众连我们也数算在内也不过是七至八个人，冷冷清清的，但难能可贵的是唱者，鼓手，伴奏的和幕后的木偶操作员都很落力的演出！每一幕剧只有短短的几分钟，一幕演完后另接一幕。如此，持续不断的...。节目里有斗牛比赛，捕鱼，蛇追老鼠，游泳比赛和角力比赛等。最后一幕表演是所有的吉祥物都在水面上游动一并配合着声乐...直至歌曲终了，所有幕后的木偶操作员也一起出现在幕前（见下图）对着我俩招手（当时观众席只剩下我跟我太太，其他人早已提前离开了！），我俩也回予他们以示友善...。

总的来说，越南是非常值得去的，虽然只有短短几天，但却过得充实！我想下一回也许会去胡志明市走走吧！

“幕后英雄”，摄自河内，二〇〇八年

Man-mermaid

"Man-mermaid", Ink On Paper, Year:1996(Private Collection)

This is a "man"!

[This is a "man"!],Ink On Paper, Year:1994.