East Coast Malay Peninsualr

6 miles South of Kuala Terengganu off the highway towards the ocean is beautiful beah called Chendering where I had spent alot of my teenage years swimming and diving. The beach uased to be clean and the sea relatively calm a great place to spend an afternoon.

The atap houses are geting to be a rare sight as time progresses and development takes over. These rustic dwellings were a nostalgic sight for me as i was born and spent a good number of years growing up in such houses and surroundings.

To most it is quite unimaginadle on how it nust have felt to live under such conditions expecially in the days when there was no electricity and the water comes out of wells.

Most of these homes were built on stilts for obvious reasons such as avoiding floods, the creepy crawlers, domesticated animals such as chickens goats and the likes, keeps the houses airy etc.

As these sketches are a few years old it is highly doubtful that these sites exist as they are anymore. The above scene was done from the Marang bridge located about 12 miles from Kuala Terengganu. Last is saw it the place has be transformed or upgraded.

Drying fish in Seberang Takir located right across the river from K.Tr.

Below a view of the rice field located directly across from the Istana Badariah and I spent few years of my teenage exploring this fields.

The 'launch' of ferry boats that takes one to and from K.Tr. and Seberang Takir on the Terengganu River mouth.

Typical fishing boats common in Terengganu.

From three Years in Japan

I seldom choose a directly frontal view of a scene or object when I choose my subject to render. I also make sure that there is a strong contrast in light and darkness and especially a strong cast of shadows. Offcourse the subject has to be exciting to work with.

A good form of exercise in working with light and darkness is working with 'scratch boards'. These boards are specially made such that there are two layers of black over white. The picture is made by scratching off the black to expose the white according to what is needed to create forms of a picture. This medium and technique helps one to get use to drawing in reverse, where instead of adding you are subtracting to create.

Different kinds of pens, pen tips, sizes and shapes, permanent and water soluble, is available for eploration and use to achieve myriads of rendition of a subject in sketching. Never be scared to utillize whatever is available and take each instrument to the limit of its capability untill you find its uniquness.

The use of water to wash or bleed water soluble inks is exciting if and when fully discovered. It helps to give depths, shapes and forms to your works. Just remember the basic sense of logic, sense of movemnet and directions, layering when needed to and so forth. Explore! Explore!!

I have ventured into the Japanese hearts and minds through my works and my love of the Japanese culture. The character above is from my own imagination and was commented by a fellow Japanese Artist as capturing the Japanese spirit.

What is the Japanese spirit in Art? What is Wabi-Sabi? What is the Code of Bushido?

Everytime i sat and studied this ancient tree growing in the compound of the Yochien or Kindergatern where my children attended at Mukaiyama, I was moved by the connectedness of man and nature that the Japanese has, it is a labor of lov, the harmony of nature and self cultivation.

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Japanese 'Stone Lanterns' were created by designers of 'Tea Garders' to add to the rustic beauty of the garden surrounding the "Tea House" where till this day and age tea drinking ceremonies are being held carried out by the 'Tea Masters". These stone lanterns over long period of time becomes one with the garden when they are coverd with moss and some even chipped or broken down. This gives the garden the illusion of time and impermanence, of nature and man coming together.
Embracing imperfections was honored as a healthy reminder to cherish our unpolished selves, here and now, just as we are, the first step to "Satori' or enlightenment.

While driving north towards Aomori prefecture in Northern Japan, I came upon this apple orchard and this lanscape in winter was to me the epitome of what Japan was all about, the harsh and the preserverance, nature at its worse and its best.

Like everthing else in their lives, Japanese carpentary has mesmerized my mind every so often. The old temples still standing all over the country is testimoy to this feat of human creativity. I have visited as many Old temples in japan as I could and was always moved by the amount of dedication and care given to their construction. These places were meant to evoke from within the beholder a sense of the awesomenss of human endeavors.

There is a small mountain retreat not too far from the City od Sendai called Akiu where one may find a group of Artists living to eachother and doing their work as Carpenters, sculptors, Musicians, Ceramic works, Painters and so on. And here too one can find some of the most beautiful breathtaking scenic views that most artist would die for.
Wabi represents the inner or spiritual experiences of our lives, Lonliness living in nature remote from society, this is Akiu.

Thes two last pieces were etchings done while i was doing my printmaking out of the Miygi Muzium of Fine Arts in Sendai. They were from my trip to Mount Haguro or the three mountains of Dewa SAanzen. Again the Haiku Master passed through here in his historical travels of the Northern Japan and wrote saveral well known Haikus.

Here too you find the Yamabushi monks, keepers of these muntain retreats, known for their eccentricity in practice and lifestyle.

Watercolors in Japan

Water colors I found is one of the best mediums for travel around with as it easy to use with minimal accessories. It is also the most easy to take along due to the minimal space it requires in storage or packing. The above piece was done while visiting KinkaSan Island(Kinka -deer) where you find deers running free like sheep and goats.

If used consistantly as a medium one can develop one's own style and technique, however it is not an easy medium to master and it takes alot of patience and dedication before one can see a good result.

For me rendering a picture in water colors is taking a step further from sketching and drawing.

These watercolors were done when I was travelling around while living in Sendai Japan. Most were of the traditional japanese temple grounds and buildings.

This view of hut built as a lookout platform overlooking the Yamagata Hills was in the Yamadera Temple Complex. One of the oldest of Japanese Buddhist retreats that visited by the famous Haiku Master, Matsu Basho.

The odd looking ferry boat below was done while I was in Matsushima seaside prefecture where there were numerous little islands littering off the coastal fringe. It is considered as the fourth most visited places in Japan by tourists. It is also one of those places visited by the Haiku Master Matsu Basho who it was said was so taken by the beauty of the seaside landscape that he uttered his famous Haiku whis goes something like..

"Matsushima!!

Ya!! Matsushima!!

Matsushima!! Yaaa!!

One can take the ferry trip to view some of the islands off shore and it is worth every yen for it as it is still a rare sight.

When you look at these islands sticking out of the water with some pines sticking atop of them you get a good sense of why the Japanese value the rock gardens and Bonsai trees as part of their aesthetic heritage.

It is almost safe to say that the Japanese landscape has evolved into a well cared for garden with man and nature working closely together in designing it. The Japanese I found were very sensitive to their environmental coexistance with nature, the had found ways and means to eoexist and improve upon nature instead of overcome it like in most other nations.

Trees were manicured and made to look as exciting as it possibly could and some of these efforts took over centuries to achieve. Hence the japanese inherit more than just their personal homes but the whole environment generation after generation often caring for it with spiritual fervor. This is a part of Shintoism, the religion of the ancestors in Japan.

Nowhere in the world is the rites of spring being celebrated more than it is in Japan. The Japanese adore their cherry blossoms to the point of devinity and rightfully so. To them the impermanence of this fleeting life is most spelt out in the blooming sakura which last but for a very short time before dropping to the ground.

A few of my Printmaking Experiments

If I have the excess to a printmaking studio for a month free to do my thing without interference I can create a solo exhibition worthy by any standard of contemporary prinmaking exhibition today. Prinmaking has alway been my love of being an artist.

I used to work around the clock where i eat sleep and whatever else in the the printmaking shop at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay so much so that I was allowed special permission to do so after school hours by the security department of the University.

I did most of these prints While i was living in Sendai, Japan and frequented the Miyagi Museum of Fine Arts where they had an open studio facility for all artists to use. The facility included among other things a Printmaking Studio and i was in Art Heaven!

The Studio brought together many great Japanese Artists and Architects and we shared our thoughts and ideas while doing our respective works. I am proud to say that my Japanese Artist friends considered me a 'Master' in my style of printmaking.

Sadly today it is hard to come by such a work environment much less such a facility where the support and appreciation was genuine and heartfelt that one's creative instincts just manifest unabated.

Today I find Art and creativity has become a competition of who can be the best and make the most money of become the most popular so much so that it has become another merchandise for the market place. Most artists i found have become self serving and to the point of viciousness in protecting their interest or their resources, sharing is becoming a rare trait.

It was at the Miyagi Muzium of Arts in Sendai that i learned what being a caring and sharing Artist was all about. Kudos! to all those who were responsible for the making it happen. The caretakers, the Instructors, the management, it was an ispiring program.

The Sketch of Life.

When travelling in Muslim dominated countries the women cover more of themselves up than when one travels in a non muslim country, except in winter off course. Does this makes the muslim women any less appealing than the non muslim women? The question is mainly aimed at the men naturally however in general is more revelation more appealing?

Sketching rocks and boulders on the river bed of 'Sekayu' in Ulu Terengganu, this was the place that I got my Malaria attacks from in the late 1960s that almost claimed my life after four months in and out of the hospital.

In Simpang To'Ku, Kuala Terengganu is my late brother in law's house and this is the BBQ pit that was rarely put to use 0n the side of the house.

One day I sat underneath the Sultan Mahmud Bridge, locted at Pulau Ketam next to Pulau Duyong and did this sketch.

While having teh tarik at a roadside coffee shop I saw this gentleman sitting all by himself in his own world having his cup of tea.

The Malay sarong has many purposes other than to be worn as a skirt. Here it is being used as a baby bouncer. Along the beaches on the eastcoast it is also handy as a portable toilet where one can just squat and do one's number all in the privacy of one's sarong. So, whats rong with my sarong!?

This is the portrait of the Ustaz who married my wife and I in the Muslim way after my late wife converted to Islam. His comment in Malay after all the trials and tribulations that we had to endure for three days in Penang was, 'Ini semua ada lah krisis pernilaian hidup." Rough translation would be like this is all the woofs and waffs of life.

This is the portrait of my cousin brother Ahmad Kalam who drove us back and forth for three days getting our conversion to Muslim status taken care of. He is the most patient man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life and a true Muslim.

On the last night of our ordeal my late wife and children fell asleep exhuasted at the Sri Malaysia Hotel. Her last comments while in tears before she passed out was, "I thought you told me becoming a Muslim was going to be easy and a happy occaision!"

I was dumbstruck and the only thought that came to my mind to say to her, "Allah is the Great Tester of true believers, and you have just been tested."

It was the fasting month of Ramadan and we were at the Kota Bharu airport waiting for the flight to Penang.. The girls were having their siesta due to lack of service needed at the cafetaria.

I had the opportunity to visit Kota Kinabalu once in 1997 ? and was a guest of the Tengku Adlin family whose home was located on top of a hill overlooking the port and sea.
There is an island across from where I was and it has a flaoting village mostly inhabited by the Philipino migrants to Sabah.