Happy New Year 2019 / January 1, 2019 by erwin lian

Wishing you a joyous New Year!

As we bid farewell to 2018, I find myself contemplating the accomplishments and experiences that have shaped this year. Gratitude fills my heart for the opportunities generously provided by many of you.

2018:

Orchestrated the curated group show INTERLACE with Bynd Artisan, featuring esteemed international artists and notable patrons. Special guest of honor: Miss Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State at the Ministries of Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry.

Led Sketch Bhutan 2018 in June.

Successfully completed the Botanical Watercolour Workshop at Bynd Artisan.

Guess who attended my Botanical Watercolor Workshop at Bynd Artisan ? Stefanie Sun ! — Guess who graced my Botanical Watercolor Workshop at Bynd Artisan? None other than Stefanie Sun!

Earned a remarkable 4.9-star rating for Sketch Singapore on Airbnb Experience with Francis Theo.

Delivered lectures at Nanyang Technological University on the module "Concepts for Digital Imaging" and at Ngee Ann as the module leader for "Drawing & Perspective,""Visual Communication," and "3D Form and Space."

Executed commissioned works for both the National University of Singapore and the Bank of Singapore.

National University of Singapore Calendar 2019

One of the many paintings that was commissioned by Bynd Artisan and Bank of Singapore for their corporate calendar 2019. — Highlighted by one of many paintings commissioned by Bynd Artisan and the Bank of Singapore for their corporate calendar 2019.

Collaborated on postcard souvenirs in Bhutan with Kencho.

Relocated to Hong Kong and joined SISHKl, securing a Cat 1 IB teaching certificate. Successfully implemented new foundation classes for S3 students.

My instructor Ms Ayoka teaching us about IB Arts at UWC college in Singapore.

Sold the rights of The Perfect Sketchbook to Etchr Lab, paving the way for global distribution and exciting releases in 2019. Stay tuned by signing up for the mailing list!

https://etchrlab.com/pages/the-perfect-sketchbook?utm_source=website&utm_campaign=erwin_site

While the year brought numerous achievements, there were some goals I fell short on:

• Publishing a tutorial book on painting.
• Establishing online lessons.
• Conducting drawing/painting workshops in Hong Kong.
• Presenting a solo show in Hong Kong.

Here are some sketches created during my time in Hong Kong. Admittedly, my productivity in painting hasn't been as high as before. Nonetheless, I look forward to the possibilities that the coming year holds.

Demonstration sketch of drawing the hallway. I captured one of my student, working in the hallway.

The only time I get to draw is during my daily 45 minutes commute to the school

Attended the 24 hours race and was on duty. Sketch our students at rest.

The morning MTR. A time catch up with more sleep.

Digital sketch of the urban sketchers HK at work

Personal development day at the school. Principle giving us a lesson on discipline.

My colleagues schooling a bunch of kids with great enthusiasm and energy..

Stem quiz in school. Intelligence all over the place.

Quick demonstration for the school’s CCA with the Ipad on the view outside our campus.

How students are like during assembly time.

A new chapter in Hong Kong / August 16, 2018 by erwin lian

Embracing a departure from my past successes and familiar surroundings, I recently made a bold choice to relocate to Hong Kong. This new chapter has proven to be quite intriguing. However, due to space constraints, I couldn't bring many art supplies or sketchbooks, prompting me to rely on my iPad for most of my recent sketches.

On a positive note, I've successfully revamped my sleep pattern and now engage in daily gym sessions at 5:30 am.

30 Kg was all I can bring. Heavy enough to make me feel the weight of baggages .

I moved into a tiny but nice place with a community of friendly people from all around the world.

Jack and Kenny. Two of the many friendly staffs who manage the apartment that I am staying at

The passengers I recorded during my commute one day. Many interesting faces in this uber dense city.

I decided to teach art in a secondary school here in Hong Kong.

Our principle giving us, the new staffs an opening speech during our induction program

Induction program continues with more information. HR, Finance, IT, Teaching for Learning .....the whole nine yards...

Induction program pauses with a school gathering in a Hotel with team bonding activities and tasks. Didn't have an ipad so its down to the hotels' pen and paper. There was a painting competition to draw a sun ...and I rubbed some pigment on the canv… — During the induction program, there was a school gathering at a hotel featuring team bonding activities and tasks. Lacking my iPad, I utilized the hotel's pen and paper for the events. One memorable occasion involved a painting competition where the task was to draw a sun. Using some pigments and canvas, I submitted my creation. To my surprise, I won the competition with a humorous touch – a reminder that sometimes improvisation leads to unexpected victories.

More induction program with more information.

Sketch Bhutan June 2018 / June 28, 2018 by erwin lian

Last week marked the successful collaboration with Drukasia for Sketch Bhutan 2018, a unique sketching tour. Similar to the previous year, participants from Australia and Singapore joined the all-inclusive tour, engaging in the art of sketching and painting while exploring the captivating landscapes of Bhutan over a 7-day period.

Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha (36.5 cm x 24 cm)

Shop houses opposite the post office. (26 cm x 18 cm)

The backstory to and Foundation of Sketch Bhutan:
Around three years ago, the journey began with a month-long volunteer experience in Bhutan, where I served as an art coach in primary schools and organizations.

Taught drawing to Shaba Primary and donated some art supplies to their art club.

During this period, I initiated the Thimphu chapter of Urban Sketchers, an effort to foster local artistic communities. However, the internal conflict arose when faced with the question of encouraging art as a hobby or a potential livelihood for Bhutanese children. This dilemma inspired the inception of Sketch Bhutan, aiming to bring tourists to Bhutan not just for sketching and touring but for meaningful interactions with local artists.

The founding members of Urban Sketchers, Thimphu

At Shaba Primary, I brought them art supplies and sketchbooks sponsored by Bynd Artisan and a few friends.

Unique Focus of Sketch Bhutan
In contrast to conventional sketching experiences, Sketch Bhutan distinguishes itself by not solely emphasizing technical competencies. The primary goal is to offer participants the perfect travel sketching experience, allowing them to immerse themselves comfortably in the environment. This is facilitated by the presence of a professional tour guide and driver, providing a harmonious on-location group sketching experience.

Highlights of Sketch Bhutan 2018:
The tour showcased various highlights, including discovering a new sketching and painting spot at Tashichho Dzong. VAST Bhutan graciously hosted the group, with local students acting as models. Noteworthy moments included a spontaneous encounter with local children offering candies during sketching in Thimphu and the exploration of color theory and watercolor techniques in Punakha. The tour concluded with a visit to the iconic Tiger Nest at Paro.

Another successful run of portrait drawing at VAST Bhutan

Sangay and her friend Tshsten were our beautiful models

Punakha Dzong. The most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan

Next Sketch Bhutan and Leadership Transition:
The future of Sketch Bhutan hinges on the interest of at least four participants who can register through the Drukasia tour agency. Bhutan's esteemed artist, Rajesh, a co-founder of VAST Bhutan, will take the lead in guiding future sketching sessions. Interested participants are encouraged to contact Drukasia for more information.

Rajesh, one of the finest artists in Bhutan will be leading Sketch Bhutan tours. Contact Drukasia to book your next sketching tour.

Learnings and Reflections: The narrative outlines the evolution of Sketch Bhutan over multiple trips, emphasizing personal growth and learning:

1st time:

The enchantment with Bhutan's landscape and the realization of a wish to paint the place.
An interesting exchange - my sketches featured on Drukasia's corporate calendar in return for a two-week trip to Bhutan.

Paintings featured in Drukasia's calendar

2nd time:
Solo painting trip.

A solo painting trip led to unique encounters and opportunities, including a commissioned painting for Drukair and participation in a group show in Singapore..

Group show with Asha Karma and other VAST artists.

3rd time:

A more extended stay in Bhutan involved teaching and volunteering at various schools.
Immersive experiences in local life and the founding of the Urban Sketchers, Thimphu chapter..

Teaching basic of drawing at VAST Bhutan

Assisted in founding the Urban Sketchers, Thimphu chapter. The subsequent year saw the founding members of Urban Sketchers, Thimphu, receiving invitations to participate in the Urban Sketchers Symposium held in Singapore.

4th time:

The initiation of Sketch Bhutan in collaboration with Drukasia, involving eight special participants.
Confronting challenges in running a successful traveling workshop, touching upon aspects such as cost, preparation, marketing, logistics, and teaching materials.

5th time:
Second Sketch Bhutan.

Successful handover of Sketch Bhutan to Bhutanese artist Rajesh.

Operations continue with increased frequency and the passing on of responsibilities.
Reflections on the impact of interactions with romance and the realization of a 'role-reversal' effect, gaining insight into personal predicaments and solutions.

Botanical workshop at Bynd Artisan. / May 20, 2018 by erwin lian

Thank you, everyone, for your incredible support.

As we approach the conclusion of our watercolor botanical workshop at Bynd Artisan, I reflect on the journey that began two years ago. Over this period, I've gained profound insights into the realms of art, commerce, and life. Surprisingly, the genesis of this workshop can be traced back to an error made during our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign—a mistake that ultimately led to a chapter worth sharing, despite the typical reluctance to acknowledge missteps in business.

Last few sessions and we worked on Color temperature, color mixing and color theory.

n the face of unexpected challenges, the best solutions and opportunities often emerge. Accidental mistakes and chance encounters can unveil unique competitive advantages, as exemplified by iconic products like 3M's sticky pad and the Sony PlayStation.

Background story:
Our Indiegogo campaign saw a procurement mishap; we inadvertently ordered hot press instead of cold press paper. Unwilling to disclose this error to our backers, we swiftly imported a new batch of paper from Italy. Despite a minor delay, we fulfilled all orders. Faced with surplus hot press paper, the idea for a botanical workshop took root. I embraced the challenge of creating teaching materials and launching the class, initially uncertain of its longevity.

This was the entire stash of hot press paper from Fabriano.

However, thanks to growing awareness, particularly propelled by celebrity blogger Yina Goh, Evonne Ng, and their blogger friends, the workshop flourished. A feature in Time Out magazine further elevated its profile, introducing me to numerous distinguished guests.

Celebrity Bloggers and their friends: Yina, Evonne, Tricia, Min, Reenie, Jess, Ying and Jeneen

Special thanks to Yina, Evonne and their friends for their support.

Key Learnings from the Workshops:

1 ) Proactive Sales Efforts:
A good workshop doesn't sell itself; witnessing Bynd Artisan's sales team tirelessly engage potential customers highlighted the importance of proactive outreach and education.

I don't know how he does it.  But he is always breaking the ice and striking conversation with customers even when some can be so unfriendly. Sales team matter a lot and the hustle is real. — I don't know how he does it. But he is always breaking the ice and striking conversation with customers even when some can be so unfriendly. Sales team matter a lot and the hustle is real.

2) Experience Trumps Skills:
The value of accomplishing something new within a few hours often surpasses the significance of acquiring specific skills. Adjusting the workshop content accordingly became crucial.

3) Network Building:
Recognizing the importance of networking, I aim to integrate more opportunities for participants to connect with one another in future workshops.

4) Unforeseen Opportunities:
The workshops not only showcased my botanical painting skills but also attracted commission work opportunities, highlighting the unexpected paths creativity can lead us down.

A commission work painted for a local Bank.

5) Appreciation for Fresh Flowers:
Despite initial skepticism about the value of buying flowers, painting real flowers revealed their unique qualities and emphasized the importance of appreciating life's fragility and beauty.

A lot more work to prepare real flowers but I think its worth it.

Mr Chong, master craftman at Bynd Artisan attended our workshop as well :)

Speaking of which, I absolutely love this article written by Alisha Gorder on NYTimes Modern Love:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/fashion/one-bouquet-of-fleeting-beauty-please.html

“Why do we send flowers? To make up for what is intangible? Those feelings we can’t hold in our hands and present as a gift to our loved ones? And why is it that the placeholders we choose — the dozen red roses, the fragrant white lilies, the long-stemmed French tulips — are so fleeting? Hold on to them for too long and you end up with a mess of petals, pollen, and foul-smelling water.” – Alisha Gorder

Some earlier batches where the practise was a little tougher.

As we bid farewell to this chapter, I extend heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at Bynd Artisan—Winnie, James, Kenny, Donavan, Grace, Mr. Chong, Corinne, Brandon, and more—for your years of trust, support, and collaboration.

While this workshop concludes, I look forward to establishing a new sketching experience in another city.

Farewell, for now.

Concept of Digital Imaging. / May 8, 2018 by erwin lian

It may come as a surprise to many who knew me for my traditional arts. Those who knew me for my digital work were equally surprised when I pivoted to traditional medium. I don't particularly dislike digital work. Rather, I suffer repetitive stress injuries when I spent too much time on computer.

INTERLACE, A Group Show Featuring The Sketchbooks of 20 Artists / March 30, 2018 by erwin lian

INTERLACE will be concluding this weekend, on March 31, 2018. As I reflect on the past few weeks, during which I conducted several guided tours, I want to share some thoughts behind the creation of this sketchbook exhibition.

A heartfelt thank you to all the participating artists who have played a crucial role in bringing INTERLACE to life. This exhibition, featuring the works of 20 distinguished artists, is a testament to their support for The Perfect Sketchbook.

How did this start?
The concept originated from the recognition that a sketchbook encapsulates an artist's most intimate ideas and processes. With the belief that a high-quality sketchbook enhances artistic expression, I envisioned showcasing the works of our finest and most influential backers from The Perfect Sketchbook campaign. Recognizing the challenge of transforming this project into a sustainable business, I set aside books after each release and explored collaboration opportunities with galleries and museums. Despite facing rejections from galleries in America, I persisted. The breakthrough came when Winnie, the owner of Bynd Artisan, suggested hosting the show in their retail store. Although space was limited, the prime location promised substantial foot traffic. To offset shipping costs for the artists, we decided to sell the last 50 reserved copies of The Perfect Sketchbook B5 during the launch of our group show, INTERLACE.

To accommodate the unique format of the exhibition, which features 20 sketchbooks, we crafted custom frames. These frames not only securely held the sketchbooks but also allowed for easy page changes. For instance, if a sketchbook displayed 5 painted spreads, it had to be easily removable from the frame for flipping to the next page and seamless reinstallation.

For more in-depth insights into the exhibition, you can find a detailed interview on James Gurney’s blog at
http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.sg/2018/03/sketchbook-exhibition-in-singapore.html

Who are these 20 artists?
They are all backers of The Perfect Sketchbook and their complete profiles can be found in this PDF file

James Gurney (http://jamesgurney.com)

One of the most prolific plein-air painter in this world. New York Times best-selling author of The Dinotopia Series and author of the book Colors and Lights. I was really fortunate to receive
his support when I first launched The Perfect Sketchbook on Kickstarter. James was generous enough to share my project with his audiences and play a crucial role with success of The Perfect Sketchbook

Nathan Fowkes (http://www.nathanfowkesart.com/)

A veteran in the entertainment industry with credits in more than 11 feature films. His work is amazing and I am a fan. Super fortunate to receive his support and was completely over the moon when he agreed to participate in our group show.

Catherine Hamilton (http://mydogoscar.com/birdspot/)

Catherine's exquisite paintings and studies of birds caught my attention. She’s an ambassador for Zeiss and travels around the world studying birds.

Marvin Chew (https://www.marvinchew.com/)

Shop houses along Kreta Ayer Road by Marvin Chew

Former vice-president of The Singapore Watercolor Society. Marvin’s work is well known in Singapore and he has been supportive of The Perfect Sketchbook since the first edition. During our Indiegogo campaign, Marvin shared professional tips on using watercolor.

Don Low (http://www.donlow-illustration.com/)

One of the most underrated artist in Singapore who is well versed in just about any medium.

Isabella King (http://isabellakung.com/)

An award-winning children book illustrator based in San Francisco. Talented and helped share The Perfect Sketchbook campaign to people in North Cal.

Jerome Moo (http://jeromemoo.com/)

I got to know Jerome because he backed the most B5 Sketchbooks and caught my attention. I later learn that he worked at Lucasfilm and is a great Plein-air painter. He now works as a senior matte painter at Weta Digital in New Zealand

Justin Pastores (http://www.justinpastores.com/)

One of my earliest instagram follower whom I noticed to have great work and paints diligently. He’s been a great supporters for all our sketchbook.

Audrey (https://www.instagram.com/audrey_ish/)

Audrey and I partnered on a few business ventures in the past and most of the inspirations for The Perfect Sketchbook were extracts from her. A pivotal supporter and an amazing artist with a passion in animation and dance.

Tracy Lewis (http://www.tracylewisart.com/

An amazing watercolorist who is known for her transparent watercolor with a candy coat of Easter-like color. Beautiful work that also caught my attention when I noticed how she painted.

Fawn Veerasunthorn (https://www.instagram.com/fawnv/)

Known for her amazing storyboard work in numerous Disney Featured Films. I was lucky to have gone to school with her and managed to garner her support during The Perfect Sketchbook Campaign.

Ryan Green (https://www.instagram.com/ryangreenart/)

Husband of Fawn. Ryan also worked at Disney featured film and saved Hei Hei from getting killed in the movie, Moana. Super fortunate to have gotten his support early on during our Kickstarter Campaign. He paid attention to my campaign and advised me to disengage with adversary early on during our campaign.

Hiroshi Hayakawa (http://www.hiroshi-hayakawa.com/

My talented Photography Professor from Columbus College of Art. He supported heavily when our kickstarter was literally stuck and not making it. Hiroshi is also well versed in traditional medium and is the author of a series of Kirigami books.

Nathaniel Underwood (https://www.instagram.com/nathaniel_underwoodart/

Painting buddy from Columbus College of Art who supported my Kickstarter and is an amazing painter currently represented by Sharon Weiss Gallery in Columbus

Iuri Lioi (http://www.iurilioi.com/

Visual Development Artist at Dreamworks. I know Iuri from Graduate School at The Ohio State University but knew he was such a good painter until I saw his work in The Perfect Sketchbook.

Anthony Francisco (https://www.instagram.com/anthony_francisco_art/

Known for his involvement with Marvel Comic Universe. Anthony is a Visual Development Concept Artists at Marvel. Was fortunate to receive his support during our first kickstarter.

Namchai Saensupha (https://www.instagram.com/namchai_sketches/)

An Architect from Thailand who caught my attention with his amazing watercolor landscapes.
One of my favorite artists when it comes to style and attitude.

Steve Mitchell (http://stevemitchelldesign.com/)

Transparent watercolor by Steve Mitchell

A prominent Youtube Artist with the channel, Mind of Watercolor. I approached Steve during my Indiegogo campaign was very fortunate to receive his support. He was generous enough to share my campaign with his audiences.

Jackson Dryden (https://www.instagram.com/drydenart/)

Transformation of a Diety by Jackson Dryden

An amazing artist with a passion for sketchbooks. Jackon caught my attention when it comes to stylization and skills.

The question of "WHY?" looms large. I embarked on this journey to prove to myself that greatness is not confined to wealth or fame. Traveling the world, creating our own products, and hosting a group show with limited capital—these accomplishments are a testament to what can be achieved with determination and support. The show, the sketchbooks, and the travels have provided profound insights into my delusional thoughts about art, business, and life. I am sincerely grateful for the unwavering support I have received from everyone along the way.

How to make use of fresh pigment to paint on-site. / April 16, 2017 by erwin lian

Perhaps the most useful technique by watercolor plein-air artists.

This technique allow you to complete a painting on-site without getting bugged down by details or with too many glazes. Theoretically, you can complete within 3 layers. However, apart from time constraint, there aren't any rules to why you should limit yourself to just 3 layers. Bear in mind that this method is most appropriate when you use fresh pigment from a tube..

Here's how you work the magic. By the way, I am demonstrating with just two colors. Why ? Because beginners too often have problem managing colors . If you can't even work with 2 ? Reduce it to one. There's no prize for the artists who uses most colors.

At the most fundamental level, one just need to ensure that that the correct sense of color temperature is in place. Excessive colors rarely enhance an image when the temperature shift is nothing but a chaos.

Important things to remember when painting:

Shapes + Composition (Simplification and design is key. It is literally impossible to paint everything)
Value structure / Good drawing / Chiaroscuro (extremely important for watercolor since it rely extensively on light versus dark dramatic structure )
Soft versus hard edges
Color temperature (warm versus cool) . There is no need to score accurate color. A painter merely depict a color's relationship to its surrounding. e.g does the color have more warmth (Red or orange) or cool (Green or blue) in it ?

Think about the density of tea, milk or cream to assess how thick or thin your paints are. Maximum coverage is made with the thinnest layer, mid tone and shadow mass are all connected with milk layer and details are left in for for thickest coa… — Think about the density of tea, milk or cream to assess how thick or thin your paints are. Maximum coverage is made with the thinnest layer, mid tone and shadow mass are all connected with milk layer and details are left in for for thickest coat of paint. (error - Tea layer was yellow orche and not burnt sienna as written above:)

Putting it all together: (two colors)

The technique sounds all easy but can be quite a challenge when you are on-site and overwhelmed by the gamut of colors and details that mother nature throws at you.

The truth is, no one can paint everything on the spot. A good painting isn't a good photo and how you capture the essence creates the impression that mattered the most. (Paint language)
A few things to note:

Things will change.
You are painting an illusion and it doesn't have to include everything.
A quick thumbnail study is exceptionally useful for a complicated scene. I often make the mistake of painting without preparation, only to regret after I lay down the first wash.
Resolve your value structure before you paint. Changes in light cannot affect your vision if you have this road map. Its also a whole lot easier to focus on other aspects of painting if you have this.

An illustration of how this works. Putting it together for a scene . Note that you want to cover as much as possible with the first lay-in wash. — An illustration of how this works. Putting it together for a scene . Note that you want to cover as much as possible with the first lay-in wash.