Illustrations for BP Singapore Work Seminar

 

I was called upon to do a series of illustrations for BP (British Petroleum) Singapore. It was for a training seminar. They had a military theme and the training sessions would simulate a platoon briefings in a war zone. Hence they need someone to prepare field graphics which means urgent job and the finishing need not be very polished. There were several topics covered by numerous department heads which I interviewed individually and put their ideas into illustrations. Due to the confidentiality of this ‘military operation’, I can only show a few cropped samples here. I also did a spot illustration for an article in their newsletters. Its been ages since I last did an editorial spot illustration. I started out in 1993 as a freelance illustrator for several key magazines in Singapore. But I gave that up within a year to start and manage a graphic design company.

Note: We established a website specifically for our cartoon and caricature drawing services in January 2008 at: WWW.CARTOON.SG. More caricatures can be viewed there. Please click here.

Chinese Lunar New Year Greetings.

Chinese lunar new year will be celebrated on the 7th of February 2008 to usher in the year of the mouse. We’ve had some orders for caricature illustration by corporations for their festive greetings. These days, that includes e-greetings sent out via email and SMSes. I penciled the concept and Ruoshi watercoloured this illustration for a department of AIG – a multinational financial institution.

A caricature greeting card is always a winner for any festive occasion. Caricatured greeting cards are highly personalised, it is light hearted and gives the receiver a good laugh as they try to recall the likeness.

Wishing one and all “Gong Xi Fa Cai”

 

Note: We established a website specifically for our caricature drawing services in January 2008 at: WWW.CARTOON.SG. More caricatures can be viewed there. Please click here.

Retirement gift for General Manager of TCS

Touch Community Services wanted a gift for their GM that is retiring. They wanted me to portray him as a great motivator and inspiring speaker.

Note: We established a website specifically for our caricature drawing services in January 2008 at: WWW.CARTOON.SG. More caricatures can be viewed there. Please click here.

Singapore: Delicious and Delirious

Mr. Tan Ping Chiang – my mentor at Nafa (he was dean at one time) called me. He was exhilerated that his book is published. So I went out looking for it and found myself a jewel of Singapore illustration.

It is a hard cover, full coloured book filled with Mr Tan’s ink and wash sketches of Singapore life. His candid observations peeked into pockets of our vibrant multi-ethnic society through its colourful festivals, fabulous food and the odd Singaporean antics. His true mastery of the watercolour medium is obviously visible through his free flowing lines, expressive strokes and bold splashes that fill up pages upon pages that make up this exciting journal. I am most honoured that he even captured the experience of attending my wedding ten years ago which must has left a lasting impression on him because ‘the rendang was really shiok‘. This book captures the essence of Singaporean culture and an artistic inspiration. Go buy it!

Travel Sketches – A Journal
Singapore: Delicious and Delirious
Published by Page One Publishing Pte Ltd ©2007
Retail at SGD21.29 at Page One and other leading book stores

Mr Tan Ping Chiang dropped by my mural project site in May last year.

Cool as a Cucumber: Caricature Gift for Retiring Boss.

I received a photograph with this brief:

This is my boss, he is very health conscious, loves golf and is known to be a Mr Cucumber due to his “coolness”. He will retire end of this month and my colleagues and I would like to give him something to laugh about.

That was it and she left the matter entirely to me. The client is as cool as her boss.

 

Post note: We established a website specifically for our caricature drawing services in January 2008 at: WWW.CARTOON.SG. More caricatures can be viewed there. Please click here.

Live Caricature event at Birthday Party

It was the first year birthday party for a girl by the name of Tanirika Raj, held at Daawat Tandoori Restaurant at Singapore Expo. I drew a lot of children and a few friends of this expatriate family from India.

 

Post note: We established a website specifically for our caricature drawing services in January 2008 at: WWW.CARTOON.SG. More caricatures for viewing, please click here.

Graffiti at Haji Lane: News Coverage by NewPaper

Every now and then when the topic of graffiti in Singapore surfaces, I am called upon to comment. I am more than happy to do so because it is an opportunity to correct the misconception that Graffiti is typically related to vandalism.

In the The New Paper article today, I was quoted as:

Local artist and art educator Kamal Dollah said young graffiti artists, unaware of the harsh penalties, ‘tag’ walls to establish themselves.

He believes aspiring artists should look at other avenues to hone their skills instead of defacing public property.

His advice: ‘Spray at the skate park, improve your skills on paper, or display your work on websites such as Deviantart instead of putting it up on the street.’

I would have added the word ‘illegally’ on that last sentence. I suppose I was misquoted by the press. I have no apologies for not ‘keeping it real’ – Just keeping it alive.

Over the months, this blog has archived some interesting coverage on the issues which surrounded the question of legality and artistic merits of graffiti. For the sake of those doing research on graffiti and looking for resources on the topic, I have compiled below the links to my other interviews:

Lianhe Zaobao on 9th December 2007

Straits Times Life on 21st June 2007

Today on 12th June 2007

Caricature drawing workshop at ITE Tampines

Learning how to draw caricatures is not just another boring art lesson. It is an opportunity for young people to come to terms with their appearance. In my lessons, we start by laughing at each others’ feature and realising that we are all unique and that makes us special. The workshop is over four sessions of two hours at ITE Tampines.

Post note: We established a website specifically for our caricature drawing services in January 2008 at: WWW.CARTOON.SG. More caricatures for viewing, please click here.

CWT Tropical Night (Dinner and Dance)

I never imagined we’d be such a hit drawing in the loading bay of a massive warehouse complex at the far end of Singapore (Tanjong Penjuru). It was the dinner and dance event for CWT, a big transportation company and their staff are mostly truck drivers and container movers. They were very appreciative of what we do and the queue got longer as the evening progressed. We were both in high gear, breaking our speed limit and still the event organiser extended it to three hours. That was one hell of a moving experience.

Me and Ruoshi in an empty loading bay…

…which got filled up pretty fast with people queing to have their caricature drawn.

This job allows you to look long at hard at pretty girls…

…and guys you don’t wish to mess up with. Better get that right!

LOL did I just drew Samuel L. Jackson?

 

Post note: We established a website specifically for our caricature drawing services in January 2008 at: WWW.CARTOON.SG. More caricatures for viewing, please click here.