Has Penang Heritage Building Been Moved?

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

We had our annual dinner at G Hotel yesterday! It was a Lobster buffet dinner, we have had a great time together. The food and the ambiance. We were captivated by G Hotel trendy and hip design.

May you have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

fill with joy and love!

Greetings from,

ArtBug Frame & Art Gallery

Our Gallery Business Hour

Hi all, in order to provide you personal attention, our gallery located at 26 Nagore Road, Georgetown, business hour is now changed to by appointment only. Please call us at 012-500 9306 or email to info [!at] artbug [dot] biz to arrange for a meeting.

We would love to meet up with you to discuss any framing needs or home decoration requirements.

How to Decorate Your Home with Abstract Canvas Art

Do you want to decorate your home with abstract canvas art? Whilst your choice is indeed excellent, you should know that there is more to decorating your home with abstract canvas art than just buying a piece of abstract art on canvas from a gallery. You have to make sure that your piece of art fits snugly in the room you are going to put it in.

There are a few guidelines that you should bear in mind when you decorate your home with abstract canvas art. These guidelines will ensure that you will be showcasing your art in the way it is meant to be showcased. Moreover, you will be creating a room that is beautiful to look at and pleasant to stay in.

Before You Buy Abstract Canvas Art

The first step that you should take when decorating with abstract art is to take into consideration the room itself. If you are still in the process of decorating your house, you should finish decorating first. Get your walls painted, your floors carpeted or covered with rugs and your furniture in place before you consider wall art.

The reason why you should finish decorating first before you buy abstract canvas art is because your art pieces should serve as finishing touches to the room. You would need to know what the room would look like beforehand so you would be able to get the appropriate art pieces.

What would be the appropriate art pieces for your room? It depends on which furniture pieces and other artworks will be displayed along with your abstract painting. The painting should not be larger than the furniture piece itself and should somehow create a unified look when grouped with these furniture pieces and other decorative objects you will be putting with it.

Another guideline that will help you is to hang your abstract canvas art on the focal wall of the room. The focal wall is the wall that faces the entryway of the room. In this way, anyone entering the room will be instantly drawn to the painting. It is the best way to showcase any painting, whether it is an expensive original artwork or a cheap reproduction.

Hanging Your Abstract Canvas Art

Let us say that you have already bought the abstract canvas art that you believe is right for your room. How are you supposed to hang and display it? As mentioned above, the painting you have selected should help create a unified look with the rest of the furnishings in the room. Second, you have to hang it somewhere where it can be seen easily, such as the focal wall of the room.

A third thing you need to remember is that you should not leave a lot of space between the painting and the furniture near it. Putting them close together will add to the unified look that you are trying to achieve.

Another guideline that will be helpful to you is to imagine an imaginary rectangle when you are hanging your abstract canvas art and confine your pictures within this imaginary rectangle. This is especially helpful if you have a number of small abstract canvas art pieces that you are grouping together. In this way, your wall display will appear neat, clean and pretty instead of cluttered.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/how-to-decorate-your-home-with-abstract-canvas-art-1269518.html

ArtBug Roller Shutter Design

We just installed a new sticker on our gallery's roller shutter.  How's the look? :)

Customer like to say this....

For the past 10 years working as a framer. I would say that custom framing is not an easy business to run in Malaysia. Why I say? just listen to things that customers love to say,

• `wow, so expensive one ah! the framing is cost more than my picture, you know!!!'
  
• `aiya....why so expensive one...framing is just to put 4 pieces of wood together....so easy work, you charge me so expensive meh?!'
  
• `hey, boss. Dont charge me expensive huh....I want something cheap but look very big (grand) and very nice one!'
• `can not give discount meh? Tesco and Giant also give discount this week!' 
• `can less 30% ah? no budget for that....'
• `glass shop at Chulia Street charge me much more cheaper you know?....I know you can do good design but I see the materials are the same one!'
• `Never mind la....It doesn't matter what is looks like as long as it is cheap, anyhow it's just a gift'
  
• `I am very kiam siap type, dont charge me high laa.....'
• `People said you are the best in Penang, so you charge very expensive lor?'
• `15 years ago...I did a frame before in Penang Road...it was cheap....now very expensive laa.....'

Some other very funny questions...( should I laugh or cry on these??? )

• `You just open this shop here? Why never see you one' and My answer. "Yes I did. 10 years ago".
• `i dont want to spend more....the art will eventually sell to my clients....some more I am just another poor artist'
• `Do you do framing? Can you frame family photo?'
  
• `You really cut frames and put them together yourself? You dont look like a carpenter wor!'
  
• `Does glass break ah?'
  
• `Can your frame last for 100 years?'
• `Can you recommed any other frame maker in this area?'
• `how much you charge of doing one frame?' Come on, how do I know what kind of framing work you want me to do????????
• `sorry huh....I dont want to do frame...justs want to check where is Cititel Hotel'
  

Just summarizw here....Penang customer want something BIG, NICE AND VERY CHEAP!!! :)

A guest from Australia.

Today a friend from down under visited me again, a regular guest to Penang Island. Richard is from Adelaide.

He brought me a few lettering cut matboards by his Wizard CMC this time. The matboard with the lettering cut of ARTBUG!( my gallery name on it!) He wanted to give me an idea how a CMC could help my business if I can buy one. He still feel surprised to see how could I cut different shape of opening just with my manual cutter and a few plastic template.

Richard also brought some framing material catalogs for my reference. I understand that he just want to help me so that I could have more complete framing materials in my workshop one day. He said he is going back to check with Australia distributor like Antons and LJ if they can arrange to export their products to Malaysia! ( what can I say......Richard is so kind to share his information and very sincere offering his help....I couldnt give him a nicely cut matboard as he does as he has a better one at his workshop. So I invited him for a lunch!! and I am glad that he was enjoying our local dishes...)

Just forget to let you guys know that he is a one of the Committee Members of PICTURE FRAMERS GUILD OF AUSTRALIA. (PFGA) He is definately the best and a very hardworking committee member! He help the framer even not from his country and not belong to his chapter. ( I am a PPFA member of US and Fine Art Trade Guild of UK! )

PPFA Certified Picture Framer Exam

I always want to be able to speak and understand well English language. But I still facing difficulties to understand it whenever I read an English Book or watching a Hollywood movie.

This time I have no choice. Because of the CPF exam, I bought my 2nd English dictionary two weeks ago. ( I bought my first one during my schooling day, the Indian English teacher `forced’ us to do so! And now I regret I didn’t listen to him and fully utilize the dictionary as much as possible. ).

So now and again, I can’t understand so many words in these reference books recommended by PPFA, there are so many terms and wording that confusing me. I need to browse the dictionary more than 10 times just only doing one page of reading! How I am going to finish so many books within 11 days after spending so much time on `reading’ dictionary!!!

Now, there are only few days left before I fly to Australia for my test. You know what?! I am still browsing my brand new dictionary more than the books every night!!! I feel worry that I might catch by the tricky questions because of my poor understanding…..

Tibet and the Beijing Olympics 2008

Tibet and Beijing Olympic seems become another hot issue recently.Some western countries have create tension by using the human right issue towards the hitorical sport event's organizer. Sometime I am wondering why Dalai want to raise the independant's matter during this time? Isnt that he is a monk! Why involved in politics? And why those countries tend to boycott the Beijing Olympics because of it's China's interior matter? What is the motive behind?...I think this is not good to manipulate the human right issue and fail the sporting event! Go and fight China and dont disturb the Olympics!!
Anyhow, This issue is a bit complicated for an ordinary man, like me. So, I better keep my mouth shut!

When the Tibet issue become the topic for the whole world, it just happened that I have so many Tibet's Thanka painting to be frame recently. Even the walk in customer offered much higher price to buy from my another customer's thanka painting (which is framed in my gallery). Suddenly, Thanka painting becomes a popular painting! ( I dont know if Christie's has noticed that!) Previously nobody want it here because those painting are more on religious, the monk has blessed and prayed on the painting. So, only buddist like me will keep it. But now, it is selling like hot cake! I had framed about 10 pieces of thanka painting in the last 2 weeks. I think I want to sell the one that I hang in my room. I will use that money to buy a PDA!

Examination Again!

I am going back to the examination hall again! On 1st of June, I will sit for the CPF’test conducted by PPFA at the PMA show at Brisbane, Australia.

I have a month period to study, time passing and yet I still couldn’t find the urge and lack of `spirit’ to open my books. What is playing inside my mind is “I am busy and I have stuff to do! or I still have plenty of time to prepare; I will do it when the time comes….”

I am wondering why I don’t have the sense of panic like my high school final exam?! Am I too old to enter the examination hall again?! Am I over confident? This is not right! I could feel the nervous when I came to know that I have to study so many books for the test. So, I may have forgotten how little time is left and how much more there is to do for the test.

Aaahh…I have to sit down and start sometime, somewhere…have a cup of coffee ….I will do it this evening.


see the lazy cat!!

Heritage Buildings of Penang

Home Concepts january/february 2008 issue, writes about Heritage Buildings of Penang. "Pre-war shophouses lining the narrow, winding streets of Georgetown contribute to the old city's unique appeal and relaxing feel. ..
ArtBug gallery is also one of the Heritage Buildings of Penang ... which is restored and alive again! we love our heritage buildings of its characters and aesthetics beauty.

The Shadow Box Jan 23 ~ Jan 24 2008

Interested please visit http://www.wretch.cc/blog/QYTheater

Framing Business in Malaysia

A guest from Australia walked in to our gallery last week. We are glad to know that he is a picture framer from Adelaide. He told us that he was attracted by the window sticker, " Guild Commended Framer"( GCF). And I think may be he was surprised to find out there is a UK's Fine Art Guild Framer in Malaysia.

According to one of the leading wood frame exporter in Malaysia, most of the picture framers in Malaysia are not well educated in this field. They learn the skills of making frame from the older generation (frame maker) or their parents. Normally they don't realize if the framing method is appropriate or not, as long as they think it is right and getting the job done. I have seen a framer try to wet mount a RM55,000 oil painting to a plywood backing board. He said this will make the oil paint looks flat and even! And another framer trimmed down an old water colour painting as he had not enough wood moulding for that framing job. Sounds crazy, isn't it?

Some of the frame maker friends are making joke of me for sitting the GCF test. They said I was wasting my time studying and wasting my money flying to London and get a "nobody care"'s certificate! I am sure they don't understand at least now I know better what is the proper way of frame making. Now I know how to help my customer to preserve their artworks or collection. With the qualification, I feel more confident to consult and help my customers. (Never mind, let them laugh! The customer's eye is bright....sooner later....they know who is the right person to frame thier artwork!)

However, as one of the many framer in Malaysia, we find difficulties to get the good framing materials in Malaysia. For example we don't have the conservation mount board selling here, no UV glass, form board, acid free or cloth tape, no hanging systems kits,.....and many more. The local framing wholesalers told us....no demand for this stuffs! so, sorry for that! That is why, we always have to scratch our head to find a way and making used of the local materials for our framing works.

Another issue,.....we are facing problem to get the good quality frame woods.... we have the good wood frame manufacturers in Malaysia but they are keen on export business ( making more money....US and Europe currency is profitable!) rather than supply to the local framers. (Good frames are not available for Malaysian...and dont blame the framers!) So, we have a very limited choices. I went to a few places like Perth, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Munich.... and I am so admired the framers there. They have all the good suppliers like Larson & Juhl ( http://www.larsonjuhl.com/ ), NielsenBainbridge (http://www.nielsenbainbridge.com/ ) .... where they can provide more than 300o choice of frames to their customers! And they don't have to keep big quantity of stocks...In Malaysia, we have only 200-300 choices. And we need to keep the stock! See, how pity is the framing business in Malaysia.

Yes...this is the fact of FRAMING business in Malaysia. Accept it!

the beauty of nature - greenery

photo was taken from my garden.
the greenery, the morning dew, the young leafs shoot
green and refreshing. the beauty of tropical garden ...

our newly designed letter box

our newly designed letter box. painted with fresh green colors! filled with our house number. 26 !

Our Renewed Site is Up!!! Yahoo!

finally our official ArtBug website is up and refreshen!

it is more contents compact compare to the previous one...

products listing are compiled in a more complete way.

and... along the way we will make it more informative .. so please pay us a visit anytime when you are free :)

cheers!

~ching

Hello!

our blog of 'ArtBug Buzzing...' is born today... yahooooo!
we will share with you our new coming activities and any interesting events surrounding us.. please come back and visit us often ..
cheers!

~ ching