Father Day Gift

Last week I did a frame for my customer. It is her father's 50 years old ping pong racket, the racket mean so much to her father and she decided to frame it and want to give him a surprise on the Father Day.

I use a hand finished wooden frame and intended to find some antique looked matting but found none from our supplier. So, Ching had to do the artworks design for the frame background. Since we can't found the old look colour and texture style matting here, so we had to design an `artificial faded colour' finishing to replace the antique look's texture matboard. We inserted some wording (greeting and some history) as well so that someone will appreciate when they look at the frame.

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…..

What happened to Malaysia artist and gallery?

I am a frame maker and I love to tour around the art gallery whenever I see one , or there is an exhibition going on, I think I will be one of the uninvited guest to visit.

It is quite common as a qualify framer, I expected to see some good framing for original painting, especially the expensive one, but what a let down. The majority of the frames are not properly done and preserve. Some were badly fitting with the width of the "gap" of the internal frame varying on each side. On the water colours where mat board was used, I found that most of matting are over cuts and hooked corners. All the mat are not acid free as well!

I dared to question some of the gallerists about these faults and got some interesting (and funny!) replies.....

1) aiya...the buyer is only interested in the art, they can change the framing if they like!
2) as an artist, the frame are secondary.
3) aiyo.....framing is so expensive la.. we have so many artworks to be framed, you know??.
4) Yes I can see the frame is damaged....we are rushing for the show... a last minute work, this kind of workmanship considered OK laa.....
5) proper framing....who care? Nobody will know!

These pictures had price tags from RM 2,000 to RM20,000 - many over RM10,000. I found it very disappointing to see such expensive original art so sloppily framed.
Are the artists or the galleries choosing the wrong framers?
Are the framers failing to sell their skills ?
Can't find any trained or experinced framers in their area?
Or the artist never feel their own work is worth for good framing?
Gallery curator who doesnt care??

Oh,...what happened to you guys???

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!!

We love travelling..

My wife and I love travelling...no matter how poor we are getting!....If we have enough saving $$, we will go a little bit far from Malaysia. Anyhow we will just stay at a cheap hostel, if we are ruuning out of $ .. then we will go to our neighbouring country like Thailand, Singapore or Indonesia...... Hmmnnn...if no money at all...then travel locally lo...like Cameron Highland..also `syok' ma....... as long as we can travel!....

here are some of our travelling's photos....Japan, Australia, France, England, Netherland, Austria, Italy, German, ....just share a few with you....LETS TRAVEL!!!

framed car number plate

did a multi layered frame for a customer to display the car number plate

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

our trip in London, Sep 2007

photo of our trip to london last september.
digitally altered and grouped together, add in some background sketches.

then, framed with the maple leaves we collected in a park in Shepherd Bush. where we stayed.