Passion4Life: An Artist For A Week.

I was calculating and interpreting a clients life graph and suddenly the phone rung. " Hey Azre, Recognize me?" Oh my God, I already graduated from high school and this was my headmistress who called me to come to school to see her and I wondered why. But I made an appointment to do so on next Monday.

Objective : My school is in a Lestari Competition so the environment had to be super friendly with environment. I was asked to contribute an oil paint masterpiece on a wall section. Oh my God, it would be my biggest artwork I think so far...luckily the materials were provided by my teacher, Mr Halim Yaacob.

So guess what? 3 Days the painting was done but due to framing and final touch up it was 5 days in school from 7 am- 5pm ..no break....like a real artist. It seemed as if as I was trapped in the art studio.Luckily two of my buddies, Nash and Zuhaili were there to buy me lunch! Or else I could have starved especially with the smell of thinner...

At first, I didnt know where to start, the plywood was so big.....and wide....and then Mr H gave me superb guidelines..and so I thought...lets do something which is loud and fun..unrealistic but beautiful. Imagine savanah, tropical monsoon, rainforest and icy mountain on the same longitude and latitude with a sunset skyline. Hot colors and bright ones....

First day - We painted the plywood with white paint and let it dry.3 hours spent to figure out whats the theme and I sketched my idea on two pieces of paper before Danica sketched on the plywood. She was a great sketcher! Meanwhile, me and Nash started painting the first layer of skyline....Man, i could see Nash's stress of getting a job were lessen when he learnt to mix and blend colors and paint....I literally gave free oil paint class to my friends so that they could help me lol - outside its RM 200 a month babe! Too bad by the time Danica finish sketching, she had to leave..I know she really wanted to paint....Nash went for Friday prayer and I was left alone in the studio and I tried to finish the first layer of the first section of the plywood. My hands were cracking because the brushes were small and my face started to grow pimples as I am sensitive to the turpentine and thinner..my...my....went back home...satisfied but smelly! and my clothes oh my God.......like a homeless kid.

Second day- Well I came at 7 and finished the second layer of the first section of plywood. Mr Halim wasn't at school so the srt studio was like my studio.....Played mp3 songs out loud from my phone and sand and painted happily... At about 9.30 dear Danica came and helped me paint the first layer of the second section of the plywood...I thought her about the Impasto Technique and how to mix the colors....She was a quick learner. Danica seems to be having so much fun learning and we sang and danced crazily. And she had a crazy thing for Body Language song from Jesse Mc.We also talked something about the past. I was so happy to see her smile and being herself, and I had to give her a lot of motivation as she worried about so many things lol.and my lunch...came late at about 2...why? Nash came with his twin, Zuhaili.. Surprisingly, they came bringimng laptops..Hello, to the art room? Lols...So Nashriq wasn't really there to help? Lols I am confused. By the end of the day, at 5 pm part 1 settled part 2 only first layer.

Third day- I was early as usual, had to touch up most parts of the painting as Nash wasn't actually a pro but he did gave a lot of help and Danica's painting was quite alright but it still needed a lil bit touch up here and there before I continue to the following layer. Yes, oil paint has many layers, you have no idea!Hmm....then at 9 Nabil came and he helped me out....at abot 10 30 Danica came and helped me to finish the art masterpiece. Well Nash? He didnt turn up lol...Cause? Stuck with my buddy Shaz.....Hehe...The masterpiece was done but needed more touch up.

Fourth day- Danica couldnt come but Nash was there with Zuhaili. I did the final touch up and at about 11 am, Mrs Ruhana, my teacher, brought me to a frame shop to buy the frame (loose ones). Oh my God...the painting was so wide that the frame couldnt fit in the car...I think about 50 cm of wood were out of the window as teacher drove....At 2pm, she gave us "painters" a treat for luch at Johnnys. At 5 30, I brought my mom into the art studio to look at the painting.. She was happy and gave me a greenlight to turn up the next day to frame up the art piece and do any last touch up...She also invited Nash and Zuhaili for dinner. What was funny was that she forced Nash to speak English and he refused. At the end of the day, dear Nash had a lecture from my mom lols....

Final Day - The art piece was framed , drilled to the wall and I finished the final touch up. I signed the art masterpiece. I feltso satisfied when evrything was finished... I think I had a lot of fun managing and doing the whole thing because I was free to express myself and Mr Halim really gave positive and constructive criticism and advises on developing my skills. I liked that he's really cool, open and positive-thinking. It was an awesome experience. Thanks to evryone involved!