car drawing.

Volkswagen 1303 or well-known as beetle, is one of the most difficult car to draw (for me) until now. So many curve, less straight lines makes this car is very challenging to draw, because we can't use pure perspective 101 here.

The other car is suzuki vitara. As long as i remember, i never draw this car correctly. The body area that covers the tyres is a bit curved-out is too hard to draw, and here we are.

Watercolor in canson 200gsm

warship KRI "351" at Nunukan Navy harbour

Holiday is best spending time with family. In a place such Nunukan island, not so many tourism site that can satisfy all citizen. Anyway, great moments ain't fall from the sky, but by creations. Choose the right companions, good and quite natural places, and if possible: match them with your hobbies and/or passion.

At first we went to Mamolo traditional market, as early as possible since the market only full operate until 7.30am. We live in Nunukan since 2008 but only this time we really enjoy breakfast in the market. From rice, crab, shrimps, and oysters are ready for breakfast.

Not so far from there we went to ecing beach. A small size beach line near Navy military base. Where oftenly transitted by warship that on duty guarding Indonesia's north coast.

I of course won't let this moment went away just like that. One fast sketch and watercoloring immediately done, french said plein air. A bit tricky since the ink was actually not the waterresist type. But overall it was just fine

Not enough, kids want to swim. Now i got chance to taught them how to float on sea :). They just love it...

This picnic were supported by my favorite classic car...

children at swimming pool

It was a very hot day yesterday, can't tell how hot but it makes Wahyu and Putra up for swim for almost 4 hours :p. In the morning they do ask our permission to swim until wrinkles show up in their hands hahaha...

Painting children in a public area like a swimming pool is a tricky. Need a bit imagination and a large amount of patience. Using canson fabriano 250gsm with watercolor  i tried to catch their activities in the pool.  The technique is quite simple actually. For each object we need to catch in our mind, which movement that mostly shows up in one child that eyes can catch. Then, draw it eith our imagination and experience in drawing himan.

cycling with my children

Kid at age 6-7 years old has enormous energy to spend everyday. One beautiful holiday with them has prove it. On regular basis for me 15km is a no-sweat-track that can be easily through. But for them who don't cycling much will gives trouble on my prediction.

Nope, i was wrong...

Step-by-step Face painting

Painting one's face actually not one of artist's favorite objects among all. Subjectivity of client, bad lighting or too small (if taken from a piece of photo), and of course artist's mood. All those three need to be in the right place and compromised to get good results.
Here is a step by step face painting of a young woman in awkward position and smile :).
Using HB pencil first, then darkening a few part of faces, eyes -nose-lips detailing (very crucial) and then finishing from light-to-dark and wet-on-wet method at the background, transparently layer by layer.

My latest face painting on march

Painting people's faces is really tempting challenge for me. You will face of what consumers want and technical difficulties in showing expressions on the face. Both must be discussed to gain the ability of consumers in enjoying art meets your skill to get that informations..

Coffee time

Enjoying coffee now ain't simple anymore. Starts from the hardest one for me: "coffee without sugar", good pure roasted coffee itself, the right temperature of boiled water (85 degree Celsius), filters, and of course the right companion and barista, Ijar Karim :p.

Drinking regular sachet coffee has given a terrible effect for my heart. Not very convenient on that situation. This happens since january after my friend Nina brought toraja coffee a few months earlier.

Depok Courthouse

Depok traffic is very hectic. Even though the Margonda street is very wide, but u-turn sometimes too far away that makes motorist sometimes do illegal things like turning back his/her bike against the normal traffic.
Some succeed, some don't and must pay the fine at this courthouse.

The process itself is relative fast. I came at 09.00 and finish at 10.00. At least 100 people were there to follow the process.
No more traffic violation, just obey the rules.

More painting of the faces

Menggunakan cat air demikian menyenangkan. Makin menyenangkan ketika klien memberi saya kebebasan menggunakan teknik apapun (yang sebenarnya baru saya pelajari atau temukan seiring belajar) dalam lukisan yang mereka pesan.

Using watercolour has been a very pleasant activity. Even more fun when clients give me freedom to use any kind of technique (that actually I've just learn) in their order.

Lukisan pertama lebih banyak mengunakan teknik wet on dry lapis demi lapis sehingga mendapatkan warna yang tajam serta relatif lebih mudah dikerjakan namun agak memakan waktu.

First painting most of the process using a wet on dry technique Layer-by-layer to get a darkerand sharp color. Easier to do but a bit takes time.

Lukisan kedua agak sulit, pertama, karena pemesannya adalah wartawan foto AFP Perancis yang sangat peka estetika; kedua, arena beliau membebaskan saya (lho?) Karena dengan begitu saya harus menebak seleranya. Menggunakan teknik sapuan wet on wet bahkan lebih lama karena jarang dibiasakan (namun teknik ini menyenangkan, percayalah) tone sephia membuatnya terasa klasik mendekati keindahan hasil foto sang wartawan.

second painting a bit difficult, not because the technique but more to the client which is a photographer that have a very good sense of art and he sets free me in guessing his "flavor" .
Using wet-on-wet is a real fun. More difficult but combined with sephia tone makes it closer with the photos that he produce :)

Bike Camping at Curug Ciherang, Bogor 7-8 February

Long holiday from 6-8 February has always been a good idea for long distance cycling. This time  Ciherang (place on alternative route to puncak pass) is chosen to be our site camp destination. The cold temperature and waterfalls are the main reasons.

enter from cibinong and citeureup market.

route home

We are about 11 cyclists climb up to location through citeureup, about 36km with up and down hill road variation. Up hill mostly of course. Our travel were more difficult since at some points  rain pouring down and the road was more slippery.
The road getting harder to pass  in the last 7kilometer. Cant ride the bike even the road is made of asphalt, since the road is too steep.

Photo courtesy from mr.didot

Very beautiful views along the trip, mostly hills, rice field, and garden. Preparation to prevent our body from dehydration is important because of the heat and insensible water loss  during cycling on the high ground.
Total trip about 17 hours. We were very lucky  to find a place for dinner at 8.00pm. For safety, bring some food.

Look at the road. Heartbreaking!

Lunch

late dinner, thank God one small restaurant still open

still learn to built a tent with flysheet, looks terrible but  provide protection from heavy rain.

We arrive at 9.30 pm. Built a tent, take a shower, hang out to talk about our trip, then went to sleep.

photo by Denny Lukman

Some sketches are made on location. Mostly by pen and finished by watercolor and pencil.

morning breakfast with Jely Kelbulan from Papua (photo by mr. Didot)

The trip to site takes  about 17 hours. 59km. We took different path home via jonggol to Cibubur from 2.00 pm to 9.00 pm