BECAUSE I’m a Yolo (You Only Live Once) person, I could not find any reason to decline whatever opportunities that come my way.
My initial response is always yes or silence. And the latter only comes when I know there are other things that will be put at stake if I resort to grab the chance.
That’s why when I was asked if I am interested to go to Park Inn by Radisson last Saturday to attend a Chinese painting workshop, and knowing that I don’t have much stuff to do that day, I immediately gave it a go.
Who can resist to such offer especially if you have always wanted to be a painter as a child?
But it was not that easy though. I did not know that I need to learn to breathe too while learning to do Chinese painting. Yup, because there were moments during the workshop where I was holding my breath as I attempted to do the strokes.
Together with my colleagues from the media and other participants, we were taught to paint bamboos while others who seemed to be fast learners also tried to paint flowers and crabs. Others painted genetically engineered species of crabs and flowers (Lol, if you know what I mean).
Wait, it was not just an ordinary workshop though. If I tell you that it was the Chan Lim family of Artists who are in town to conduct the workshop, will it ring a bell? It should, because the Chan Lim family is among the most sought and the few remaining notable Chinese brush painting artists in the country.
Driven by their passion in the field of art, they were already able to launch numerous art classes, workshops, seminars, and on-the-spot painting demonstrations.
They had also joined many art exhibits not only in the country but internationally as well.
I was really very serious in learning to paint bamboos and I did not even notice that the clock had already ticked at around 3:00 p.m. that day.
When the workshop was over, we had a group photo together with the artists as we flashed our, well, masterpiece.
After the workshop at the Park Inn by Radisson, we immediately went to SM Lanang Premier’s Atrium to witness the opening of the art exhibit dubbed as “An Exhibit of Chinese and Western Paintings” still by the Chan Lim family of artists who were joined by their students.
Three hundred artworks beautifully made with Chinese scrolls, lanterns, and oil paintings adorned the Atrium.
Forty artists have all worked together for the exhibit which started on Saturday and will last until September 25.
The glowing lanterns which are hanging at the Atrium only accented the exquisite artworks.
It was indeed a wonderful sight to behold.
Having a workshop on Chinese painting hours earlier had only made me appreciate the artworks more especially after experiencing that it was not really that easy to make those since it requires confidence, passion, patience, and discipline to make all paintings.
Bringing home some paint materials after the event, seeing bamboo paintings cluttering on my room should not come as a surprise. The journey to painting does not stop there, after all.
Cheers to more bamboo-painting nights! Cheers to YOLO!