Malacca Artist II: Tham Siew Inn

I have been looking forward to go into his gallery. The first time I visited, the door was shut and the board was written that something like painting in progress. So I had to skip it. The second time was a coincident. I happened to spend my time nearby, waiting for my sister and it was opened. So, why not?

(source: http://www.garmin.com.sg/m/sg/g/waypoint_travelroute/travel_011/pic_005.jpg)

I like the casual feeling of his gallery. The wood and stones, and the green behind the house, I should say that it is a good place to relief your stress.

Tham Siew Inn started his artist life about 1970s. He has never given up drawing and sketching before in his life. He has a very determine spirit on what he believed and what he wanted in his life.

He was kind enough to chat with me and he bought me behind the gallery. It was his studio. I was surprised to see his sketchbooks. You will never believe, he has stacks of sketchbooks, near the door, on the shelves and in the cupboards. That's a lot that I can't even finish a small stacks. He would do sketches where ever he went. Each of every sketches was rich with its value, very inspiring.

I was amazed to see a quite complete transition of drawing styles of an artist. His earlier works was watercolour landscape and realistic paintings. However, he kept experimenting on the brush strokes and line and later, he gradually changed his styles into a very expressionist kind of approach.

Free and wild. Lively.

tham's sketches
(Source: http://fineartsynergy.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/2004_perform-ii_30x42.jpg)

His later drawing style (Source:http://fineartsynergy.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/2004_orchestra_21x30.jpg)

I remember that Yusof Gajah said before, you need to practice and experiment a lot to get your own style, just like what he did for his elephant. Same goes to Tham. He has spent nearly his whole life drawing, painting and sketching, from 1970s to 2000s. He finally got his own style.

Therefore, the art style really depends on your experience of drawing and life. Am I only got my own style after I grow up to be an old lady? Haha... kind of hard to think about that. Or rather, I won't want to think about that. Let everything go naturally and now I should just do my own part.